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USS Seneca (1861)
Encyclopedia
USS Seneca was a built on behalf of the United States Navy
for service during the American Civil War
. Seneca was outfitted with guns for horizontal fire as well as with two howitzer
s for bombardment of shore targets. With her crew of 84, she was assigned to the Union blockade
of the Confederate States of America
.
in command. Her executive officer was John G. Sproston
of Maryland.
; two days later, she took part in the capture of Port Royal, which proved to be an invaluable Union naval base throughout the remainder of the Civil War. From the 9th-12th, she took part in the expedition which took possession of Beaufort, South Carolina
. On 5 December, she participated in the operations about Tybee Sound to help seal off Savannah, Georgia
. The next day, she was in sight during the capture of schooner
Cheshire, entitling her crew to share in prize money.
From January 1862-January 1863, Senecas area of operations extended from Wilmington, North Carolina
to Florida. On 27 January 1863, she took part in the attack on Fort McAllister
, and on 1 February she participated in a second attack. On 28 February, in the Ogeechee River
, she supported in the destruction of privateer
Rattlesnake, the former Confederate warship CSS Nashville
. In July 1863, she was one of the vessels in the attack on Fort Wagner
. She later returned via Port Royal to the New York Navy Yard where she was decommissioned on 15 January 1864.
in command, and was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. On 24-25 December, Seneca took part in the abortive attack on Fort Fisher
, and from 13-15 January 1865 she participated in the successful second attack which finally captured that Southern coastal stronghold and doomed Wilmington, North Carolina, closing the Confederacy's last major seaport. On 17 February, she was in the force which attacked Fort Anderson
and captured it two days later.
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...
for service 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...
. Seneca was outfitted with guns for horizontal fire as well as with two howitzer
Howitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
s for bombardment of shore targets. With her crew of 84, she was assigned to the Union blockade
Union blockade
The Union Blockade, or the Blockade of the South, took place between 1861 and 1865, during the American Civil War, when the Union Navy maintained a strenuous effort on the Atlantic and Gulf Coast of the Confederate States of America designed to prevent the passage of trade goods, supplies, and arms...
of the Confederate States of America
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...
.
Commissioned at New York City in 1861
One of the “Ninety-day gunboats”, Seneca — the first United States Navy ship to be so named — was built at New York City by Jeremiah Simonson and launched on 27 August 1861. She was commissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 14 October 1861, Lieutenant Daniel AmmenDaniel Ammen
Daniel Ammen was a U.S. naval officer during the American Civil War and the postbellum period, as well as a prolific author.-Biography:...
in command. Her executive officer was John G. Sproston
John G. Sproston
John Glendy Sproston was an officer in the United States Navy during the Civil War. He was killed in action in a riverine action in Florida.-Biography:...
of Maryland.
North and South Atlantic blockade operations
On 5 November 1861, Seneca and three other Federal Union gunboats engaged and dispersed a Confederate squadron near Port Royal, South CarolinaPort Royal, South Carolina
Port Royal is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Largely because of annexation of surrounding areas , the population of Port Royal rose from 3,950 in 2000 to 10,678 in 2010, a 170% increase. As defined by the U.S...
; two days later, she took part in the capture of Port Royal, which proved to be an invaluable Union naval base throughout the remainder of the Civil War. From the 9th-12th, she took part in the expedition which took possession of Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
. On 5 December, she participated in the operations about Tybee Sound to help seal off Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
. The next day, she was in sight during the capture of schooner
Schooner
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....
Cheshire, entitling her crew to share in prize money.
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
to Florida. On 27 January 1863, she took part in the attack on Fort McAllister
Fort McAllister
Fort McAllister may refer to:*Fort McAllister Historic Park, a Georgia state park located near Keller and Richmond Hill in South Bryan County, Georgia ....
, and on 1 February she participated in a second attack. On 28 February, in the Ogeechee River
Ogeechee River
Ogeechee River is a river in the U.S. state of Georgia. It heads at the confluence of its North and South Forks, about south-southwest of Crawfordville and flowing generally southeast to Ossabaw Sound about south of Savannah. Its largest tributary is the Canoochee River...
, she supported in the destruction of privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
Rattlesnake, the former Confederate warship CSS Nashville
CSS Nashville (1861)
Originally a United States Mail Service ship, the USMS Nashville, was a brig-rigged, side-paddle-wheel passenger steamer built at Greenpoint, Brooklyn in 1853. Between 1853 and 1861 she was engaged in running between New York City and Charleston, South Carolina...
. In July 1863, she was one of the vessels in the attack on Fort Wagner
Fort Wagner
Fort Wagner was a beachhead fortification on Morris Island, South Carolina, that covered the southern approach to Charleston harbor...
. She later returned via Port Royal to the New York Navy Yard where she was decommissioned on 15 January 1864.
Reassigned to the North Atlantic blockade
She was recommissioned on 3 October, Commander George BelknapGeorge Belknap
Rear Admiral George Eugene Belknap was an officer in the United States Navy. USS Belknap was named for him....
in command, and was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. On 24-25 December, Seneca took part in the abortive attack on Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher was a Confederate fort during the American Civil War. It protected the vital trading routes of the port at Wilmington, North Carolina, from 1861 until its capture by the Union in 1865....
, and from 13-15 January 1865 she participated in the successful second attack which finally captured that Southern coastal stronghold and doomed Wilmington, North Carolina, closing the Confederacy's last major seaport. On 17 February, she was in the force which attacked Fort Anderson
Fort Anderson
Fort Anderson can refer to:*Fort Anderson — A Union fort used in the American Civil War and site of the Battle of Paducah, Kentucky*Fort Anderson — A Confederate fort used in the American Civil War...
and captured it two days later.