USS Arago (1861)

USS "Arago" (1861) was a schooner borrowed by the Union Navy from the U.S. Coast Survey during the American Civil War. She was outfitted as a gunboat and used by the Union Navy as a picket and patrol vessel on Confederate waterways.

Civil War service

"Arago" loaned to the Union Navy by the Coast Survey

Early in the Civil War, the Coast Survey schooner "Arago" was ordered to report to Flag Officer Samuel F. Du Pont to assist him by conducting surveys and providing him with oceanographic data of the Southern coast for guidance in blockade duty and amphibious operations.

"Arago" departed Eastport, Maine, on 15 October 1861 and proceeded to the New York Navy Yard where she received weapons of unrecorded size and number to enable her to defend herself during her perilous work.

Joining the expedition to capture Port Royal

The schooner then joined the expedition destined to capture Port Royal, South Carolina. The information that she and Vixen obtained was invaluable to Du Pont during that successful operation which provided the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron with its most important base for the remaining years of the conflict.

Final operations with the Union Navy

However, few records containing details of the schooner's operations have survived. We do know that she continued to serve the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron into February 1863.

"Arago" returned to the Coast Survey

Presumably, shortly thereafter, "Arago" resumed operations under the orders of the U.S. Coast Survey.

References

See also

* United States Navy
* American Civil War

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a10/arago.htm USS Arago]