- USS Connecticut (1861)
USS "Connecticut" (1861) was a large steamer acquired by the
Union Navy during theAmerican Civil War . Her primary task was to prevent ships from penetrating the Unionblockade of Southern ports."Connecticut", a side wheel steamer, was built in
1861 by William Webb,New York City ; purchased by the Navy18 July 1861 ; and commissioned23 August 1861 , Commander M. Woodhull in command.Supplying the Union blockade vessels
"Connecticut" sailed on her first voyage
25 August 1861 , delivered men and supplies to ships on theblockade along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts as far asGalveston, Texas , and returned to New York29 September . Following two patrols, from 16 to24 October and from10 November to17 December in search of CS cruiser "CSS Nashville", "Connecticut" returned to cargo duty, making five voyages similar to her first between7 January and15 November 1862 . She also captured fourschooners with valuable cargo during this period.Panama operations
Out of commission for repairs at New York from
24 November to15 December 1862 , "Connecticut" left in tow of USS|Montauk|186224 December for duty asconvoy and tow ship offAspinwall, Panama , until returning to New York6 June 1863 .Assigned to the North Atlantic Blockade
During "Connecticut's" next cruise, from
10 August 1863 to25 July 1864 , she operated most successfully with theNorth Atlantic Blockading Squadron offVirginia andNorth Carolina . She captured five vessels and drove a sixth ashore, abandoned and burned by its crew. Included were the English steamer "Minnie", captured9 May 1864 with a cargo ofcotton ,tobacco ,turpentine , andgold , one of the most valuable prizes taken during the war; and the British steamer "Greyhound", taken on10 May , which carried in addition to her cargo of cotton, tobacco, and turpentine, the famous Confederate spyBelle Boyd . Following another cruise carrying men to the fleet between30 July and5 October 1864 , "Connecticut" was placed out of commission atBoston, Massachusetts , from7 October 1864 to17 February 1865 . Her last cruise from21 February to3 August 1865 was in theWest Indies and on theU.S. East Coast , searching for Confederate privateers and towing monitors fromPort Royal, South Carolina , toPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania . "Connecticut" was decommissioned11 August 1865 atPhiladelphia Navy Yard and sold21 September 1865 .References
See also
*
United States Navy
*American Civil War External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c12/connecticut-iii.htm USS Connecticut]
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