USS Marigold (1863)

USS "Marigold" (1863) was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a tugboat, dispatch boat and also as a gunboat in the blockade of the Confederacy.

"Marigold", ascrew tug built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1863 was purchased by the Navy at Philadelphia 13 June 1863; and commissioned there the same day, Acting Master L. H. Partridge in command.

Assigned to the East Gulf Blockade

Assigned to the East Gulf Blockading Squadron she served as a tug, dispatch boat, and blockader through the end of the Civil War. On 6 October "Marigold" shared in the capture of blockade runner, "Last Trial", which was attempting to slip through the Union cordon of warships with salt for the South.

Capturing blockade runners in Southern waters

On 9 April 1864 while bringing mail from Key West, Florida, to Havana, Cuba, she fired on English merchantman "Belle", coming from Matamoros, Mexico; but the British ship reached safety in the neutral port. On 25 February 1865, the steam tug captured British schooner "Salvadora" in the Straits of Florida heading for the Confederate coast with an assorted cargo.

Post-war operations, decommissioning and civilian career

After the Confederacy collapsed, "Marigold" continued to serve in Key West Harbor through the summer. She was sold at public auction at New York City 6 October 1866, and redocumented as "William A. Hennessey" 30 December 1868. The tug caught fire and was destroyed at New York City on 30 November 1875.

References

See also

* United States Navy
* American Civil War

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m4/marigold-i.htm USS Marigold]