- USS Suwanee (1864)
USS "Suwanee" (1864) was a large (1,030-ton) steamer commissioned by the
Union Navy in its struggle against theConfederate States of America in theAmerican Civil War .With her large crew of 159 sailors and officers and powerful guns, "Suwanee" served the Union Navy as a heavy
gunboat on the high seas, searching formerchant raider s andblockade runners .Built in Pennsylvania in 1864
"Suwanee" -- a double-ended, iron-hulled, side-wheel gunboat built at
Chester, Pennsylvania -- was launched on13 March 1864 , and was commissioned on23 January 1865 , Comdr. Paul Shirley in command.Civil War operations
Ordered to the
Pacific Ocean , the new double-ender departedPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania , at dawn on17 February 1865 and proceeded viaNew York City down the Atlantic coast of the Americas looking for Confederate commerce raiders, especially for CSS "Shenandoah", which had been plaguing Northern shipping.She then steamed up the Pacific coast and arrived at
Acapulco, Mexico , where she joined the Pacific Squadron on30 July . The side-wheeler was promptly ordered to sea in quest of "Shenandoah". After the Southern cruiser "Shenandoah" surrendered atLiverpool, England , late in the year, "Suwanee" cruised along the Pacific coast fromMexico toCanada .Sunk, near British Columbia
On
9 July 1868 , she was wrecked in Shadwell Passage, Queen Charlotte Sound,British Columbia .References
See also
*
American Civil War
*Union Navy
*Confederate States Navy External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s20/suwanee-i.htm USS Suwanee]
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