- USS R. B. Forbes (1845)
USS "R. B. Forbes" (1845) was a steamer acquired by the
Union Navy during theAmerican Civil War . Her primary task was to preventblockade runners from entering, or departing from, the South."R. B. Forbes", a twin-screw steamer built in
1845 , was acquired by the Navy atBoston, Massachusetts , on17 August 1861 . Although not formally purchased until September, she was fitted out at Boston and got underway for theWashington Navy Yard on25 August , Acting Master William G. Gregory in command.Assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron
After spending most of September at the Navy Yard, the steamer operated in the
Chesapeake Bay area until ordered to join theSouth Atlantic Blockading Squadron in late October. Sailing on the 29th, she participated in the capture ofFort Walker andFort Beauregard atPort Royal, South Carolina , on7 November , then remained in the area until December. Following damage to her port shaft and propeller, she was towed toNew York by the steamer "Atlantic", arriving on20 December .Reassigned to the Mortar Flotilla
Decommissioned for repairs, she was recommissioned on
8 February 1862 and ordered to join theMortar Flotilla belowNew Orleans, Louisiana .Running aground and destroyed
Caught in a gale off
Cape Henry on the 25th, she was driven ashore and wrecked a few miles south of Currituck Inlet. USS|Young America|1855, dispatched to the scene, brought off "R. B. Forbes"' crew and all salvageable equipment. The grounded steamer was then burnt to prevent capture by Confederate forces.References
See also
*
United States Navy
*American Civil War External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/r1/r_b_forbes.htm R. B. Forbes]
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