USS Ossipee (1861)
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2018) |
History | |
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United States | |
Name | USS Ossipee |
Namesake | The Ossipee River |
Builder | Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine |
Laid down | June 1861 |
Launched | 16 November 1861 |
Sponsored by | Mrs. McFarland |
Commissioned | 6 November 1862 |
Decommissioned | 3 July 1865 |
Recommissioned | 27 October 1866 |
Decommissioned | 30 November 1872 |
Recommissioned | 10 October 1873 |
Decommissioned | 25 May 1878 |
Recommissioned | 28 January 1884 |
Decommissioned | 12 November 1889 |
Fate | Sold 25 March 1891 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Screw sloop-of-war |
Displacement | 1,240 long tons (1,260 t) |
Length | 207 ft (63 m) |
Beam | 38 ft (12 m) |
Draft | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
Depth of hold | 16 ft 10 in (5.13 m) |
Propulsion | Steam engine |
Speed | 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
Complement | 141 officers and enlisted |
Armament |
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The first USS Ossipee was a wooden, screw sloop-of-war in commission in the United States Navy at various times between 1861 and 1889. She served in the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was named for the Ossipee River of New Hampshire and Maine. The USS Ossipee was present during the Alaska Purchase.[1]
Construction
Ossipee's keel was laid down in June 1861 by the
Service history
Civil War, 1862–1865
Ten days later Captain
In September Ossipee steamed to the coast of Texas for blockade duty until returning to station off Mobile in mid-March 1864 as Admiral David Farragut built up his forces for the invasion of Mobile Bay. On 5 August, with USS Itasca alongside, she passed the forts and entered Mobile Bay with Farragut and participated in the ensuing naval battle, playing a large role in the struggle with CSS Tennessee which finally forced the well fought, heavy southern ironclad ram to surrender.
In September Ossipee returned to blockade duty off the Texas coast and, but for repairs at Pensacola, Florida late in 1864, served there until moving to New Orleans, Louisiana in April 1865. She was one of the Federal ships to pursue CSS Webb during the Confederate steamer’s daring attempt to race down the Mississippi River and escape to sea.
Following duty off Mobile, Ossipee sailed North late in June and decommissioned at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 3 July.
Pacific, 1866–1872
Recommissioned 27 October 1866, Captain George F. Emmons in command, Ossipee served in the north Pacific protecting American interests along the coasts of Mexico and Central America. She departed San Francisco 27 September 1867 for Sitka, Alaska, carrying Russian Commissioners for the ceremony transferring Alaska to the United States on 18 October.
After serving in the Pacific into the spring of 1872, Ossipee headed home on 6 June. On 20 June, Seaman
North Atlantic, 1873–1878
Recommissioned 10 October 1873, the veteran sloop of war served in the North Atlantic. She departed
Asiatic Squadron, Atlantic, 1884–1891
Recommissioned 28 January 1884, Ossipee departed Hampton Roads 30 April for the Far East via
References
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
- ^ William, Seward; Rousseau, Lovell (October 1908). "Transfer of the Alaska to the United States" (PDF). University of Washington. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ "Medal of Honor Recipients – Interim Awards, 1871–1898". Medal of Honor Citations. United States Army Center of Military History. 3 August 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
- Canney, Donald L. (1990). The Old Steam Navy: Frigates, Slops and Gunboats, 1815–1882. Vol. 1. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-004-1.
- Chesneau, Roger; Kolesnik, Eugene M., eds. (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-8317-0302-4.
- Olmstead, Edwin; Stark, Wayne E.; Tucker, Spencer C. (1997). The Big Guns: Civil War Siege, Seacoast, and Naval Cannon. Alexandria Bay, New York: Museum Restoration Service. ISBN 0-88855-012-X.
- "Ossipee". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History & Heritage Command(NH&HC). Retrieved 25 January 2013.
- Silverstone, Paul H. (2006). Civil War Navies 1855–1883. The U.S. Navy Warship Series. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-97870-X.
External links
- The Journal of the U.S.S. Ossipee, 27 October 1866 to 31 December 1867 Alaska's Digital Archives. Includes transfer ceremony of Alaska from Russia to the United States on 18 October 1867.