USS Young America (1855)
Encyclopedia
USS Young America (1855) was a Confederate
steamer
captured by the Union Navy
’s blockade
vessels, and subsequently placed in-service in the Union Navy during the American Civil War
.
captured Young America in Hampton Roads, Virginia, as that Confederate tug attempted to help blockade-running schooner
George M. Smith enter the James River
laden with munitions for the Confederacy. Cumberland armed the prize—a screw steamer built in 1855 at New York City
-- and used her as a tender.
However, early in June, Young America was ordered to the Washington Navy Yard
for repairs to her machinery. She broke down while en route and was towed up the Potomac River
by Union steamer .
, late in July, bound for Hampton Roads and duty with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. After patrol and reconnaissance
assignments, Young America proceeded to the Baltimore Navy Yard on 13 October 1861 for further repairs and returned to duty in Hampton Roads late in November. On 26 February 1862, the vessel briefly left the Virginia Capes
area for Currituck Inlet
, North Carolina
, to rescue crewmen and stores threatened with capture when Union screw steamer grounded on 25 February.
Young America performed invaluable service to the squadron during engagements with CSS Virginia
(the former Federal screw frigate Merrimack) on 8 and 9 March 1862. On 8 March, Young America towed to an anchorage off Sewell's Point, Virginia, enabling the frigate
to bombard Confederate batteries ashore. On 9 March, she refloated the grounded Union frigate, , and jockeyed the vessel into firing position against Virginia. Later, Young America rescued the crew of Union gunboat when fire destroyed that vessel on 10 March 1862. She also rescued personnel on board Henry Adams, grounded at Nag's Head, North Carolina, on 26 August 1862. Young America left for repairs at the Baltimore Navy Yard in September.
Young America returned to Hampton Roads in mid-October 1862, resuming duties as an armed guard tug. On 30 November 1862, and Young America towed monitor to the Washington Navy Yard
for repairs but returned to Newport News, Virginia
, early in December and, but for occasional runs north, operated in the vicinity of Hampton Roads and the James River through the end of the Civil War. On 7 January 1864, the tug was finally purchased by the Navy from the Boston prize court
.
, Fourth Division, until the end of the war.
at New York City
on 12 July 1865 to Camden & Amboy Railroad Co.
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...
steamer
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
captured 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...
’s blockade
Blockade
A blockade is an effort to cut off food, supplies, war material or communications from a particular area by force, either in part or totally. A blockade should not be confused with an embargo or sanctions, which are legal barriers to trade, and is distinct from a siege in that a blockade is usually...
vessels, and subsequently placed in-service in the Union 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...
.
Capture and conversion
On 24 April 1861, Union sloop-of-warSloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
captured Young America in Hampton Roads, Virginia, as that Confederate tug attempted to help blockade-running 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....
George M. Smith enter the James River
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
laden with munitions for the Confederacy. Cumberland armed the prize—a screw steamer built in 1855 at 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...
-- and used her as a tender.
However, early in June, Young America was ordered to the 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...
for repairs to her machinery. She broke down while en route and was towed up the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
by Union steamer .
Assigned to the North Atlantic Blockade
Repairs completed, the tug departed 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....
, late in July, bound for Hampton Roads and duty with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. After patrol and 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....
assignments, Young America proceeded to the Baltimore Navy Yard on 13 October 1861 for further repairs and returned to duty in Hampton Roads late in November. On 26 February 1862, the vessel briefly left the Virginia Capes
Virginia Capes
The Virginia Capes are the two capes, Cape Charles to the north and Cape Henry to the south, that define the entrance to Chesapeake Bay on the eastern coast of North America....
area for Currituck Inlet
Currituck Sound
Currituck Sound is a protected inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northeastern part of North Carolina. Thirty miles N-S and 3–8 miles wide, this shallow, island-filled sound is separated from the ocean by Bodie Island, part of the Outer Banks...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, to rescue crewmen and stores threatened with capture when Union screw steamer grounded on 25 February.
Young America performed invaluable service to the squadron during engagements with CSS Virginia
CSS Virginia
CSS Virginia was the first steam-powered ironclad warship of the Confederate States Navy, built during the first year of the American Civil War; she was constructed as a casemate ironclad using the raised and cut down original lower hull and steam engines of the scuttled . Virginia was one of the...
(the former Federal screw frigate Merrimack) on 8 and 9 March 1862. On 8 March, Young America towed to an anchorage off Sewell's Point, Virginia, enabling the frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
to bombard Confederate batteries ashore. On 9 March, she refloated the grounded Union frigate, , and jockeyed the vessel into firing position against Virginia. Later, Young America rescued the crew of Union gunboat when fire destroyed that vessel on 10 March 1862. She also rescued personnel on board Henry Adams, grounded at Nag's Head, North Carolina, on 26 August 1862. Young America left for repairs at the Baltimore Navy Yard in September.
Young America returned to Hampton Roads in mid-October 1862, resuming duties as an armed guard tug. On 30 November 1862, and Young America towed monitor to the 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...
for repairs but returned to Newport News, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
, early in December and, but for occasional runs north, operated in the vicinity of Hampton Roads and the James River through the end of the Civil War. On 7 January 1864, the tug was finally purchased by the Navy from the Boston 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...
.
Final operations of the war
Young America was assigned to captured Confederate ram CSS Atlanta for use as a tug on 9 April 1864 and assisted troops under General Wild in repulsing a Confederate attack upon Wilson's Wharf, James River, Virginia, on 24 May 1864. She remained with the James River SquadronJames River Squadron
The James River Squadron was formed shortly after the secession of the State of Virginia as part of the Virginia State Navy. The squadron is most notable for its role in patrolling the James River, which was the main water approach to the Confederate capital, Richmond...
, Fourth Division, until the end of the war.
Decommissioning
Young America was decommissioned on 9 June 1865 at the Norfolk Navy Yard and was sold at public auctionPublic auction
A public auction is an auction held on behalf of a government in which the property to be auctioned is either property owned by the government, or property which is sold under the authority of a court of law or a government agency with similar authority....
at 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...
on 12 July 1865 to Camden & Amboy Railroad Co.