USS Jonquil (1863)

USS "Jonquil" (1863) was a warship commissioned by the U.S. Navy in 1863. She served the Union Navy during the American Civil War.

"Jonquil" was purchased at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from S. F. Baker under the name "J. K. Kirkman" 21 October 1863; and commissioned at Philadelphia Navy Yard 28 October, Acting Ensign I. T. Halstead in command.

"Jonquil" serves with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron

A week later "Jonquil" joined the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and took station off Charleston, South Carolina. Except for brief periods of repair and three months in the sounds of Georgia during the fall of 1864, she served for the remainder of the war in Charleston waters. She took her first prize 25 February 1865 when she captured an unidentified sloop in Deer Creek about 18 miles upstream from Charleston. She repeated the feat only two days later with a second sloop in Silver Creek.

"Jonquil" acts as minesweeper in Charleston waters

Perhaps "Jonquil's" most valuable service was early in March when she labored to clear Charleston waters of torpedoes after the city has surrendered. While she was so engaged, a torpedo exploded close aboard her, knocking nine men overboard and wounding three others. Prompt and effective repairs enabled the ship to be back at her task of sweeping the harbor the next day.

Post-war decommissioning

"Jonquil" returned north at the end of July and decommissioned 2 August 1865. She was sold at public auction 21 October 1865.

Note

During the early days of modern warfare, mines in the water were called “torpedoes.”

See
* "Early naval "torpedoes" in article Torpedo
* Damn the torpedoes
* Naval mine

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* American Civil War

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/j4/jonquil.htm USS Jonquil]