USS Onondaga (1864)

USS "Onondaga" (1864) was a monitor acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. "Onondaga" spent her entire active career with the James River Flotilla, covering the water approaches to Richmond, Virginia, during the Civil War's last year. Post-war she was purchased by France and placed in service as a French naval vessel.

American Service

Constructed in New York

"Onondaga" – the first U.S. Navy ship to bear the name – was a double turreted monitor launched 29 July 1863. "Onondaga" was somewhat unique in that her hull was constructed entirely from iron at Continental Iron Works, Greenpoint, New York, under subcontract from George W. Quintard who also produced her engines at his neighboring Morgan iron works. She was sponsored by Miss Sally Sedgwick, daughter of former U.S. Representative Charles Baldwin Sedgwick, who codified naval laws for the Navy Department; and commissioned at New York Navy Yard 24 March 1864, Captain Melancthon Smith in command.

Assigned to the James River flotilla

With USS|Mattabesett|1864|2, the new monitor departed New York, New York, 21 April 1864, and arrived at Hampton Roads two days later. Operating primarily in the James River Flotilla, "Onondaga" supported General Ulysses S. Grant's drive on Richmond, Virginia. On 24 November with USS|Mahopac|1863|2 she engaged Southern batteries on the James River at Howlett’s Farm, Virginia, and resumed the attack 5 and 6 December. Early in January, much of the Union strength was withdrawn from the James River as Rear Admiral David D. Porter assembled his powerful fleet for the forthcoming attack on Fort Fisher, which protected Wilmington, North Carolina. "Onondaga" was the only monitor left to guard Union forces on and along the James against Flag Officer John K. Mitchell’s Confederate James River Squadron.

When the Southern force steamed down river to attack the weakened Union forces there afloat, the monitor dropped downstream to a position affording her greater maneuverability. She and her supporting gunboats awaited the Southern attack only to have the Confederate thrust blunted when Mitchell’s ironclads "Virginia II" and "Richmond", gunboat "Drewry", and torpedo boat "Scorpion" all ran aground trying to pass obstructions at Trent's Reach. After attacks by Northern shore batteries and "Onondaga", "Drewry" exploded, "Scorpion" was abandoned, and the two Southern ironclads withdrew upriver when they were refloated the next day.

Final war operations

After continuing to support Union troops fighting to take the Confederate capital until General Robert E. Lee was forced to abandon Richmond, "Onondaga" steamed north and decommissioned at New York City 8 June 1865 and was laid up at League Island, Pennsylvania. By Act of Congress approved 7 March 1867, the monitor was sold to her builder, G. W. Quintard and subsequently resold to France for service in the French Navy as the "Onondaga".

French Service

"Onondaga" had a long career as a unit of the French Navy, retaining the historic name "Onondaga". She was rearmed in French service, receiving 9.4-inch rifled guns in place of her U.S. battery of 8-inch Parrott rifles and 15-inch Dahlgren smoothbores.

"Onondaga", whose iron hull helped to make her the longest-lived of the larger American-built Civil War era monitors, was scrapped in 1903-1904.

References

See also

* United States Navy
* American Civil War
* Confederate States Navy

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-fornv/france/frsh-o/onondaga.htm Onondaga (Coast Defense Monitor, 1867-1903)]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-o/onondaga.htm USS Onondaga (1864-1867)]