- USS Flambeau (1861)
USS "Flambeau" (1861) was a steamer purchased by the
Union Navy during theAmerican Civil War . She was used by the Union Navy as agunship , operating in Confederate waterways."Flambeau" was built in
1861 by Lawrence and Foulks,Brooklyn, New York ; purchased by the Navy14 November 1861 ; and commissioned27 November 1861 , Lieutenant Commander W. G. Temple in command.Assigned to operate with the South Atlantic Blockade
Assigned to the
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron , "Flambeau" arrived at Nassau, New Providence,11 December 1861 , and for a month patrolled this key base forblockade runner s. On22 January 1862 , "Flambeau" arrived atPort Royal, South Carolina , from which she was ordered to blockadeStono Inlet , one of the entrances toCharleston Harbor ."Flambeau’s" foraging party captured by Confederates
For the next year, she cruised off Charleston, sharing in the capture of several prizes, and sending a party ashore
28 December to destroy the abandoned fort on Bull's Island. Again in Bull's Bay on31 January 1863 , she sent a foraging party ashore, all of whom were captured. The next day "Flambeau" sent a rescue party, who lost one man killed and one wounded when attacked by Confederates.Florida and Georgia operations
In February
1863 , "Flambeau" delivered stores to ships on the coasts ofFlorida and Georgia, then returned to duty off Charleston until April. After repairs atWashington, D.C. , she joined her squadron atNew Inlet from May through September, takingschooner "Betty Kratzer" prize on23 June . She then served atFernandina, Florida , where on28 November she took the schooner "John Gilpin" prize. She returned toNew York City where between10 February 1864 and2 June she was out of commission for repairs.Reassigned to the Carolina coast
Rejoining her squadron
21 June 1864 , "Flambeau" was ordered toGeorgetown, South Carolina , where on23 June she fired on Confederate cavalry and men at work on two wrecks on the beach, dispersing them. She continued to blockade the Carolina coast, and to carry supplies from the base atPort Royal, South Carolina , to the fleet of Charleston through the remainder of the war.End-of-war decommissioning and disposal
She returned to
New York Navy Yard 31 May 1865 , was decommissioned7 June 1865 , and sold12 July 1865 .References
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f2/flambeau-ii.htm
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