The USS Passaic-- Part 1: 'The Fightingest Ship in Mr. Lincoln's Navy'

From the Passaic County Historical Society "USS Passaic"  by Alfred P. Cappio.

The monitor USS Paissaic was commanded by Edward Simpson in the 1863 attack on Charleston and Fort Sumter.

The USS Passaic was named after the Passaic River in New Jersey.

"It is doubtful that any other ship in the Union Navy fought in more actions, fired more shells at enemy fortifications, or was hit more often by enemy fire than  the Passaic.  Truly this ship might well be called "The Fightingest Ship in Mr. Lincoln's Navy."

After the success of the USS Monitor, nine more monitors were ordered from John Ericsson at his Greenpoint (now Brooklyn) shipyard. The first to be completed was the USS Passaic, launched on August  30th and commissioned  at the New York Navy Yard on November 25, 1862.

Two days later, under the command of Captain Percival Drayton, she sailed to join the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron under  Admiral DuPont at Port Royal, South Carolina.

--Old B-Runner

USS Dawn

From Wikipedia.

This is David Franklin's ship whom I have been writing about earlier this month.

It was a steam operated  vessel acquired by the Union Navy.  It was built in 1857 by Samuel Sneden of New York City; chartered on 26 April 1861 and purchased 12 October 1861.  Outfitted in  New York Navy Yard and commissioned on 9 May 1861.  Commander W. Chandler was in command.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Length:   154 feet

Beam:  28 feet

Draft:  12 feet

Speed:  8 knots

Complement:  60

Armament:  two 32-pounder guns

--Old B-Runner

USS Emma-- Part 3: Captured as a Blockade Runner Then Served as a Blockader

The Emma was a single screw steamer built in  Glasgow, Scotland,  for Thomas  S. Begbie. The Emma and her sister ship, the Gertrude, were named for Begbie's two daughters.  The Emma was captured on 24 July 1863 by the  Army transport  SS Argo off the coast of Wilmington, North Carolina, on her third voyage.  

It was purchased by the U.S. Navy from the New York City prize court on 30 September 1863 and fitted out at the New York Navy Yard; and put to sea on 4 November 1863, Acting Master  G.B. Livingston in command.

Arriving in Newport News on 7 November 1863, the Emma was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron where she served for the rest of the war.  Enforcing the blockade, she played an important role in the final Union victory.

She joined in the destruction of the blockade runner Ella off Wilmington on 6 December 1864 and the two attacks on Fort Fisher December 24 and 25, 1864, and January 13-15, 1865.

--Old B-Runner

Simpson's Ships-- Part 1: USS Decatur and Congress

In the last post I  wrote about  Simpson's service aboard these ships up to the Mexican War.

The first two were involved with the Civil War.

The USS Decatur was a wooden sloop of war sailing ship launched in 1839 at the New York Navy Yard.  It was 117 feet long, had a 32 foot beam and crew of 150 officers and men.  It participated in the Mexican War.

Afterwards it was in the African Squadron, Home Squadron and the Pacific Squadron.

The ship was decommissioned at Mare Island in San Francisco Bay in 1859 and then remained in ordinary until March 1863, when she was fitted as a defensive floating battery and stationed off San Francisco to guard against Confederate raiders.  Plus, there was talk of a clandestine expedition of Confederates and their sympathizers from Canada.

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The second ship, the frigate USS Congress commissioned in 1842 and was 179 feet long with a 48-foot beam and mounted 53 cannons.  It took part in the Mexican War, but saw short service in the Civil War as it was sunk in 1862 by the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia.

--Old B-R'er

USS Isonomia-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Since I have never heard of this ship, further research is necessary.

It was originally built for the merchant service with the name SS Shamrock.  It was purchased in New York City from Charles S. Leary on 16 July 1864.  Commissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 16 August 1864, with Lt.-Cmdr. Edward Simpson in command.

