- USS Dai Ching (1863)
USS "Dai Ching" (1863) was a
steamship in theUnited States Navy ."Dai Ching" was constructed for the
China trade in 1863; purchased by the Navy21 April 1863 ; outfitted atNew York Navy Yard ; and commissioned11 June 1863 , Lieutenant Commander J. C. Chaplin in command."Dai Ching" joined in the search for the Confederate
privateer "Tacony" on the northeastern coast between 14 and20 June 1863 . After putting intoNorfolk, Virginia for coal and engine repairs, she arrived offCharleston, South Carolina on23 July and the following day joined other vessels of theSouth Atlantic Blockading Squadron in the attack on Fort Wagner. On25 July and again on 13 -14 August she participated in assaults on Forts Wagner and Sumter, followed by a series of assaults on the other works inCharleston Harbor between 17 and22 August . On14 November she captured theschooner "George Chisholm" with a cargo of salt off theSantee River inSouth Carolina ."Dai Ching" joined an expedition up St. John's River, Florida, and remained in that area from
6 February to7 March 1864 . She returned to patrolling on the South Carolina coast and in January 1865 patrolled in theCombahee River . She captured the schooner "Coquette" loaded with cotton on26 January . Later that same day "Dai Ching" had to be abandoned after a defense lasting more than 7 hours during which she lay aground under the guns of a Confederate battery. Struck 30 times by shot and shell, her guns disabled, arid her machinery destroyed, she was set afire by her officers and men, all of whom escaped safely except five who were absent from the ship on duty and who were later captured by the Confederates.References
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/d1/dai_ching.htm
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