Civil War Union Ships A through B

United States   U.S. Civil    Union Navy in the Civil War    Union Civil War Ships A through B

Introduction
The information below comes from. Included are the names of ships with information about dates of service in the Civil War, type of ship, name changes, etc.

Ship names beginning with A to Al

 * Abeona, December 21, 1864 to August 17, 1865. Class: Side-wheel steamer. Description.


 * Abraham, purchased from U.S. Army and sold September 30, 1865. Class: Side-wheel steamer. Name changed to Victoria on transfer to Mississippi Squadron. Description.


 * Acacia, October 28, 1863 to May 12, 1865. Class: Screw steamer. Name changed from Vicksburg when purchased. Description.


 * A. Childs, see Childs.


 * A. C. Powell, see Watch.


 * A. Collier, see Collier.


 * A. O. Tyler, see Tyler.


 * Addie Douglass, see Poppy.


 * Adela, purchased from prize court, Key West, by Navy Department. Class: Side-wheel steamer. Sold at New York, November 30, 1865. Was a blockade runner; captured July 7, 1862 in the Bahamas by Quaker City and Huntsville. Description.


 * A. De Groot, see Snowdrop.


 * Adirondack, built by Government in 1862. Launched at New York, February 22, 1862. Class: Screw steamer; sloop; wood. Wrecked, August 23, 1862, N.W. Point Little Bahama Bank, Abaco, Bahama Islands, Man of War City. Description.


 * Admiral, see Fort Morgan.


 * Advance, see Frolic.


 * Adolph Hugel, purchased at Philadelphia, September 21, 1861. Class: Sails; wood. Sold at public auction at Washington, July 20, 1865. Present at bombardment of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, Louisiana, April 18-24. Attacked Vicksburg batteries June 26-28, 1862. On duty in Potomac River, October 31, 1862. Went out of commission June 17, 1865. Description.


 * Advocate, purchased by Navy Department from New York prize court, May 19,1863 Disposition --sunk as an obstruction in Petit Bois Channel, Ala. Paid for, but never taken or used for naval purposes. Description.


 * Aetna, see Nausett


 * Agamenticus, see Terror


 * Agawam, purchased from contractors at Portland, ME. Launched, April 21, 1863. Description. Class: Couble-ender:side-wheels; wood. Sold, October 10, 1867, to James Power, at Norfolk, Va, Commissioned, March 9, 1864; opersted in James River, Va., engaging Confederate batteries, July 14, to August 1864, Went out of commission at Norfolk, Va., March 31, 1867. Description.


 * A.Holly, Purchased at Baltimore by Captain H.S. Stellwagen, August 13, 1861. Schooner. Purchased to sink. Description.


 * A. Houghton, Purchased, October 12, 1861, at New York, from H. A. Brightman by G. D. Morgan. Class: Sails;  wood.  Sold at auction by Samuel C. Cook, August 10, 1865, at Philadelphia.  Incorrectly mentioned as Houghton and Van Houghton.  Commissioned, February 19, 1862 at New York Navy Yard.   Went out of commisiion at New York, October 13, 1862; recommissioned, December 3, 1862; sent by the department, October 10, 1863, to South Atlantic Squadron, for use as a storeship and later as a health ship.  Went out of commission, June 3, 1865, at Philadelphia. Description.


 * A.J. View, Purchased from New York prize court, July 28, 1863. Class; sails. Used as a coal hulk. Caprtured in Mississippi Sound, November 22, 1861, loaded with turpentine and tar, by U.S. steamers New London and R. R. Cuyler. Description.


 * Ai. Fitch, see Rose


 * Ajax, see Carnation


 * Ajax, see Manayunk


 * Alabama, Purchased, August 1, 1861, at New York, by G. D. Morgan from S. L. Mitchell &amp; Co. Class; Side-wheel steamer; wood. Sold, August 10, 1865, at auctiojn by Samuel C. Cook, at Philadelphia. Built in 1851, at New York, September 30, 1861, commissioned at New York Navy Yard; October 15, 1862, went out of commission; May 17, 1864, commissioned for duty in North Atlanntic Blockading Squadron; July 14, 1865, went out of commission at Philadelphia. Description.


 * Alabama, see New Hampshire


 * Alabama, see Fox


 * Albany, Built by government at Portsmouth Navy Yard, N. H., where launched, december 3, 1864 Class: Screw steamer; sloop. Sold at New York, December 12, 1872, to D. W. Richards. Name changed from Contoocook to Albany, May 15, 1869, Commissioned, March 14, 1868, at Portsmouth, N. H. Description.


