- USS Exchange (1862)
USS "Exchange" (1862) was a steamer acquired by the
Union Navy during theAmerican Civil War .She was used by the Union Navy as a
gunboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways. After the war's end, she was assigned as anammunition ship , to carry ordnance where needed.Built in Pennsylvania in 1862
"Exchange", a stern wheel gunboat, was built in
1862 atBrownsville, Pennsylvania ; purchased by the Navy6 April 1863 ; and early in June1863 joined theMississippi Squadron , Acting Volunteer Lieutenant J. S. Kurd in command.Civil War service
Patrolling the Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers
Through the summer of
1863 , "Exchange" patrolled theTennessee River , harassing the enemy by destroying boats and sending landing parties ashore, frequently taking prisoners. Early in September, she stood down theMississippi River toMemphis, Tennessee , and through the remainder of the war, patrolled the Mississippi River and its tributaries, convoyingUnion Army transports, shelling enemy shore batteries, and bringing her firepower to bear in repellingguerilla attacks on Union camps.Commended by Admiral Porter for gallant conduct in battle
"Exchange" joined in the expedition up the
Yazoo River in February1864 to facilitate the march onMeridian, Mississippi , and captured 632 bales of cotton belonging to theConfederate Army . On1 June , during a 45-minute engagement with a masked battery atColumbia, Arkansas , the gunboat was struck 35 times, 8 shot piercing her hull. One man was killed, and hercommanding officer wounded. The gallant conduct of her crew in this action won commendation from Rear AdmiralDavid Dixon Porter .Post-war service and disposal
"Exchange" towed and carried ordnance stores to
Jefferson Barracks, Missouri , after the war, until decommissioned atMound City, Illinois ,6 August 1865 . She was sold17 August 1865 .References
See also
*
United States Navy
*American Civil War External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/e6/exchange.htm USS Exchange]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.