Some More on the USS Emma

Last month, I was writing about this ship that was at both battles of Fort Fisher.

From Civil War Navies 1855-1883

The Emma was launched just four days before her sister ship, the Gertrude, both named for the daughters of owner Thomas S. Begbie.    Both built by  Barclay Curle of Glasgow, Scotland.

Both had relatively short careers before being captured.  The Emma was captured 24 July 1863 by the USAT  Arago and the Gertrude by  the USS Vanderbilt  off Eleutrea on 16 April 1863.

Both were condemned in prize court and bought by the U.S. Navy and used in the blockade.

The Emma was involved in both battles of Fort Fisher and on  11 Feb 1865 bombarded Masonboro Inlet.  She captured the blockade runner Ella 3 December  1864.  Became the merchant ship Gaspe  in 1866 and wrecked  at Longlois, Canada on  14 Jan. 1872.

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Rear Admiral S.P. Lee reported that the USS Emma had arrived at Newport News from New York on the afternoon of  November 7, 1863.

--Old B-Runner