Friday, May 9, 2014

USS Granite City

From Wikipedia.

This ship in the previous post had an interesting history, starting out as a blockade-runner, captured, then in the service of the U.S. Navy, then recaptured by the Confederates and turned into a blockade-runner again before being sunk while running the blockade.

It was built in Dumbarton, U.K. and launched 13 November 1862.  It was captured off the Bahamas 22 March 1863 by the USS Tioga and bought at prize court by the Navy 16 April 1863.  It was 160 feet long and mounted six 24-pdr. howitzers and one 12-pdr. rifle.

Assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, it arrived in New Orleans 17 August 1863 and participated in the ill-fated Sabine Pass expedition, but escaped capture.  During the next 8 months, it patrolled the Texas coast, making three captures.  The Granite City then supported landings at Pascavallo, Texas,  31 December 1863 and Smith's Landing, Tx., 19 January 1864.

After three more months of blockade duty, it was captured at Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana (southwest) on May 6, 1864.

It was fitted out as a blockade-runner in Galveston and on 20 January, ran out on a foggy night from Velasco, Texas,. but was spotted the next day and chased ashore by the USS Penguin and broke up on the beach.

--Old B-R'er

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