USS Gem of the Sea (1861)

USS "Gem of the Sea" (1861) was a bark acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries.

"Gem of the Sea" was purchased at New York City from Galway & Teller 3 August 1861; and commissioned 15 October, Acting Volunteer Lt. Irvin B. Baxter in command.

Assigned to the South Atlantic Blockade

She departed New York 20 October 1861 to serve the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron off the coast of South Carolina. She ran British blockade runner "Prince of Wales" aground off Georgetown 24 December. She captured blockade runner "Fair Play" 12 March 1862, schooner "Dixie" 15 April 1862, and schooner "Mary Stewart" 3 June. Nine days later she took schooner "Seabrook" off Alligator Creek. On 1 July she took possession of four rice-laden lighters up the Waccamaw River.

Returning to Boston, she was reassigned to the East Gulf Blockade

"Gem of the Sea" returned to the Boston Navy Yard 18 October 1862 for repairs. Ordered to the East Gulf Coast Blockading Squadron, she arrived at Key West, Florida, 18 December 1862 to guard the coast.

A very busy bark, capturing numerous prizes

She captured sloop "Ann" off Jupiter Inlet 30 December 1862, a small, unidentified schooner 12 January 1863, a small boat 28 January, and schooner "Charm" in the Indian River Inlet 23 February. In the same vicinity, she captured sloop "Peter", and British blockade runners "Maggie Fulton" and "Inez". British schooner "George" was taken in the Sanibal River 29 July; and sloop "Richard" fell into her hands in Peace Creek 31 August. In an expedition up the same creek 5 September, she destroyed the buildings and four boats of noted blockade runner "Johnson". Thereafter she captured British schooner "Director" 30 September and sloop "Matilda" 21 October. From 24 to 30 December 1863, she was part of an expedition up the Myacca River, transporting refugee rangers from Useppa Island to the mainland.

End-of-war activity and decommissioning post-war

"Gem of the Sea" spent her remaining career patrolling off Charlotte Harbor, Florida. She joined her tender "Rosalie" in capturing steamer "Emma" off nearby Malco Inlet 11 June 1864. She departed Charlotte Harbor 2 February 1865 and entered the Philadelphia Navy Yard the 22d. She decommissioned 24 February and was sold 6 May 1865 to A. C. Purvis & Sons, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

References

See also

* United States Navy
* American Civil War

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g2/gem_of_the_sea.htm USS Gem of the Sea]