USS Maratanza (1861)

USS "Maratanza" (1862) was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries.

Double-ender, wooden steamer "Maratanza", built at Boston Navy Yard in 1861, was launched 26 November and commissioned at Boston, Massachusetts, 12 April 1862, Comdr. G. H. Scott in command.

Supporting the Peninsular Campaign of General McClellan

Immediately after commissioning, "Maratanza" saw service in support of General George B. McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign, operating on the York and James Rivers from April to September 1862. After participating in the capture of Yorktown 3 May, "Maratanza" shelled various points, including Wormley’s Creek, Murrell’s Inlet, and Fort Darling Drewry’s Bluff. En route to scouting Turkey Bend, 4 July, she engaged and captured "CSS Teaser" at Haxall’s.

Blockade duty off the Carolina coast

After the collapse of the Peninsula Campaign, "Maratanza" departed Hampton Roads, Virginia, 15 September for blockade and cruising duty off Wilmington, North Carolina, firing on Fort Casswell the 25th. She remained there on patrol duty through much of the conflict, joining "Chocura" in capturing sloop "Express" off the South Carolina coast 4 May and capturing sloop "Ceres" on Western Bar, Smith’s Island, North Carolina, 7 December.

Participating in the bombardment of Fort Fisher

As Union forces assembled to move against Wilmington, "Maratanza" participated in the bombardment of Fort Fisher 24 and 25 December 1864 and 13 through 15 January 1865 when Admiral David Dixon Porter noted that the Union had enough forces there to hold against the whole Southern Confederacy. "Maratanza" captured steamers "Stag" and "Charlotte" 20 January. She participated in the bombardment and capture of Fort Anderson 19 February, opening the way to Wilmington. In March, General William Tecumseh Sherman was at Fayetteville, North Carolina, where boat crews from "Maratanza", two other gunboats, and "Eolus" rendezvoused with him, opening communications between Sherman’s position and the coast.

End-of-war decommissioning, sale and civilian career

After the end of the conflict, "Maratanza" was detached from her station on Cape Fear River in June and was ordered north, arriving at the Portsmouth Navy Yard (Maine) the 18th and decommissioning the 21st of June 1865. She remained in ordinary at Portsmouth until sold to A. B. & C. W. Lewis in August 1868. She subsequently served as a Haitian gunboat under the names "Salnave" and "Union".

References

See also

* United States Navy
* American Civil War

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m3/maratanza-i.htm USS Maratanza]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-m/maratnza.htm USS Maratanza (1862-1868)]