 * Albatross, Purchased At Brooklyn, New York, by Commodore S.L. Breese. Class: Screw steamer; wood.  Sold at public auction at Boston Navy Yard, September 8, 1865, to C.P. Stickney, by Horatio Harris, for $19.800.  June 25, 1861, commissioned at New York Navy Yard; June 1, 1864, went out of commission at Portsmouth, N.H.; December 26, 1864, recommissioned and returned to duty in West Gulf Squadron; August 11, 1865, went out of commission at Boston. Description.


 * Albemarle, Captured, march 25, 1862, byDelaware, in Pantego Creek, N. C. May 9, 1863, purchased from New York prize court. Class: Sails; wood.  Sold at public auction at Norfolk Navy Yard, October 19, 1865, to Captain S. I. Bain, by W. G. Webb, for $235.  Ordnanced supply ship for two years in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Discription.


 * Albemarle, Purchased from Washington prize court. Class: Ironclad ram, twin screw steamer. Sold, October 15, 1867, at public auction at Norfolk, Virginia. Blown up by an expedition under Lieutenant W. B. Cushing, Roanoke River. Raised, and on April 21,1865, went to Norfolk in a leaking condition; taken into the service. Description.


 * Alert, See Watch.


 * Alexandria, Captured at Yazoo City, Miss. July 13, 1863. Class: Side-whell steamer; wood.  Sold at auction at Mound City, Ill., August 17, 1865, to W. Markham, Baton Rough, La., for $2,400.  Her original name was St. Mary; temporarily called the Yazoo. Commissioned at Cairo, Illinois December, 1863. On active patrol and dispatch duty in Mississippi Squadron during entire commission.  West out of commission, August 7, 1865, at Cairo, Illinois.   Description.


 * Alfred A. Wotkyns, see Althea. 


 * Alfred Robb, Captured, April 19, 1862, at Florence, Ala., by Tyler. Class: Steamer, Stern-wheel; wood. Sold at auction at Mound City, Ill., to H. A. Smith, for $9,200, August 17, 1865. Name changed to Robb. Commissioned, May 1, 1863, and operated in the Mississippi Squadron; went out of commission, August 9, 1865, at Mound City, Ilinoisl. Description.


 * Alcoma, Class: Screw steamer. Saw no service under above name, which was, May 15, 1869, changed to Benicia. Description.


 * Algoma, see Squando


 * Algonquin, Constructed by Government at Navy yard, New York; engines by Morgan Iron Works, New York; launched, December 31, 1863, at New York. Class: Double-ender; side-wheels. Sold to Thomas Clyde, October 21, 1869, for $30,000. No service. Description.


 * Alice, see Aster


 * Allen Collier, see Collier.


 * Alleghany, Constructed at Pittsburg, Pa., in 1847. Class: Screw propulsion.  Sold at Norfolk, Virginia, May 15, 1869, to Sam Ward for $5,000.  First vessel in the United States built with iron hull.  Originally had horizontal Hunter paddles; converted into a screw in 1851.  In 1856, fitted as a receiving ship. Description. Description.


 * Alligator - By contract with Martin Thomas, Philadelphia, Pa. June 19, 1862, left Philadelphia for Hampton Roads, undercharge of Samuel Eakin. Description.


 * Alpha, Purchased at Philadelphia by Commodore C. K. Stribling, June 3, 1864, from D. W. Lawson and others. Sold at auction at Washington, September 15, 1865, to Brown &amp; Matley, of Baltimore, by William L. Wall &amp; Co., for $5,100.  Purchased under name of Wheeler; also called tugNo. 1.  Used as picket boat on James River. Description.


 * Althea, Purchased at New York by Rear Admiral F. H. Gregory, December 9, 1863, from Lewis Hoagland. Class: Steamer; screw.  Sunk, March 12, 1865, by torpedo, Blakley River, Ala., raised again; December 8, 1966, sold at Philadelphia to F. Swift by John Lenthall for $5,300.  Name changed upon puchase to Althea.  November 7, 1865, commissioned; went out of commission April 25, 1866.  Total cost of repairs while in naval service was $24,403.62. Description.


 * Alvarado, Purchased at Baltimore by Captain H.S. Stellwagen, U.S.N., August 13, 1861. Schooner; sail.  Purchased to sink in Hatteras Inlet; one of the Stone Fleet. Description.

Ship names beginning with Am to Ao

 * Amanda, Purchased at New York, August 6, 1861, by George D. Morgan, from Moses Taylor &amp; Co., Class: Sails. Wrecked, May 29, 1863, on west coast of Florida.  Cost of repairs in naval service, $19, 722.48. Description.


