USS Mobile (1854)

USS "Mobile" (1854) was a steamer captured by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as part of blockade forces to prevent Confederate forces from trading with other countries.

"Mobile", a side wheel steamer built as "Tennessee" at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1854 for Charles Morgan’s Texas Line, was seized by Maj. Gen. M. Lovell, CSA, at New Orleans, Louisiana, 15 January 1862, and put into service as a Confederate government operated blockade runner; captured by U.S. forces at New Orleans 25 April 1862; and commissioned as "Tennessee" 8 May 1862, Acting Master John D. Childs in command.

Assigned to the West Gulf Blockade

Assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, she took part in the capture of Port Hudson, Louisiana, 9 July 1863, and of Fort Morgan, and Fort Gaines in August 1864. Able to vie in speed with the faster blockade runners, she captured or assisted in the capture of seven Confederate vessels: "Alabama", "Friendship", and "Jane" in 1863, and "Allison", "Annie Verden", "Louisia", and "Emily" in 1864. Her speed also brought numerous assignments as a dispatch boat for the squadron, taking her from Pensacola, Florida, to gulf coast points as far away as the mouth of the Rio Grande River.

Sent to New York City for repairs

On 1 September 1864, following the capture of ironclad CSS Tennessee and her commissioning as a ship of the U.S. Navy, the side wheeler steamer was renamed "Mobile". Heavily damaged soon after in a gale off the Rio Grande, "Mobile" was sent to New York City for repairs.

End-of-war decommissioning, sale, and civilian career

She was sold to Russell Sturgis 30 March 1865. Redocumented as "Republic" 12 May 1865, she foundered at sea off Savannah, Georgia, 25 October 1865.

References

See also

* United States Navy
* American Civil War

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m13/mobile-i.htm USS Mobile]