Painting of USS Dragon at the National Civil War Naval Museum | |
History | |
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United States | |
Acquired | 1861 |
Commissioned | 20 December 1861 |
Decommissioned | 13 May 1865 |
Fate | Sold 20 July 1865 |
General characteristics | |
Displacement | 118 tons |
Length | 17 ft (5.2 m) |
Beam | 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) |
Propulsion |
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Complement | 42 |
Armament |
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USS Dragon was a small 118-ton steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the start of the American Civil War.
Dragon's primary assignment was to participate as a gunboat in the Union blockade of the ports and waterways of the Confederate States of America.
Dragon, a screw steamer, was purchased at New York City in December 1861; outfitted at New York Navy Yard; and sailed 20 December 1861, Acting Master W. Watson in command, to join the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron at Hampton Roads, Virginia. Dragon was assigned to the James River Flotilla to attend USS Cumberland and USS Congress to give them aid in case of attack by the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia (ex-USS Merrimack). On 8 March 1862 Dragon participated in the famous engagement in Hampton Roads between United States and Confederate naval forces during which Cumberland and Congress were sunk by the ironclad Virginia.
When the battle was renewed the following day Dragon endeavored to get USS Minnesota afloat but was halted when a shot from one of Virginia's rifled guns entered her boiler, exploding and causing severe damage. She was sent to Baltimore, Maryland, for repairs. Returning to Hampton Roads 22 April 1862, Dragon was again assigned to duty with the James River Flotilla and continued to patrol in the James until 29 August 1862 when she was transferred to the Potomac Flotilla. She patrolled the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers helping enforce the blockade between Maryland and Virginia until 25 April 1865. Dragon arrived at Washington Navy Yard the following day, was decommissioned there 13 May 1865 and sold 20 July 1865.
CSS Teaser had been the aging Georgetown, D.C. tugboat York River until the beginning of the American Civil War, when she was taken into the Confederate States Navy and took part in the famous Battle of Hampton Roads. Later, she was captured by the United States Navy and became the first USS Teaser.
The first USS Seminole was a steam sloop-of-war in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.
USS Yankee was a steam-powered side-wheel tugboat acquired by the Union Navy just prior to the outbreak of the American Civil War.
USS Currituck was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy for use during the American Civil War.
USS Jacob Bell was a sidewheel steamer acquired by the Union Navy for use during the American Civil War. She was one of the oldest vessels so acquired. Her duties included river patrols, guard duty, and other duties as assigned.
USS Valley City was a 190-ton steamer acquired by the Union Navy for service in the American Civil War.
USS Young America was a Confederate steamer captured by the Union Navy’s blockade vessels, and subsequently placed in-service in the Union Navy during the American Civil War.
USS Zouave was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was needed by the Navy to be part of the fleet of ships to prevent blockade runners from entering ports in the Confederacy.
The first USS Resolute was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.
USS Western World was a ship acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries.
USS Aroostook was a Unadilla-class gunboat built for the Union Navy during the American Civil War. Aroostook was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries.
USS Thomas Freeborn was a steam tug acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Navy as a gunboat to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries.
The first USS Uncas was a 192-ton steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.
USS Leslie was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Navy as a tugboat.
USS Mount Washington was a steamer purchased by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat assigned to patrol Confederate waterways.
USS Stepping Stones was a steamer purchased by the Union Navy during the early part of the American Civil War.
USS Young Rover was a bark with an auxiliary steam engine acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways.
USS Wyandotte, originally USS Western Port, was a steamer acquired by the Navy as a gunboat for the Paraguay expedition in 1858. When the crisis of the American Civil War occurred, she operated in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways.
The third USS Union was a heavy (1,114-ton) steamer with a powerful 12-inch rifled gun purchased by the United States Navy during the American Civil War.
USS T. A. Ward was a 284-ton schooner was purchased by the Union Navy during the Union blockade of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .The entry can be found here.