593 tons
212 feet long
30 foot beam
9 foot depth
12 knots speed
85 officers and men complement

Armament:
one 3-pdr. rifle
two 24-pdr. howitzers

--Old B-Runner

August 13, 1864: CSS Tallahassee's Successful Cruise

AUGUST 13TH, 1864:  Reports of the CSS Tallhassee's destructive success created much alarm in northern seaports.

This date, John D. Jones, president of the Board of Underwriters (insurance), wired Secretary Welles from New York:  "Confederate steamer Tallahassee is reported cruising within sixty miles of this port.  She has already captured six vessels.  Will you please have the necessary measures taken, if not already done, to secure her capture?"

Half and hour after the receipt of this message, Welles replied:  "Three vessels left New York Navy Yard yesterday afternoon; more leave to-day.  Several vessels have leave Boston to-day and tomorrow.  Every vessel available has been ordered to search for pirate."

In addition this date, Captain C.K. Stribling, Commandant of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, dispatched three ships "in pursuit of the pirate."

However, the Tallahassee's Commander Wood, continued her "depredations," burning the schooner Lammot Fu Pont, cargo of coal, and the bark Glenavon.

The Tallahassee Having a Great Cruise.  --Old B-Runner

USS Cowslip-- Part 1: Built in New York, Acquired By the Navy

On May 29, I wrote about the USS Cowslip capturing a blockade runner.

Here is more information on this ship.

From Wikipedia.

The USS Cowslip was a steamer acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1863 for blockade duty.  It was also used as an ammunition ship, a dispatch boat,  and a rescue and salvage vessel.

It was a sidewheel steamer built in New York as the Meteor and purchased 21 December 1863 and fitted out as a gunboat at the New York Navy Yard, commissioned 27 January 1864, Acting Ensign R. Canfield in command.  It was 123 feet long, had a 24-foot beam and crew of 36. It mounted  one 20-pdr rifled gun and two 24-pdr. smoothbores.

--Old B-Runner

USS Emma-- Part 2: Sold To U.S. Navy At N.Y. Prize Court

The Emma was a single screw steamer built in Glasgow, Scotland, for Thomas S. Begbie.  The Emma and her sister ship, the Gertrude were named for his two daughters.

The ship was captured on 24 July 1864 by the Army transport SS Arago off the coast of Wilmington, North Carolina, on its third voyage.  It was purchased by the U.S. Navy at prize court in New York City on 30 September 1863 and fitted out at the New York Navy Yard and put to sea 4 November 1863 with Acting Master G.B. Livingston in command.

The Emma arrived at Newport News, Virginia 7 November 1863 and joined the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron as a picket and patrol vessel.

--Old B-Runner

USS Norfolk Packet-- Part 1: Bought By Navy and at Battle of New Orleans

From Wikipedia.

Was a large schooner purchased by the U.S. Navy 10 September 1861 and commissioned  7 February 1862.

It was 108 feet long,  gad a 28.2-foot beam, was a sailing ship, crew of 40 and mounted a 13-inch mortar, two 32-pdr. guns and two 12-pdr. guns.

It was bought from George Goodspeed of New York City and converted for naval use by J. Engles at the New York Navy Yard.   First commander was Lt. Watson Smith.

Assigned to the mortar squadron of  Cmdr. David Dixon Porter and participated in Farragut's attack on New Orleans.  The flotilla moved into position on 16 April and the mortar ships pounded Forts Jackson and St. Philip below New Orleans. Farragut's ship ran past the forts and New Orleans surrendered the next day.

--Old B-Runner

USS Canandaigua-- Part 3: Rescued Crew of USS Housatonic

On February 17, 1864, the Canandaigua rescued 140 survivors of the USS Housatonic after it was sunk by the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley.

It arrived at Boston Navy Yard on March 26, 1865, and was decommissioned April 8.  Recommissioned after repairs on November 22, it was on European Station until February 1869, then began three years of extensive repairs at New York Navy Yard.

From may 15, 1869 to August 10, it was renamed USS Detroit, but then returned to its original name.

Its last cruise was 1872 to 1875 to the West Indies and Gulf of Mexico as part of the North Atlantic Station.

