Somerset, formerly USS Nereus, in postwar merchant service | |
History | |
---|---|
United States | |
Name | USS Nereus |
Namesake | Nereus |
Laid down | 1863 |
Launched | 21 March 1863 |
Acquired | by purchase, 5 October 1863 |
Commissioned | 19 September 1864 |
Decommissioned | 15 May 1865 |
Fate |
|
General characteristics | |
Type | Screw Steamer |
Displacement | 1,244 long tons (1,264 t) |
Length | 200 ft (61 m) |
Beam | 34 ft 6 in (10.52 m) |
Draft | 13 ft 9 in (4.19 m) |
Depth of hold | 20 ft 8 in (6.30 m) |
Propulsion | Steam engine |
Speed | 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) |
Complement | 164 |
Armament |
|
Armor | 4 in (100 mm) |
The first USS Nereus, a screw steamer built at New York in 1863, was purchased by the Union Navy from William P. Williams on 5 October 1863; and commissioned at New York Navy Yard 19 April 1864, Commander John C. Howell in command.
The schooner-rigged steamer joined the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron upon arriving Hampton Roads on 28 April 1864. She was assigned to the critical New Inlet station in the blockade of Wilmington, North Carolina. She continued helping to seal off this important Confederate port until getting underway for the North on 17 August.
The Nereus arrived in New York two days later for repairs. At this time Confederate cruiser CSS Tallahassee was alarming the North by the startling success of her operations against Union merchant shipping. Nereus departed New York on 3 September 1864, escorting the steamer SS North Star to Aspinwall with cargo to be carried overland across the Isthmus of Panama en route to California. She returned to New York on the 26th, for overdue repairs.
Back in top trim, Nereus departed New York escorting USS Dictator to Hampton Roads. From Norfolk she towed the single-turret monitor USS Saugus to Wilmington for the attack on Fort Fisher. Arriving Christmas morning, Nereus joined in the bombardment of the Confederate works and supported the abortive amphibious attack until the last Union troops had re-embarked.
Nereus remained in North Carolina waters until Rear Admiral Porter launched his successful attack against Fort Fisher on 13 January 1865. In the three-day struggle, a classic example of Army—Navy coordination, Union soldiers, sailors, and marines, supported by the deadly effective fire from Porter's warships, overran Wilmington's defenses, closing the vital Confederate seaport. Nereus crewman Thomas Kane was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry in this action.
On 17 January, Nereus got underway towing the monitor USS Mahopac to Charleston for final operations against the staunchly defended seaport which had witnessed the opening of hostilities almost four years before. Nereus then steamed to Beaufort for stores and coal before heading for the Bahamas and the Caribbean seeking to capture the Confederate cruiser Shenandoah which was still preying on northern merchantmen. She remained in the Caribbean until sailing north on 11 April, via Key West. She arrived New York 7 May decommissioned there on 15 May 1865, and was sold at public auction to James Hooper. Placed in commercial service as SS Somerset on 28 September 1865, the steamer operated as a merchant ship until 1881.
John Henderson of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, used her as part of the bidding process to win a mail service contract running between Baltimore and Liverpool. The railroad owned the Baltimore and Liverpool Steamship Co. under whose flag it operated such services. The Railroad bought 4 ships from the Navy; the other three vessels were the Allegany, The Carroll, and the Worcester; the Railroad decided to retain or change the names to Maryland counties. [1] [2]
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.
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 James Adger was a sidewheel steamer in the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She retained her former name.
USS Wilderness was a wooden-hulled, side-wheel steamship in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. After the war, she served as a revenue cutter. In 1873, she was renamed John A. Dix for former Secretary of the Treasury John Adams Dix.
USS Maumee was a steamer purchased by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. With her heavy guns, she was planned by the Union Navy for use as a bombardment gunboat, but also as a gunboat stationed off Confederate waterways to prevent their trading with foreign countries.
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 Vanderbilt was a heavy (3,360-ton) passenger steamship obtained by the Union Navy during the second year of the American Civil War and utilized as a cruiser.
USS Grand Gulf was a wooden-hulled, propeller-driven steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was effective in performing blockade duty, and captured a number of Confederate blockade runners.
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.
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 Tristram Shandy was a 444-ton steamer and blockade runner 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.
USS Glaucus was a large steamship acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. The Union Navy planned to use her as a gunboat in the blockade of ports of the Confederate States of America, but, also found it useful to use her to transport the president of Colombia to Cartagena, Colombia.
USS Henry Brinker was a small steamship acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was placed into service as a gunboat and assigned to the blockade of ports of the Confederate States of America.
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 Shawmut was a 593-ton steamer acquired by the U.S. Navy and put to use by the Union during the American Civil War.
John Cummings Howell was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He rose to the rank of rear admiral and late in his career was commander-in-chief of the North Atlantic Squadron and then of the European Squadron.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Naval History and Heritage Command .
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .The entry can be found here.