USS Isaac N. Seymour (1860)

USS "Isaac N. Seymour" (1860) was a steamer 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.

"Isaac N. Seymour" (also called "Seymour", "I. N. Seymour", and "J. N. Seymour") was built at Keyport, New Jersey, in 1860 and was purchased by the Navy at New York from Mr. Schultz 26 October 1861.

Assigned to the North Atlantic Blockade

She was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron 20 November and 3 days later was stationed in Hampton Roads, Virginia. While there she joined three other ships in engaging Confederate steamer "CSS Patrick Henry" and drove her back up stream.

Bombardment of Roanoke Island

A month later Flag Officer Louis M. Goldsborough ordered "Isaac N. Seymour" to Hatteras Inlet for impending operations in the sounds of North Carolina. She participated in the combined operations which took Roanoke Island 8 February, and at the end of the action she was commended for being "conspicuously in the foreground throughout the bombardment." One of her powdermen was killed and her chief engineer was seriously wounded in the fight. The next day "Isaac N. Seymour" steamed up Piankatank River to Elizabeth City, North Carolina, with Comdr. Rowan's expedition to destroy enemy gunboats and to break up communications between Albemarle Sound and Norfolk, Virginia. She continued mop-up operations in the sounds until she struck an abandoned anchor in Hatteras Inlet 20 February and sank before she could be run aground.

Raised and repaired after accidental sinking

She was raised, repaired, and returned to service in May. She resumed her former duty and continued to give a good account of herself in the sounds until 24 August when she struck a bank and sank in the Neuse River some 3 miles above New Bern, North Carolina, while steaming upstream to cover a landing of troops. A month later she was reported raised and on the ways being readied for service.

Raised and repaired after second accidental sinking

Back in fighting trim 23 October, she was ordered to tow schooner "Minnehaha" to Plymouth, North Carolina, to deliver provisions. Five days later she made the return passage towing damaged steamer "Whitehead" to New Bern, North Carolina, for repairs. Similar duty maintaining communications and lines of supply between Navy units in the sounds continued until 12 December when "Isaac N. Seymour" ascended the Neuse River with four other ships to support an Army expedition to destroy railroad bridges and track near Goldsboro, North Carolina, but the mission was aborted by low water which prevented their advancing more than 15 miles beyond New Bern.

Breaking the Confederate blockade on trapped Union troops

Confederate troops attacked the Union garrison at Washington, North Carolina, 31 March 1863 establishing a siege which threatened to starve the Northern troops into surrender. "Isaac N. Seymour" departed Plymouth, North Carolina, 2 April to play an active role in the naval operations which, despite well-served batteries ashore, brought the beleaguered soldiers food and ammunition. The Southern troops were finally forced to lift the blockade 16 April. Once again the daring and versatility of the Navy had been decisive in holding a hard-pressed position for the North.

Demonstrating up the James River against Richmond

"Isaac N. Seymour" was a part of the task force which started up the James River 11 July to demonstrate against Richmond, Virginia. The high point of the expedition came 14 July when Rear Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee, flying his flag in "Isaac N. Seymour", occupied Fort Powhatan, the last Confederate defense on the river below Chaffin's and Drewry's Bluff. "Isaac N. Seymour" continued to serve in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron -- maintaining Union control of North Carolina's inland waters and supporting Army operations from the James and York Rivers as General U.S. Grant supplied and supported by water, relentlessly pressed toward Richmond and victory.

Seymour decommissioning and civilian maritime career

"Isaac N. Seymour" was detached in March 1865 and decommissioned at Washington, D.C. 16 May. She was transferred to the Light House Board 20 June which she served as "Tulip" until sold and redocumented "Magnolia" 7 June 1882. "Magnolia" was sold to a foreign owner in 1888.

References

See also

* United States Navy
* American Civil War

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/i3/isaac_n_seymour.htm USS Isaac N. Seymour]