- USS Vixen (1861)
USS "Vixen" (1861) was acquired by the
Union Navy from the Coast Survey on26 August 1861 for use as a reconnaissance vessel during theAmerican Civil War ; and was later commissioned on31 July 1862 .Coastal Survey operations
"Vixen" left
New York City bound forPort Royal, South Carolina , in October1861 with orders to conduct survey work along the southern coast en route. Escorted by "Ottawa" and "Seneca", she enteredPort Royal Sound on4 November to placebuoy s in the channel preparatory to Flag OfficerSamuel F. Du Pont 's planned attack there, and drew scattered fire from the Confederate naval squadron under CommodoreJosiah Tattnall .The vessel conducted local surveys following the Union capture of the sound on the 7th, and reconnoitered
Saint Helena Sound ,South Carolina , on the 24th. In early December, a second survey was taken of St. Helena and, on the 18th, "Pawnee", "Seneca", and "Vixen" took possession of North and South Edisto Rivers, South Carolina, and drove a Confederate force fromRockville, South Carolina . "Vixen" became disabled in January1862 and was sent to theNew York Navy Yard for repairs.Union Navy operations
"Vixen" -- commissioned by the Union Navy on 31 July 1862 -- left the navy yard in August for Port Royal and duty with the
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron . She arrived on the 12th and, on the 16th, received orders to report to the blockade atOssabow Sound , Georgia. Thegunboat participated in the expedition against the Confederate works atPocotaligo, South Carolina , on 21 to23 October , and returned to theNew York Navy Yard shortly thereafter. Here, she was decommissioned on8 November to be repaired and returned to the Coast Survey.Career after service with the Union Navy
The historical record detailing the remainder of "Vixen's" career is incomplete. However, after her transfer to the Coast Survey, she conducted numerous explorations of the rivers and inlets along the coast of
Florida in early1863 and1864 . She also participated in several routine patrol andreconnaissance expeditions along the southeastern coast during this time.References
See also
*
United States Navy
*American Civil War External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/v4/vixen-iv.htm USS Vixen]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.