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USS Cowslip (1863)
Encyclopedia
USS Cowslip (1863) was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy
during the American Civil War
.
She was used as a gunboat
by the Union Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy
to prevent the South from trading with other countries. She was also used in other operational roles, such as an ammunition ship
, a dispatch boat
, and a rescue and salvage vessel.
2 February 1864 and arrived at New Orleans, Louisiana
, 26 February. Constantly active, she carried officers and men and delivered mail, stores, guns, and ammunition for her squadron and provisions for refugees. She was used as a tow and convoy
steamer, performed rescue and salvage work, and served as a picket and patrol vessel.
, 15 April 1864; the sloop
Last Push, 29 May; and a raid up Biloxi Bay, Mississippi
, on which she captured five sloops and a small steamer, and destroyed six large boats, three flat boats, and four salt works.
During July and August 1864 she operated off Mobile, Alabama
, participating in the preparations for the Battle of Mobile Bay
5 August and in Admiral David G. Farragut's brilliant action on that day which culminated in victory for the Union Navy.
8 December 1864 after their ship had been blown up by a torpedo (mine)
at Edgemont Key, Florida
, and salvaged Narcissus’
guns and ammunition. Cowslip rescued six wounded survivors from Sciota
, torpedoed
14 April 1865.
, was wrecked by an explosion 25 May 1865.
.
Union Navy
The Union Navy is the label applied to the United States Navy during the American Civil War, to contrast it from its direct opponent, the Confederate States Navy...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
She was used as a gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
by the Union Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
to prevent the South from trading with other countries. She was also used in other operational roles, such as an ammunition ship
Ammunition ship
An ammunition ship is a warship specially configured to carry ammunition, usually for Navy ships and aircraft. Their cargo handling systems, designed with extreme safety in mind, include ammunition hoists with airlocks between decks, and mechanisms for flooding entire compartments with sea water in...
, a dispatch boat
Dispatch boat
Dispatch boats were small boats, and sometimes large ships, tasked to carry military dispatches from ship to ship or from ship to shore or, in some cases from shore to shore...
, and a rescue and salvage vessel.
Built in New York in 1863
Cowslip, a side wheel steamer, was built in 1863 at Newburgh, New York, as Meteor; purchased 21 December 1863 from James How and C. W. Copeland; outfitted at New York Navy Yard; and commissioned 27 January 1864, Acting Ensign R. Canfield in command.Assigned to the West Gulf Blockade
Assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, Cowslip departed New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
2 February 1864 and arrived at New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, 26 February. Constantly active, she carried officers and men and delivered mail, stores, guns, and ammunition for her squadron and provisions for refugees. She was used as a tow and convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
steamer, performed rescue and salvage work, and served as a picket and patrol vessel.
Combat action during blockade duty
Her actions against the Confederates included the capture of a sailboat with five men on board off Pascagoula, MississippiPascagoula, Mississippi
Pascagoula is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States. It is the principal city of the Pascagoula, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, as a part of the Gulfport–Biloxi–Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. The population was 26,200 at the 2000 census...
, 15 April 1864; the sloop
Sloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
Last Push, 29 May; and a raid up Biloxi Bay, Mississippi
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....
, on which she captured five sloops and a small steamer, and destroyed six large boats, three flat boats, and four salt works.
During July and August 1864 she operated off Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, participating in the preparations for the Battle of Mobile Bay
Battle of Mobile Bay
The Battle of Mobile Bay of August 5, 1864, was an engagement of the American Civil War in which a Federal fleet commanded by Rear Adm. David G. Farragut, assisted by a contingent of soldiers, attacked a smaller Confederate fleet led by Adm...
5 August and in Admiral David G. Farragut's brilliant action on that day which culminated in victory for the Union Navy.
Cowslip active in at-sea rescue work
Cowslip was also active in rescue work. She saved the crew of NarcissusUSS Narcissus (1863)
USS Narcissus — a screw steamer launched in July 1863 as Mary Cook at East Albany, N.Y. — was purchased by the Union Navy at New York City on 23 September 1863 from James D. Stevenson; and commissioned at New York Navy Yard on 2 February 1864, Acting Ensign William G...
8 December 1864 after their ship had been blown up by a torpedo (mine)
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
at Edgemont Key, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and salvaged Narcissus’
USS Narcissus (1863)
USS Narcissus — a screw steamer launched in July 1863 as Mary Cook at East Albany, N.Y. — was purchased by the Union Navy at New York City on 23 September 1863 from James D. Stevenson; and commissioned at New York Navy Yard on 2 February 1864, Acting Ensign William G...
guns and ammunition. Cowslip rescued six wounded survivors from Sciota
USS Sciota (1861)
USS Sciota was a built on behalf of the United States Navy for service during the American Civil War. She was outfitted as a gunboat, with both a 20-pounder rifle for horizontal firing, and two howitzers for shore bombardment, and assigned to the Union blockade of the waterways of the Confederate...
, torpedoed
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
14 April 1865.
Rescuing three ships when Marshall’s warehouse exploded
Cowslip rendered efficient and valuable assistance by towing three ships out of the danger zone when Marshall's warehouse in Mobile, AlabamaMobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, was wrecked by an explosion 25 May 1865.
Post-war decommissioning and sale
Her service complete, Cowslip was sold 28 August 1866 at Pensacola, FloridaPensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
.