 * Ammarathus, Purchased at Philadelphia, July 1, 1864, by Commodore C. K. Stribling from Bishop son &amp; Co. Class, Screw; wood, copper-fastened.  Sold at public auction, September 5, 1865, at New York, for $13,000.  Purchased at Christiana, July 12, 1864, commissioned at Philadelphia, for duty in South Atlantic Squadron; went out of comission August 19, 1865. Description.


 * Amazon, Purchased at Fairhaven, Mass., by G. d. Morgan and r. H. Chappell, October 30, 1861. Class: Sailing vessel.  "Old wahling vessel, purchased by order of the Navy department and loaded with stone; ordered to the port of Savannah, to sail from New Bedford, Mass., November 20, 1861." Description.


 * America, see Periwinkle 


 * America, Purchased at New Bedford, Massachusetts, November 8, 1861, by G. D. Morgan &amp; R. H. Chappell. Class: Sailing vessel. Probably old whaler; purchased to sink; stone Fleet. Description.


 * America, Discovered in Dunn's Lake, St. John's River, Fla., by boat expedition, 147 miles from its mouth; purchased of New York prize court, May 19, 1863, by the Navy Department. Sold at Annapolis, Md., June 20, 1873, to General B. F. Butler, for $5,000. A prize court never having condemned her, there was no clear title to her. "The America was brought to Jacksonville by lord Decie, and, I am well informed, was sold to the Confederate government some four months ago (at which time she ran the blockade), for the sum of 460,000. It is asserted and generally believed she was bought by the rebels for the purpose of carrying Slidell and Mason to England."  (Official Records, vol. 12, p. 640.) Sunk in St. John's River, Florida, by the Confederates. Description.


 * American, purchased, November 1, 1861, at Edgartown, Massachusetts, by George D. Morgan &amp; R. H. Chappell. "Old whaling vessel, purchased by order of the Navy Department and loaded with stone; ordered to the port of Savannah, to sail from New Bedford, November 20, 1861." (N. W. R. 12-418.) one of the so-called Stone Fleet sunk at the entrance to Charleston Harbor, December 20, 1861. Description.


 * Ammonoosuc, The Hull constructed by Government at Navy Yard, Boston; engines at Morgan Iron Works, New York. Launched, July 21, 1864, at Boston, Mass. Was sold, September 27,1883, at Boston, Mass., to Hubel and Porter, Syracuse, New York, for $44,005. Remark's.—May 15, 1869, name changed to Iowa. Laid up at Boston Yard from 1870 to September 27, 1883, when she was sold. Description,


 * Amphitrite, see Tonawanda.


 * Anacostia, In 1858, chartered for Paraguay expedition and subsequently purchased. Class: tender; screw steamer; wood. Sold at auction at Washington, July 20, 1865. Name, when purchased was changed from M.W. Chapin to Anacostia. Went out of commission, June 12, 1865. Description.


 * Anemone, Purchased, August 13, 1864, at Philadelphia, by Commodore C. K. Stribling from S. &amp; J. M. Flanagan. Class: Screw steamer. Sold at public auction at New York October 25, 1865. Purchased under name of Wicaco; name changed to Anemone at that time. Commissioned, September 14, 1864, at Philadellphia. Description.


 * Anna, Purchased, March 11, 1863, from Philadelphia prize court by the Navy Department. Originally lauched in 1857.  Class: Sails, wood.  Wrecked, January, 1865, on coast of Florida.  Name changed from La Criolla to Anna.  April 3, 1863, taken into service as a tender to the ordnance ship Dale at Key West, Florida. Description.


 * Annie, see Preston.


 * Annie Dees see Thunder.


 * Antelope, Purchased in New York in 1861. Class: Side-wheel Steamer.  Sunk, Septermber 23, 1864, in the Mississippi River. Total Cost of repairs while in naval service was $573.20. Description.


 * Antietam, Constructed by Government. Hull at Philadelphia Navy Yard; Machinery by Morris, Towne &amp; Co. Class: SScrew Steamer; sloop. Sold, September 8, 1988, to C. H. Gregory, Thomaston, Long Island for $6,700. Machinery contracted for October 25,1863. Full-rigged model in Seamanship Department, Naval Academy, Annapolis. Description.


 * Antietam, see Dandelion. 


 * Antona, Purchased by the Navy Department, March 28,1864, from New York prize court. Class: Screw Steamer; iron.  Sold at public auction, November 30, 1865, at New York, to G. W. Quintard, for $15,000, by Burdett, Johne &amp; Co. Description.

