USS Nansemond (1862)

Last updated
James F. Freeborn (1862 tugboat).jpg
The tugboat James F. Freeborn in merchant service, before her naval commissioning as USS Nansemond
History
US Naval Jack 36 stars.svg US flag 34 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Nansemond
Builder Lawrence & Foulks (NY)
Laid down1862
Acquiredby purchase, 18 August 1863
Commissioned19 August 1863
Decommissioned8 August 1865
Fate
  • Transferred to U.S. Revenue Cutter Service, 22 August 1865, renamed W.H. Crawford 20 November 1873 [1]
  • Sold, 24 April 1897 [1]
General characteristics
Type Steamer
Displacement340 long tons (350 t)
Length146 ft (45 m)
Beam26 ft (7.9 m)
Draft8 ft 3 in (2.51 m)
Propulsion Steam engine
Speed15  kn (17 mph; 28 km/h)
Complement63 officers and enlisted
Armament1 × 30-pounder Parrott rifle, 2 × 24-pounder guns

The first USS Nansemond, a side wheel steamer built at Williamsburg, N.Y. in 1862, as James F. Freeborn, was purchased by the Union Navy at New York City on 18 August 1863 from Richard Squires; it was renamed Nansemond and commissioned at Baltimore on 19 August, with Lieutenant Roswell H. Lamson in command.

Contents

Civil War service

After joining the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron off Wilmington on 24 August 1863, the sidewheeler chased blockade runner Douro ashore near New Inlet, North Carolina on 11 October, and destroyed her and her cargo of cotton, tobacco, turpentine, and rosin. USS Quaker City had previously captured the steamer, but, after being condemned and sold, Douro had reverted to running Confederate contraband. However, after her encounter with Nansemond, Douro was "...a perfect wreck...and past ever being bought and sold again." Squadron Commander Rear Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee reported, "Nansemond has done well off Wilmington. She discovered followed and destroyed (sic.) the Douro at night, the first instance of the kind, I believe." Ten days later four shots from Nansemond caused blockade running steamer Venus to take on water, forcing her ashore near the mouth of the Cape Fear River. After vainly trying to refloat her the next morning, Lt. Lamson set fire to the hulk.

On the evening of 4 November, USS Howquah sighted blockade runner Margaret and Jessie and pursued her through the night. The next morning, Nansemond and Army transport Fulton — who had joined in the chase — captured the notorious runner at sea, east of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Margaret and Jessie had previously succeeded in running the blockade 15 times.

On the evening of 6 May 1864, CSS Raleigh steamed over the bar at New Inlet and attacked blockaders USS Britannia and Nansemond while a Confederate steamer raced to sea. The following morning, Nansemond, Howquah, USS Mount Vernon, and USS Kansas repulsed a renewed attack by the Southern ram. Raleigh, while attempting to withdraw over the bar at the mouth of Cape Fear River, grounded, suffered severe damage and was destroyed by her Commander, Flag Officer William F. Lynch, to prevent her falling into Union hands.

On 20 June, Nansemond and Calypso embarked Army troops for an expedition to New River, N.C. to cut the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad. However, word of the raid reached Confederate ears, and strong Southern defensive forces compelled the Union troops to withdraw under cover of the ships' guns.

The Union was determined, however, to have Wilmington. A joint Army-Navy attack on Fort Fisher — which protected the vital Southern port — was launched on Christmas Eve, only to be repulsed the next day by determined defenders. The Union struck again on 13 January 1865 and finally conquered the bitterly contested Confederate stronghold three days later.

After supporting the Union's final drive on Richmond, Nansemond decommissioned at Washington Navy Yard on 8 August. She was transferred to the U.S. Treasury Department on 22 August and served the Revenue Cutter Service. She was renamed W. H. Crawford on 20 November 1873, operating primarily along the Atlantic coast from Baltimore to Key West. [1] She was decommissioned on 29 September 1896 and was sold at Baltimore to Edward D. Booz on 24 April 1897. Later named General J.A. Dumont, she burned at Severn, Maryland on 22 December 1914. [1]

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 Canney, p 37

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Sassacus</i> (1862) Gunboat of the United States Navy

The first USS Sassacus, a wooden, double-ended, sidewheel steamer in commission in the United States Navy from 1863 to 1865. She saw service in the American Civil War.

