USS Huron (1861)

USS "Huron" (1862) was a 691 ton Unadilla class screw steam gunboat acquired by the Union Navy for blockage duty against the ports and rivers of the Confederate States of America.

"Huron", a schooner-rigged screw steamer, was launched 21 September 1861 by Paul Curtis, Boston, Massachusetts, under Navy contract; and commissioned 8 January 1862 at Boston Navy Yard, Lt. John Downes in command.

ervice in the American Civil War

"Huron" joined the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in February to take part in Union strangulation of Confederate commerce, and steamed off the coasts of Georgia and Florida. In addition to blockading duties, her men often took part in shore expeditions against the Confederates, as on 15 March 1862 on the Georgia coast.

"Huron" captures blockade runners "Glide", Albert, and "Cambria"

"Huron" chased a schooner ashore 12 April 1862 and 7 days later captured schooner "Glide" off Charleston, South Carolina, with 100 bales of cotton and other cargo. She also captured schooner "Albert" 1 May and British blockade runner "Cambria" 26 May.

Engaging the guns of Fort McAllister

As Union naval power increased the pressure on Charleston in coordination with the Union Army, "Huron" engaged batteries in the Stono River 30 May and took part in an engagement with Fort McAllister 29 July 1862. Back on regular blockade duty, she captured schooner "Aquilla" 4 August. "Huron" continued her patrol and blockading duties off Charleston into 1863. During the ironclad attack on the forts in Charleston Harbor 7 April 1863, the ship formed part of a reserve squadron outside the bar.

Destroying the blockade runner "Stonewall Jackson"

Five days later, while patrolling with "Flag", she detected blockade-running steamer "Stonewall Jackson" attempting to dash into Charleston. The two Union ships opened fire immediately, so damaging the blockade runner that she was forced to run aground and destroy her cargo, which included vitally needed Army artillery and shoes.

Participating in the seize of Fort Fisher

The veteran blockader made two more captures in December 1863-January 1864, and later in 1864 moved north to join the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, whose main attention was turned to Wilmington, North Carolina, and its powerful defender, Fort Fisher.

During the first attack on the fort 24 to 25 December 1864, "Huron" took part in the bombardment which was to cover the storming by Union Army troops. This first assault aborted, but preparations were quickly made for a second joint operation in January 1865.

The capture of Fort Fisher

Again "Huron" provided a part of the devastating naval bombardment; and, with the help of a landing party of 2.000 sailors and marines, the Union Army assault forces captured Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865, effectually closing Wilmington to blockade runners. Then, during the final months of the war, "Huron" took part in combined operations against the city itself, bombarding Forts Anderson, and St. Philip in February.

Searching for officials of the Confederacy

After Appomattox, responding to the attempted escape of President Jefferson Davis of the Confederate States, "Huron" steamed to Key West, Florida, in an effort to capture Confederate officials bound for Havana, Cuba, or Mexico by water. She arrived 2 May, but Davis was captured near Irwinville, Georgia, 10 May 1865.

After the war

Following the end of the Civil War, "Huron" served on the South American station. She decommissioned in October 1868 and was sold in June 1869. She subsequently became the merchant vessel "D.H. Bills".

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/h9/huron-i.htm

External links

* [http://history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-h/huron.htm USS Huron (1862-1869)]