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USS Granite City (1863)
Encyclopedia
USS Granite City (1863) was a steamer captured by the Union Navy
during the American Civil War
. She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat
in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate
waterways until she, in turn, was captured by Confederate forces and destroyed in grounding.
. She was bought by the United States from the New York City
prize court
for $55,000 and delivered to the Navy at New York City 16 April 1863, Acting Master Charles W. Lamson in command.
, for duty 27 August 1863.
Expedition, which was intended to provide a Union lodgment in Texas
and prevent possible French moves into that State from Mexico
.
, Clifton, and Arizona
on 8 September, but the withering fire of Confederate batteries forced the gunboats and their transports to withdraw. Sachem and Clifton were disabled and captured in the action, though Granite City suffered no damage.
Anita 27 October 1863, schooner Amelia Ann 16 November, and bark Teresita 17 November.
In addition, the steamer supported two landings of troops on the Texas
coast. With Scotia
, she shelled Confederate cavalry off Pass Cavallo
31 December 1863, allowing Union reconnaissance forces to land successfully. Again on 19 January 1864, the two ships covered the landing of several hundred troops near Smiths Landing, Texas, and defended them by shelling shore positions.
Under attack, Granite City and Wave
After 3 more months of grueling blockade duty, Granite City was dispatched with steamer Wave
to Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana, to receive refugees. While engaged in this duty, 28 April 1864, the ships were attacked by Confederate troops and shore batteries. After an hour's sharp engagement, both ships surrendered, placing Granite City in Confederate hands for the second time.
, her original occupation, Granite City was loaded at Galveston, Texas
, and ran out of Velasco, Texas
, 20 January 1865. The night was foggy and she succeeded in eluding the blockading squadron for a time, but the next day she was chased ashore by steamer Penguin
, and soon broke up on the beach.
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 by the Union Navy 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:...
in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate
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...
waterways until she, in turn, was captured by Confederate forces and destroyed in grounding.
Blockade runner Granite City captured by USS Tioga
Granite City was originally a Confederate blockade runner, and was captured in the Bahama Islands 22 March 1863 by U.S.S. TiogaUSS Tioga (1862)
USS Tioga was a large steamer with powerful guns, acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.Tioga was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways....
. She was bought by the United States from the New York City
New 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...
prize court
Prize court
A prize court is a court authorized to consider whether or not a ship has been lawfully captured or seized in time of war or under the terms of the seizing ship's letters of marque and reprisal...
for $55,000 and delivered to the Navy at New York City 16 April 1863, Acting Master Charles W. Lamson in command.
Assigned to the Western Gulf Blockade
Assigned to the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron, Granite City arrived in New Orleans, LouisianaNew 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...
, for duty 27 August 1863.
Participating in the ill-fated Sabine Pass expedition
She was detained for a time in quarantine because of sickness on board, but departed 4 September to take part in the ill-fated Sabine PassSabine Pass
Sabine Pass is the natural outlet of Sabine Lake into the Gulf of Mexico. It borders Jefferson County, Texas, and Cameron Parish, Louisiana.Two major battles occurred here during the American Civil War, known as the First and Second Battles of Sabine Pass....
Expedition, which was intended to provide a Union lodgment in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and prevent possible French moves into that State from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Expedition fails and Granite City escapes the Confederate guns
Granite City was ideally suited to help support the troop landings because her shallow draft allowed her to cross the bar and lie close to shore. She crossed the bar in company with SachemUSS Sachem (1861)
The second Navy vessel to bear the name Sachem, this screw steamer was built in 1844 at New York City, where it was purchased by the Navy on September 20, 1861.-Battle of Hampton Roads:...
, Clifton, and Arizona
USS Arizona (1858)
The first USS Arizona was an iron hulled side-wheel steamer in the United States Navy.-USS Arizona:USS Arizona was an iron-hulled, side-wheel merchant steamship laid down in 1858 at the shipyard of Harlan and Hollingsworth in Wilmington, Delaware, and completed in 1859...
on 8 September, but the withering fire of Confederate batteries forced the gunboats and their transports to withdraw. Sachem and Clifton were disabled and captured in the action, though Granite City suffered no damage.
Patrolling the Texas coast
For the next 8 months, Granite City, though often in need of repairs to her weak machinery, actively participated in the blockade of the Texas coast. She captured schoonerSchooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
Anita 27 October 1863, schooner Amelia Ann 16 November, and bark Teresita 17 November.
In addition, the steamer supported two landings of troops on the Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
coast. With Scotia
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...
, she shelled Confederate cavalry off Pass Cavallo
Pass Cavallo (Texas)
Pass Cavallo, alternately known as Cavallo Pass, is one of five natural water inlets which separate the Gulf of Mexico and Matagorda Bay, in the U.S. state of Texas. René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle came ashore in Texas at this point. Matagorda Island Lighthouse was originally built on...
31 December 1863, allowing Union reconnaissance forces to land successfully. Again on 19 January 1864, the two ships covered the landing of several hundred troops near Smiths Landing, Texas, and defended them by shelling shore positions.
Under attack, Granite City and WaveWaveIn physics, a wave is a disturbance that travels through space and time, accompanied by the transfer of energy.Waves travel and the wave motion transfers energy from one point to another, often with no permanent displacement of the particles of the medium—that is, with little or no associated mass...
are captured by Confederates
After 3 more months of grueling blockade duty, Granite City was dispatched with steamer WaveUSS Wave (1863)
USS Wave was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways until she was herself captured by Confederate forces....
to Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana, to receive refugees. While engaged in this duty, 28 April 1864, the ships were attacked by Confederate troops and shore batteries. After an hour's sharp engagement, both ships surrendered, placing Granite City in Confederate hands for the second time.
Granite City, converted into a blockade runner, runs aground, breaks up
Fitted out as a Confederate blockade runnerBlockade runner
A blockade runner is usually a lighter weight ship used for evading a naval blockade of a port or strait, as opposed to confronting the blockaders to break the blockade. Very often blockade running is done in order to transport cargo, for example to bring food or arms to a blockaded city...
, her original occupation, Granite City was loaded at Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
, and ran out of Velasco, Texas
Velasco, Texas
Velasco was a town in Texas, United States, that was later annexed by the city of Freeport. Founded in 1831, Velasco is situated on the east side of the Brazos River in southeast Texas. It is sixteen miles south of Angleton, Texas, and four miles from the Gulf of Mexico.The town's early history is...
, 20 January 1865. The night was foggy and she succeeded in eluding the blockading squadron for a time, but the next day she was chased ashore by steamer Penguin
USS Penguin (1861)
USS Penguin was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.She was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries....
, and soon broke up on the beach.