- USS Aster (1864)
USS "Aster" (1864) was a steam operated
tugboat acquired by theUnion Navy during theAmerican Civil War . She was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries.On
25 July 1864 atPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania , theUnion Navy purchased the wooden steamer "Alice" from Bishop, Son, and Company. Renamed "Aster", this screw tug was placed in commission on12 August 1864 , Acting Master Samuel Hall in command.Assigned to the North Atlantic Blockade in North Carolina
On
25 August 1864 ,Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles ordered "Aster" to proceed to waters offWilmington, North Carolina , for duty in theNorth Atlantic Blockading Squadron . Since the ship's logs do not seem to have survived, the details of her voyage south are unknown. She apparently joined the squadron sometime during the first fortnight of September, but, on the 16th of that month, was atNorfolk, Virginia , undergoing repairs."Aster" runs aground on Carolina Shoals
She arrived off New Inlet on
7 October and began her blockading duties. About an hour before midnight, she sighted a vessel steaming toward New Inlet and gave chase. Just as she was about to cut off the blockade runner -- which later proved to be the Halifax steamer "Annie" -- "Aster" grounded onCarolina Shoals ."Aster" is put to the torch after "Berberry" is unable to free her
Hall and his crew made every effort to refloat "Aster", but failed. Berberry came to her aid, but was unable to pull her free. Hall then transferred his crew to "Berberry" and then, aided by his officers, put the torch to the ship which then blew up.
References
See also
*
United States Navy
*American Civil War External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a13/aster.htm USS Aster]
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