- USS State of Georgia (1851)
USS "State of Georgia" (1851) was a large steamer with powerful guns acquired by the
Union Navy during theAmerican Civil War ."State of Georgia", with her crew of 113 sailors and officers, was used by the Union Navy as a
gunship in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways.A large ship built in pre-Civil War Philadelphia in 1851
"State of Georgia" -- a side wheel steamer built at
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , in1851 by Vaughn & Lynn -- was purchased by the Union Navy at Philadelphia on25 September 1861 from Philadelphia and Savannah Steamship Co.; and was commissioned at thePhiladelphia Navy Yard on20 November 1861 , Comdr. James F. Armstrong in command.Civil War operations
Assigned to the North Atlantic Blockade
The side wheel steamer joined the
North Atlantic Blockading Squadron atHampton Roads, Virginia , on 26 November; and sailed the next day for blockade station offBeaufort, North Carolina ; and arrived there on the 28th.Capture of blockade runners "Constitution" and "Nassau"
On
22 May offWilmington, North Carolina , she helped "Mount Vernon" and "Victoria" capture steamer "Constitution" ofAlbany, New York , and sent her to port for adjudication for trading with the enemy. Six days later, she and "Victoria" captured steamer "Nassau" -- the former notoriousblockade runner "Gordon" -- nearFort Casswell, North Carolina . The prize -- which had been carryingEnfield rifles , ammunition, and military stores for the Southern Army -- was sent toNew York City for action by theprize court ."State of Georgia" collides with USS "Mystic" and is damaged
On
26 September , "State of Georgia" and "Mystic" chased an unidentifiedschooner ashore atNew Inlet, North Carolina ., and destroyed her. Two days later, the two blockaders again cooperated in seizing English steamer "Sunbeam" as it attempted to run the blockade off Wilmington. Unfortunately, the two Union ships were becoming so accustomed to working close together that they collided in the dark; and "State of Georgia" was forced to sail to theWashington Navy Yard early in October for repairs which kept her out of action until late in December. She then towed monitor "Passaic" from Hampton Roads toBeaufort, North Carolina , and returned toNorfolk, Virginia , on3 January 1863 before resuming blockade duty off Wilmington.Chasing blockade runner "Mary Jane" ashore
In February, she towed Union ironclad "Nahant" to
Port Royal, South Carolina , but soon returned to New Inlet, North Carolina. There, she took possession of abandoned English schooner "Annie" of Nassau, laden with salt and medicine. On24 March ,State of Georgia and "Mount Vernon" chased schooner "Mary Jane" ashore where she was abandoned by her crew. Boat parties from the blockaders boarded the schooner and the steamer towed her to deep water.The next day, the two blockaders seized blockade-running schooner "Rising Daunt" with a large cargo of salt.
Repaired in Philadelphia, then returned to blockade service
Late in July, "State of Georgia" returned to Philadelphia for extensive repairs and was decommissioned there on
10 August . Recommissioned on27 November 1863 . the steamer returned to theNorth Atlantic Blockading Squadron and served on blockade duty primarily off Wilmington until forced to sail north again late in the summer of1864 for yard work. She was decommissioned at theNew York Navy Yard on10 September 1864 .Assigned to the South Atlantic blockade
Recommissioned on
5 January 1865 , "State of Georgia" was assigned to theSouth Atlantic Blockading Squadron for the closing months of the Civil War. She proceeded to the coast ofSouth Carolina to join in naval operations clearing the way and supporting GeneralWilliam Tecumseh Sherman 's path as he started marching north fromSavannah, Georgia .Bull’s Bay, South Carolina, Operations
On
24 January , she was atGeorgetown, South Carolina , to prevent the erection of Southern batteries. In February, she participated in the operations which tookBull's Bay, South Carolina . In March, the ship moved toPort Royal, South Carolina , and remained in that vicinity through the last days of the Confederacy.Carrying dispatches to troubled Bogota, Colombia
On
11 April , "State of Georgia" got underway from Port Royal and proceeded to Aspinwall, New Granada, to carry dispatches to the American minister at Bogota and to learn of conditions on theisthmus and to protect the interests of the United States.Rescuing survivors of the "Golden Rule"
On
9 June , "State of Georgia" and "Huntsville" departed Aspinwall and proceeded to a position nearRoncador Reef to rescue the survivors of the wrecked "Golden Rule".Post-war decommissioning, sale, and subsequent maritime career
After returning home late in the summer, "State of Georgia" was decommissioned at
New York City on9 September 1865 . She was sold at public auction there on25 October 1865 to a Capt. G. Wright and was redocumented as "Andrew Johnson" on9 May 1866 . On5 October 1866 , she was driven ashore atCurrituck Inlet, North Carolina , during ahurricane , and was a total loss.References
See also
*
United States Navy
*American Civil War External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s18/state_of_georgia.htm USS State of Georgia]
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