Ship names beginning with Ap to Az

 * Arapahoe, (Never Completed)


 * Archer, Purchased at New Bedfor, Massachusetts, October 28, 1861, by George D. Morgan &amp; R.H. Chappell. Class: Sails. Sunk at the entrance to Charleston Harbor, December 20, 1861.  "Old Whaling Vessel purchased by order of the Navy Department and loaded with stone, ordered ato the port of Savannah, to sail from New Bedford, November 20, 1861.  One of the so-called Stone Fleet. Description.
 * Arethusa, Purchased, July 1, 1864, at Philadelphia by Commodore C. K. Stribling, from S. &amp; J. M. Flannagan. Class: Screw Steamer.  Sold, January, 1866, at Port Royal, South Carolina.  Name, when purchased, changed from Wabash. Description.


 * Argos, See Koka. 


 * Argosy, Purchased, March 24, 1863, at Cairo, Illinois, from George W. Reed &amp; Co., by Rear Admiral D. D. Porter. Class: Stern-wheel steamer.  Sold, August 17, 1865, at public auction to U. P. Schenck at Mound City, Illinois, for $10,000, by Sol. A. Silver. Description.


 * Argosy, See Wave. 


 * Ariel, Purchased July 24 1863, at Key West, Florida, by the Navy Department, from prize court. Sold, June 28, 1865, to John Curry, at Key West, Florida, for $1270.  November 14, 1862, captured by U.S.S. Huntsville.  Early in January, 1863, turned over to East Gulf Squadron as a tender to the St. Lawrence. Description.


 * Aries, Purchased May 20, 1863 from Boston prize court, by the Navy Department. Class: Screw steamer; 5/8" iron.  Sold at public auction, August 1, 1865, at Boston Navy Yard, for $56,500 to Sprague, Soule &amp; co., by Horatio Harris.  Originally built in England in 1861.  Went out of commission at Boston, Massachusetts, June 14, 1865. Description.
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 * Arizona, See Neshaminy.


 * Arizona, Purchased, January 23, 1863, from Philadelphia prize court, by Commodore C. K. Stribling. Class: Side-wheel steamer; Iron.  Destroyed by fire, February 27, 1865, 38 miles below New Orleans, Louisiana. Built in 1858 at Wilmington, Delaware, the Arizona, formerly called the Caroline, was one of the fourteen vessels acquired by the Confederate government.


 * Arkansas, Purchased, June 27,1863, at Phladelphia, by Commodore C.K. Stribling, from S. &amp; J. M. Flanagan. Class: Screw Steamer; wood. Sold, July 20 1865, at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to George S. Leach, of that place, for $40,100.  Purchased under the name of Tonawanda. Went out of commission, June 30, 1865, at Pportsmouth, New Hampshire.


 * Arleltta, Purchased, September 7 1861, at New York, by George D. Morgas from H. W. Benedict. Class: Mortar schooner; wood; sails.  Sold, November 30, 1865, at Navy Yard, New York, for $9000.  September 28, 1865, went out of commission.


 * Page 39
 * Aroostook, Built by contract; hull at Kennebunk, Maine, by N. L. Thompson; engines by Novelty Iron Works, New York, N. Y. Class: Screw steamer; gunboat; wood.  Sold, in October, 1869, in Hong Kong, China, for $16,094.74. January 24,1862, delivered at Boston Navy Yard, where she was commissioned, February 20, 1862. September 25, 1865, went out of commission. Description
 * Avenger, Purchased, August 1, 1861, by George D. Morgan, from W. A. Sale &amp; Col, at New York. Class: Sails; wood.  Sold at public auction, September 27, 1865 to G.D. Morgan, at new York, for $11,700. Description
 * Ascutney, By contract with G. W. Jackson, Newburyport, Massachusetts. Class; Side-wheel Steamer; double-ender; schooner; wood.  Sold to John Roach, October 28, 1868, for $21,687.50.  Builder of engines, Morgan Iron Works, New York; delivered to the Government at New York Navy Yard, June; contract date for machinery, August 15, 1862. Description
 * Ashuelot. By contract with Donald McKay, Boson, Mass. Class: Side-wheel steamer; double-ender; schooner; iron. Lost near Amoy, China, February 17, 1883. Launched July 22, 1865; delivered at Boston Navy Yard November 30, 1865, and commissioned, April 5, 1866. Description

