USS Gemsbok (1861)

USS "Gemsbok" (1861) was a bark acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Navy as a gunboat, but, later in the war, she was also used as a collier and as a storeship.

"Gemsbok" was purchased 7 September 1861 at Boston, Massachusetts, and commissioned 30 August 1861 at the Boston Navy Yard, Acting Volunteer Lt. Lewis Drake Voorhees in command.

outh Atlantic Blockade

Assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, "Gemsbok" sailed from Boston 6 September 1861 for her duty station off Wilmington, North Carolina.

On 19 September she captured schooner "Harmony" off Cape Hatteras and 3 days later took schooner "Mary E. Pindar" off Federal Point, North Carolina. Schooner "Beverly" fell to "Gemsbok" just outside Frying Pan Shoals 3 October while on 18 October English brig "Ariel", loaded with salt, was captured off Wilmington. In November "Gemsbok" reported for blockade duty at Beaufort, North Carolina. On 16 January 1862 her crew, with that of "Albatross" boarded and burned "York", grounded near Bogue Inlet, North Carolina, white unloading supplies from Dublin.

Bombardment and capture of Fort Macon

On 25 April "Gemsbok" in company with other warships bombarded Fort Macon, North Carolina. In the last engagement she had much of her rigging shot away. During the capture of Fort Macon two English ships, "Alliance" and "Gondar", were taken as prizes; "Gemsbok" convoyed them to the Chesapeake capes, from where they sailed to New York City while she put in at Hampton Roads, Virginia, 10 May.

Sent south to protect Union shipping

Subsequently, she was ordered to Boston 27 August 1862 to fill up her complement and then to report for duty with Rear Admiral Samuel F. DuPont at Port Royal, South Carolina. From that port she sailed to Turtle Harbor, Florida, for the protection of colliers supplying the West Indies squadron.

On 10 December Union Army transport "Menemon Sanford" grounded on a reef south of Key West, Florida, and "Gemsbok" sent a launch and crew to kedge her off, taking on board many officers and men later debarked at Key West.

Employed as a collier and storeship

In February 1863 "Gemsbok" was attached to the West Indies Squadron to be employed as a coal and store ship. Returning to New York City 19 July 1863, she decommissioned there.

On 19 July 1864 she was ordered to Port Royal and, after recommissioning at New York 23 December 1864, reached that port 8 January 1965. She served on blockade duty in waters off Georgia and South Carolina and as a guard ship and storeship before returning to the New York Navy Yard 17 June 1865.

Final decommissioning and sale

Decommissioned in New York City 11 July 1865, "Gemsbok" was sold at auction to Smith & Co. at New York.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g2/gemsbok-i.htm