CSS Raleigh was a steam-powered Civil War casemate ironclad. She was fitted with a spar torpedo instead of an iron ram and was built in 1863–1864 by the Confederate States Navy at Wilmington, North Carolina. While she was being built her commander was Lieutenant John Wilkinson (CSN). She was put into commission on April 30, 1864 under the command of Lieutenant J. Pembroke Jones, CSN.

USS <i>Stars and Stripes</i> Gunboat of the United States Navy

USS Stars and Stripes was a 407-ton steamer acquired by the U.S. Navy and put to use by the Union during the American Civil War.

USS <i>Monticello</i> (1859)

The first USS Monticello was a wooden screw-steamer in the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was named for the home of Thomas Jefferson. She was briefly named Star in May 1861.

USS <i>Niphon</i> Gunboat of the United States Navy

USS Niphon was a steam operated vessel 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 <i>Kansas</i> (1863) Gunboat of the United States Navy

USS Kansas was a gunboat constructed for the Union Navy during the middle of the American Civil War. She was outfitted with heavy guns and assigned to the Union blockade of the waterways of the Confederate States of America. She was the first U.S. Navy ship to be named Kansas and was the first of a class of 836-ton screw steam gunboats. At war's end, she continued serving her country by performing survey work and defending American interests in Cuba until sold in 1883.

USS <i>Gettysburg</i> (1858)

The first USS Gettysburg was a steamer in the United States Navy. The ship was built in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1858, named RMS Douglas, and operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company in the United Kingdom between Liverpool, England, and Douglas on the Isle of Man until November 1862. She was then sold to Cunard, Wilson & Company on behalf of the Confederate agents Fraser, Trenholm & Company for use by the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. Renamed Margaret and Jessie, she operated as a blockade runner until her capture by the Union on 5 November 1863. The ship then was commissioned into the Union Navy on 2 May 1864 as USS Gettysburg.

USS <i>Unadilla</i> (1861) Gunboat of the United States Navy

USS Unadilla was a Unadilla-class gunboat built for service with the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She was the lead ship in her class.

USS <i>Aries</i> (1863) Gunboat of the United States Navy

USS Aries was an 820-ton iron screw steamer built at Sunderland, England, during 1861–1862, intended for employment as a blockade runner during the American Civil War. She was captured by Union Navy forces during the Union blockade of the Confederate States of America, and was commissioned as a Union gunboat. Aries was named for the constellation.

USS <i>Howquah</i> Gunboat of the United States Navy

USS Howquah was a screw steamer purchased by the Union Navy in Boston from G. W. Upton on 17 June 1863, for action against Confederate commerce raider CSS Tacony which was then preying upon Northern merchantmen during what Professor Richard S. West has called "the most brilliant daredevil cruise of the war."

The USS Governor Buckingham was a hermaphrodite brig in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. The ship was built under contract by Messrs Maxon Fish & Co., Mystic, Conn., and was offered for sale to the Navy while on the ways; purchased at Stonington, Connecticut, 29 July 1863 by Isaac Henderson for $110,000; delivered at New York Navy Yard 30 September 1863; and commissioned 13 November 1863, Acting Volunteer Lt. W. G. Saltonstall in command. She was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, with instructions to report at Hampton Roads to Acting Rear Admiral S. P. Lee. The ship was probably named for the Governor of Connecticut, William Alfred Buckingham.

USS <i>Young America</i> Tender of the United States Navy

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 <i>General Putnam</i> (1857) Gunboat of the United States Navy

USS General Putnam – also known as the USS William G. Putnam – was acquired by the Union Navy during the first year of the American Civil War and outfitted as a gunboat and assigned to the Union blockade of the Confederate States of America. She also served as a tugboat and as a ship's tender when so required.

USS Berberry was a steam-powered tugboat 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 Iron Age was a steamer 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 Confederates from trading with other countries.

The first USS Calypso was a steamer captured by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.

USS Britannia was a steamer captured by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat and patrol vessel in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways.

USS State of Georgia was a large steamer with powerful guns acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. State of Georgia, with her crew of 113 sailors and officers, was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat in its blockade of Confederate waterways.

USS Victoria was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.

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.

References