Ship names beginning with B

 * B. N. Creary, see Wilderness.
 * Bainbridge. By the Government in 1842. Class: Sails; wood. Foundered, August 21, 1863, off Hatteras, N. C. May 11, 1862, captured the schooner Newcastle. Cost of building and repairs to October, 1850, $93,141.42. Description
 * Baltimore. Transferred by the War Department, April 21, 1861. Class: Side-wheel; wood. Sold at auction, At Washington, June 24, 1865, for $16,000, to Thomas Clyde, by William L. Wall &amp; Co. Had been used as an ordnance vessel at Washington Yard. Turned over to the navy yard, May 22, 1865, there being no further use for her. Description
 * Banshee. Purchased from New York prize court, March 12, 1864, by the Navy Department. Class: Steamer; steel. Sold at New York, November 30, 1865, to Small, Ward &amp; Co., for $17,500, by Burdett, Jones &amp; Co. Captured November 21, 1863, by Grand Gulf and Fulton. She was captured blockade runner. Description
 * Baron De Kalb. Purchased of J. B. Eads, St. Louis, Mo. Launched, July 1862, Class: Ironclad. Sunk, July, 1863, 1 mile below Yazoo City by torpedo. Formerly the St. Louis; name changed by order dated September 8, 1862. Guns and valuables all recovered and vessel blown up under water. Description
 * Barrataria. Purchased; transferred from the Army, January 1, 1863, by Admiral Farragut. Ironclad gunboat. April 7, 1863, struck a snag in Lake Maurepas at mouth of Amite River, and was fired and abandoned to prevent capture by the rebels. Captured at New Orleans; transferred to Navy by U. S. Army, receipt therefor being given to Lieutenant-Colonel A. N. Shipley.Description
 * Bat. Purchased from Boston prize court, November 1864, by the Navy Department. Class: Side-wheel steamer; steel. Sold, October 25, 1865, at public auction at New York, to Russell Sturgis, by Burdett, Jones &amp; Co., for $29,500. New vessel. Captured on her first trip out, off Wilmington, October 10, 1864, by Montgomery and others. Description
 * Bazely. Purchased, June 4, 1864, at Philadelphia, by Commodre C. K. Stribling from William Mallory. Class: Screw steamer; picket boat. Sunk, December 10, 1864, by a torpedo in Roanoke River, N. C., near Jamesville. Name changed from Beta. Purchased for use as a picket boat on James River. Description
 * Beaufort. Captured at Richond, Va., May 1865, and sent to Norfolk. Class: Screw steamer. Sold, September 15,1865 to Whedbee &amp; Bickner, Batlimore, at public auction, for $3,850, at Washington. No service; September 2, 1865, ordered to Washington for sale.Description
 * Beauregard. Purchased, February 24, 1862, from Key West prize court, by Navy Department. Class: Sails; wood. Sold at public auction at Key West, Fla., June 28, 1865, to W. A. Lowe, by a Patterson, for $8,000. Formerly the Priscilla C. Ferguson, of Charleston, S. C. Captured, November 13, 18681, in Bahama Channel, by W. G. Anderson. She was a Confederate privaterr. Description
 * Belle. Purchased, June 2, 1864, at Boston, Mass., by Rear-Admiral S. H. Stringham. Launched in 1864, at Philadelphia, Pa. Class: Screw steamer. Sold at public auction at New York, July 12, 1865, to Cozzens &amp; Co., by A. Patterson, for $8,000. The Belle is a new boat; sailed from Boston for Hampton Roads, June 8, 1864. Description
 * Benefit. In 1865, charterd for service in Mississippi Squadron; returned on expiration of charter. Records disclose no further service. Description
 * Ben Gaylord, see Undine.
 * Benicia, see Algoma.
 * Ben Morgan. Purchased at New York, May 27, 1861, by George D. Morgan. Launched, at Philadelphia, Pa., in 1826. Class: Sails. Sold at New York, November 30, 1865, to Mr. Hammill, by Burdett, Jones &amp; Co., for $5,200. Formerly, the Mediator. From 1861 to 1865, ordnance ship, Hampton Roads, Va., for the North Atlantic Squadron. Description
 * Benton. Purchased and altered by James B. Eads under contract with General Meigs. Accepted by Admiral Foote, January 15, 1862. Class: Side-wheel steamer; iron-clad. Sold at auction at Mound City, Ill., November 29, 1865, to Daniel Jacobs, for $3,000. Plating sold separately. Flagship of Flag-Officer Foote. November 7, 1865, ordered that the plating be removed and that she be sold. Description
 * Berberry. Purchased, August 13, 1864, at Philadelphia, by Commodore C. K. Stribling, from S. J. M. Flanagan. Class: Screw steamer; white oak, copper -fastened. Sold, July 12, 1865, at public auction at New York, for $15,250. Name changed from Columbia. Sheathed with yellow metal. Commissioned 12, 1864, for service in North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Description