USS Florida (1850)

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History
US flag 37 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Florida
Acquiredby purchase, 5 October 1861
Commissioned5 October 1861
Decommissioned26 April 1867
FateSold
General characteristics
Type Sidewheel steamer
Displacement1,261 long tons (1,281 t)
Length214 ft (65 m)
Beam35 ft 3 in (10.74 m)
Draft22 ft 3 in (6.78 m)
Propulsion Steam engine
Speed13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Armament
  • 8 × 32-pounder guns
  • 1 × 20-pounder rifle

The second USS Florida was a sidewheel steamer in the United States Navy.

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Florida was purchased and commissioned on 5 October 1861, with Lieutenant John R. Goldsborough in command.

Florida stood out of New York Harbor on 19 October 1861 to join the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in patrolling the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. She helped capture a ship and a schooner who were running the blockade. Returning to New York during November 1862, she was decommissioned for repairs, and was recommissioned 7 March 1863 for service with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. She was particularly successful in this assignment, capturing a steamer and a schooner off Wilmington, North Carolina, in June 1863, and aiding the destruction of a number of British steamers used as blockade runners in February 1864, including PS Fanny and Jennie.

Again out of commission for repairs between 12 December 1864 and 26 February 1865, Florida sailed 10 March with supplies for ships on station along the Atlantic coast. She proceeded through the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans where she embarked Confederate prisoners from the ram CSS Webb, transporting them to New York. Florida weighed anchor again to cruise the Gulf of Mexico until the end of 1865.

On her final voyage, Florida sailed in the West Indies from 4 January 1866 to 8 April 1867. She was placed out of commission for the last time on 26 April 1867 and subsequently sold.

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