Wednesday, May 22, 2013

USS Shepherd Knapp: Couldn't Catch Semmes

From Wikipedia.

Last week, I wrote about this ship running aground on a coral reef off Haiti and sinking on Naval Happenings for May 18, 1863.  I'd never heard of this ship before and had to research it.  I did not find much outside of Wikipedia.

The ship was acquired by the US Navy 28 August 1861 in New York City.  It was a large sailing ship, 160 feet long, 838 tons and carried eight guns.

In 1861, it unsuccessfully pursued Captain Raphael Semmes in the CSS Sumter before returning to NYC in April 1862 where it was laid up.  January 20, 1863, it put to sea again, this time looking for Semmes in the CSS Alabama.

Again, the ship didn't catch the elusive Confederate and finally ran aground on a reef off the north coast Haitian city of Cap-Haitien.  It was abandoned after equipment taken off.

Old B-Runner

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