In 1875, it was decommissioned at Norfolk Navy Yard in Virginia and remained in ordinary until broken up in 1884.

--Old B-R'er

USS De Soto-- Part 3: Assigned to Gulf Blockading Squadron

The De Soto was fitted out at the New York Navy Yard and command was given to Commander William M. Walker.  On 19 November 1861, she left New York with supplies and ordnance for Fort Pickens, Pensacola.  From there, the USS De Soto went to the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River and joined the Gulf Blockading Squadron 11 December 1861.

She patrolled near Barataria Bay.

Her relatively shallow draft and great steam speed, augmented by sails gave her a big advantage over blockade runners.

I read that her draft was 16 feet, which is not shallow in my way of thinking.  It appears the De Soto usually captured sailing vessels.

However, there was a collision with the French steam warship Milan.

--Old B-Runner

USS Stars and Stripes-- Part 1: With a Name Like That...Perfect for These Days

From Wikipedia.

Since the USS Stars and Stripes was such an adversary to the CSS Spray, I decided to do some more research on the ship.

The USS Stars and Stripes was built at Mystic, Connecticut, and purchased by the U.S. Navy 27 July 1861.  Commissioned in New York navy Yard and commanded first by Lt. Reed Werden.

It was decommissioned in Philadelphia 30 June 1865, sold on 10 August, 1865, and sank 31 January 1878.

It was 407 tons, 124.3 feet, 34.6 feet beam and had a crew of 94.

Armament consisted of four 8-in cwt cannons and one 20-pdr Parrott rifle.

Lt. Reed Werden was in command.

--Old B-Runner

USS Maria J. Carlton-- Part 1: Mortar Boat

From Wikipedia.

I had never heard of this ship before.  In the last post I wrote that this ship was sunk while engaged with Fort Jackson guarding New Orleans.

The Maria J. Carlton was a schooner acquired by the U.S. Navy and used as a mortar boat, fitted with a 13-inch mortar and two 12-pdr. rifled howitzers.  It was 178 tons, 98 feet long and 27-foot beam.

Mortars could fire up and above a target instead of directly at it..

It was purchased at Middletown, Ct. on 15 October 1861 and converted at New York Navy Yard.  Commissioned 29 January 1862 with Acting master Charles E. jack commanding.

--Old B-R'er

John Newland Maffitt Did Not Turn His Ship Over to the Confederates

From "Traitors: The Secession Period" by Edward S. Cooper.

Whereas William F. Rogers turned his Revenue Cutter  Henry Dodge over to Confederate authorities in Galveston, John Newland Maffitt did not turn his command over.

Captain Maffitt, commanding the USS Crusader was in Mobile, Alabama, at the time of secession.  He considered himself a North Carolinian but refused to turn his ship over to Confederate authorities and even went so far as to say he'd shoot anyone who tried to board the Crusader.

Another account had him saying, "I may be overpowered but in that event what will be left of the Crusader will not be worth taking."

He sailed his ship back to New York Navy Yard, turned it over, resigned his commission and journeyed South where he joined the Confederate Navy.

Of course, Maffitt went on to provide great service to the Confederate Navy in a variety of roles.

--Old B-R'er

USS Hartford Goes In for Repairs

DECEMBER 20TH, 1864:  The USS Hartford, Rear Admiral Farragut's flagship, was turned over to Rear Admiral Paulding at the New York Navy Yard for much-needed repairs.

Farragut wrote Secretary Welles: "...my flag [was] hauled down at sunset...."

Thus did the two, man and ship, who had served together so heroically for so many months together, close their active Civil War careers.

Farragut died in 1870, but his old ship survived until 1956.

--Old B-Runner

Admiral Farragut Eager to Return to Duty, But....

DECEMBER 23RD, 1863:

Rear Admiral Farragut wrote Sec. Welles from the New York Navy Yard that his flagship, the USS Hartford, which had accompanied him from the Gulf of Mexico was again ready for service after overhaul, but that he did not have enough sailors to do so.

Farragut was anxious to return to action and wondered if the men might be obtained in Boston and other ports in the northeast.

--Old B-Runner