USS Azalea (1864)
History | |
---|---|
United States | |
Laid down | date unknown |
Launched | 1864 |
Acquired | 31 March 1864 |
Commissioned | 7 June 1864 |
Decommissioned | 13 July 1865 |
Stricken | 1865 (est.) |
Fate | Sold, 10 August 1865 |
General characteristics | |
Displacement | 176 tons |
Length | 110' |
Beam | 21' 6" |
Draught |
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Propulsion |
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Speed | 10 knots |
Complement | 42 |
Armament |
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USS Azalea was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as an armed tugboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways.
Azalea constructed in Boston in 1864
Azalea—a wooden-hulled, screw tug built at
Assigned to the South Atlantic blockade
Assigned to the
Assisting in the capture of runner Pocahontas
The highlight of this duty—which she performed until March 1865—came half an hour before midnight on 8 July 1864 when her boats joined those of the tug
From time to time during her ensuing months off Charleston, Azalea had brushes with
Preventing the escape of Confederate political leaders
By this time, the Confederacy was collapsing. General Robert E. Lee's army evacuated Richmond, Virginia, and Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet retired into the Deep South in the hope of continuing the struggle. However, Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia on the 9th and General Joseph E. Johnston realized that his army, the only significant body of Confederate troops left in the field, could not prevail.
On the 25th, Gen.
Azalea was one of the nine steamers that Dahlgren promptly sent to sea to intercept the former Southern chief of state. However, Union cavalrymen captured Jefferson Davis at Irwinville, Georgia, on 10 May; and Azalea returned to Port Royal 15 May.
Azalea captures British brig Sarah M. Newall
Nevertheless, the war was not yet quite over for the tug. On 23 May, she seized Sarah M. Newall while that British hermaphrodite brig was attempting to run through the blockade into Savannah, Georgia.
Post-war decommissioning, sale, and subsequent maritime career
Azalea continued blockade duty into June and, by mid-month, was back at Port Royal receiving repairs. She got underway north on 27 June and was decommissioned on 13 July 1865. Sold at auction at
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.