USS Sagamore (1861)

USS "Sagamore" (1861) was acquired by the U.S. Navy at the start of the American Civil War. She was outfitted as a gunboat and assigned to the Union blockade of the Confederate States of America. "Sagamore" was very active during the war, and served the Union both as a patrol ship and a bombardment vessel.

Commissioned in 1861 at the Boston Navy Yard

The first U.S. Navy ship to be so named, USS Sagamore, a wooden, screw, steam gunboat built by the A. & G. T. Sampson and Atlantic Works Boston, Massachusetts, was launched on 1 September 1861 and commissioned on 7 December 1861 at the Boston Navy Yard.

Civil War service

Assigned to the East Gulf blockade

On 26 November 1861, "Sagamore" received orders to report to Flag Officer William McKean for duty as part of the East Gulf Blockading Squadron which patrolled the waters off the coasts of Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi.

"Sagamore"'s first encounter with the enemy came at Apalachicola, Florida. On 3 April 1862, armed boat crews from "Sagamore" and "Mercedita" captured the city without resistance.

On 11 September 1862, a landing party from "Sagamore" destroyed the salt works, which could produce 200 bushels a day, at St. Andrews Bay, Florida.

"Sagamore" next captured the blockade-running English schooner "By George" off Indian River, Florida, on 1 December 1862, with a cargo of coffee and sugar.

In the month of January 1863, "Sagamore" captured "Avenger", "Julia", and destroyed the sloop "Elizabeth". Next she captured the sloop "Enterprise" on 8 March 1863, and the sloop "New York" on 26 April 1863.

Shelling New Smyrna, Florida

On 28 July 1863, boats from "Sagamore" and "Para" attacked New Smyrna, Florida. After shelling the town, Union forces captured two schooners; caused the Confederate forces to destroy several other vessels, some of which were loaded with cotton and ready to sail; and burned large quantities of cotton on shore.

Following the attack at New Smyrna, "Sagamore" returned to her coastal duties. On 8 August 1863 "Sagamore" captured the sloops "Clara Louise", "Southern Rights", "Shot", and "Ann".

Suwannee River operations

On 21 April 1864, boat expeditions from "Sagamore" took 100 bales of cotton and destroyed 300 additional bales near Clay Landing on the Suwannee River, Florida.

"Sagamore"'s final action in the Civil War took place on 7 June 1864. Suspecting that Confederate forces were using cotton to erect breastworks on the banks of the Suwannee River, a boat expedition composed of men from "Sagamore" and ""Clyde"" proceeded up the river and captured over 100 bales of cotton in the vicinity of Clay Landing.

Decommissioning

"Sagamore" was decommissioned on 1 December 1864 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was sold at New York City. on 13 June 1865.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s2/sagamore-i.htm
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-s/sagamore.htm

ee also

* American Civil War
* Union Navy
* Confederate States Navy