USS Narcissus (1863)

USS "Narcissus", a screw steamer launched in July 1863 as "Mary Cook" at East Albany, N.Y., was purchased by the Navy at New York City 23 September 1863 from James D. Stevenson; and commissioned at New York Navy Yard 2 February 1864, Acting Ens. William G. Jones in command.

The new tug soon got underway south; and touched at Port Royal, South Carolina for fuel, 14 February, before pushing on to the Gulf of Mexico. She joined the West Gulf Blockading Squadron at New Orleans late in the month and was assigned to patrol and blockade duty in Mississippi Sound. On the morning of 24 August, she captured sloop "Oregon" in Biloxi Bay, Mississippi Sound, and took the prize to New Orleans for adjudication.

Subsequently ordered to Mobile Bay, "Narcissus" supported clean-up operations following the great Union naval victory there 5 August. She struck a Confederate torpedo off Mobile in a heavy storm 7 December and sank within 15 minutes without loss of life.

Raised in the closing days of 1864, "Narcissus" was repaired at Pensacola early in 1865 and served in the gulf as a dispatch boat through the end of the war. She departed Pensacola on New Year’s Day 1866, was wrecked, and sank at Egmont Key, Florida 4 January with loss of all on board.

"See USS Narcissus for a list of other ships with the same name."

External links

* Photos from the USS "Narcissus" prop shaft leading to the prop assembly, prop, engine, hull: cite web |url=http://uwex.us/053108.htm |title=May 31, 2008: USS Narcissus (15 feet) |author=Barnette, MC |year=2008 |publisher=Association of Underwater Explorers |accessdate=2008-09-06