USS Ella (1859)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Ella.

History
United States
Name	USS Ella
Namesake	Miss Ella Knapp
Builder	Thomas Collyer (New York)
Completed	1859
Acquired	(by USN): 30 July 1862
Commissioned	10 August 1862
Decommissioned	4 August 1865
Stricken	1865 (est.)
Fate	Sold, 15 September 1865
General characteristics
Tons burthen	230
Length	150 ft (46 m)
Beam	23 ft (7.0 m)
Depth of hold	8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Installed power	Steam engine 36-in bore × 8-ft stroke
Propulsion	Sidewheels
Speed	8 knots
Complement	39
Armament	two 24-pounder howitzers

The first USS Ella was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a picket and patrol vessel, as well as a dispatch boat, on Confederate waterways.

Construction and design

Ella, a wooden-hulled sidewheel steamboat, was built in New York in 1859 by Thomas Collyer for the Stamford Line of Stamford, Connecticut. ^{[1] [2] [3]} She was 150 feet (46 m) in length, with a beam of 23 feet (7.0 m) and hold depth of 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 m). ^[4] Ella was powered by a single-cylinder steam engine of unknown type, with a bore of 36 inches (91 cm) and stroke of 8 feet (2.4 m), built by Henry Esler & Co. of New York. ^[3]

Service history

Merchant service

Ella made her maiden voyage on 5 July 1859. She thereafter operated in daily service between New York City and Stamford, departing the latter at 7 am and clearing New York at 3 pm the same day. ^[2]

Naval service

Ella was purchased at New York City 30 July 1862; outfitted at New York Navy Yard; and commissioned 10 August 1862, Acting Master S. C. Gray in command. ^[4]

Ella sailed 12 August 1862 for duty with the Potomac Flotilla, and arrived at Fortress Monroe 2 days later. She performed her entire service in Virginia waters as a picket, patrol and dispatch boat, based on the navy yard at Washington, D.C. ^[4]

After a useful career, she returned to her base for the last time 30 July 1865. She was decommissioned there 4 August and sold 15 September 1865. ^[4]

Later history

Redocumented as a merchant steamer on October 19, 1865, Ella's later history is unknown. She was last documented about 1875. ^[1]

References

1. Lytle, Holdcamper 1975. p. 62.
2. "Stamford Steamboat Line" (PDF). New-York Daily Tribune. 1859-06-06. p. 7.
3. "Henry Esler & Co, South Brooklyn". The New York Herald. 1859-10-10. p. 2.
4. "Ella I (Side Wheel Steamer)". Naval History and Heritage Command. United States Navy. 2015-07-07.

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .The entry can be found here.