USS Island Belle (1861)
Encyclopedia
USS Island Belle (1861) was a large tugboat
acquired by the Union Navy
during the American Civil War
. Although carrying relatively heavy weaponry, she was used for unassuming tasks, such as carrying dispatches and providing surveillance. When she ran aground in unfriendly waters, she was scrapped to prevent her falling into the hands of the Confederate
forces.
from Luther Adams on 4 September 1861. She fitted out at Washington Navy Yard
and sailed on 17 September to join the Potomac Flotilla
. She served in the Potomac as a tug and a dispatch boat occasionally exchanging fire with batteries and riflemen on the Virginia shore. She sailed to Hampton Roads, Virginia on 19 March 1862, escorting transports carrying troops to Fort Monroe
in preparation for the Peninsular campaign against Richmond, Virginia
. She returned to Washington, D.C.
, as soon as the soldiers were disembarked and again got underway for Hampton Roads escorting a second division of transports on 23 March.
Island Belle devoted most of April and May to reconnaissance work, searching the Virginia
rivers between Washington and Richmond for information valuable to either the Army or the Navy.
George B. McClellan
's mighty force as it advanced up the peninsula toward Richmond, Virginia
. She steamed up the James on 25 May, carefully observing the river banks to detect any signs of Confederate military activity. When she joined Commander
William Smith, the senior Naval officer on the James, he used Island Belle in a wide variety of ways. He sent her on reconnaissance
missions to learn about enemy defenses in the Chickahominy River
and other tributaries of the James; he entrusted her with his messages to General McClellan and to the other ships of his command; he used her to carry coal to the hungry furnaces of his steamships; and he kept her on call to help refloat ships which often ran aground in the tricky and ever-changing currents of the river.
in an attempt to destroy the railroad bridge at Petersburg, Virginia
. The next day, she ran hard aground. After strenuous efforts failed to refloat her, Island Belle was burned on 28 June 1862 to prevent her falling into Confederate hands.
Tugboat
A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
acquired by the Union Navy
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...
. Although carrying relatively heavy weaponry, she was used for unassuming tasks, such as carrying dispatches and providing surveillance. When she ran aground in unfriendly waters, she was scrapped to prevent her falling into the hands of the 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...
forces.
Assigned to the Potomac River Flotilla
Island Belle was purchased at 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...
from Luther Adams on 4 September 1861. She fitted out at Washington Navy Yard
Washington Navy Yard
The Washington Navy Yard is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy...
and sailed on 17 September to join the Potomac Flotilla
Potomac Flotilla
The Potomac Flotilla, or the Potomac Squadron was a unit of the United States Navy created in the early days of the American Civil War to secure Union communications in the Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac River and their tributaries, and to disrupt Confederate communications and shipping in the...
. She served in the Potomac as a tug and a dispatch boat occasionally exchanging fire with batteries and riflemen on the Virginia shore. She sailed to Hampton Roads, Virginia on 19 March 1862, escorting transports carrying troops to Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe was a military installation in Hampton, Virginia—at Old Point Comfort, the southern tip of the Virginia Peninsula...
in preparation for the Peninsular campaign against Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. She returned to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, as soon as the soldiers were disembarked and again got underway for Hampton Roads escorting a second division of transports on 23 March.
Island Belle devoted most of April and May to reconnaissance work, searching the Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
rivers between Washington and Richmond for information valuable to either the Army or the Navy.
Reassigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron
Island Belle was transferred to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron on 22 May. Two days later, Flag Officer Goldborough assigned her to duty in the James River where the Navy was valiantly supporting the left flank of GeneralGeneral (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
George B. McClellan
George B. McClellan
George Brinton McClellan was a major general during the American Civil War. He organized the famous Army of the Potomac and served briefly as the general-in-chief of the Union Army. Early in the war, McClellan played an important role in raising a well-trained and organized army for the Union...
's mighty force as it advanced up the peninsula toward Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. She steamed up the James on 25 May, carefully observing the river banks to detect any signs of Confederate military activity. When she joined Commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
William Smith, the senior Naval officer on the James, he used Island Belle in a wide variety of ways. He sent her on reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
missions to learn about enemy defenses in the Chickahominy River
Chickahominy River
The Chickahominy is an river in the eastern portion of the U.S. state of Virginia. The river rises about northwest of Richmond and flows southeast and south to the James River...
and other tributaries of the James; he entrusted her with his messages to General McClellan and to the other ships of his command; he used her to carry coal to the hungry furnaces of his steamships; and he kept her on call to help refloat ships which often ran aground in the tricky and ever-changing currents of the river.
Island Belle burned to prevent capture
On 26 June, Island Belle steamed up the shallow Appomattox RiverAppomattox River
The Appomattox River is a tributary of the James River, approximately long, in central and eastern Virginia in the United States, named for the Appomattocs Indian tribe who lived along its lower banks in the 17th century...
in an attempt to destroy the railroad bridge at Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
. The next day, she ran hard aground. After strenuous efforts failed to refloat her, Island Belle was burned on 28 June 1862 to prevent her falling into Confederate hands.