USS Lilian (1863)

USS "Lilian" (1863) was a large steamer captured 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.

Captured by the Union and commissioned as a Union Navy vessel

"Lilian", an iron wide-wheel steamer built on the Clyde River, Scotland, in 1863, was captured some 100 miles east of Cape Fear, North Carolina, 24 August 1864 by "Keystone State" and other Union ships. Among the prisoners were five Wilmington, North Carolina, pilots being carried to Bermuda to guide Confederate ships through the blockade. Purchased by the Navy from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Prize Court 6 September 1864, she was commissioned 6 October at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Acting Volunteer Lt. T. A. Harris in command.

Assigned to join the Union fleet attacking Fort Fisher

"Lilian" joined the fleet attacking Fort Fisher, Cape Fear River, 23 to 24 December 1864 and 13 to 14 January 1865. She landed troops above the fort on the 13th, and then bombarded it. After this attack, she patrolled the inlet, and with "Tristam Shady" captured the British steamer "Blenheim" 25 January.

Post-war decommissioning, sale, and civilian career

She decommissioned 5 April 1865 and was sold at public auction at New York City 30 November 1865. Documented 8 October 1866, "Lilian" operated in merchant service until 1868.

References

See also

* United States Navy
* American Civil War

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l6/lilian.htm USS Lilian]