USS ''Wissahickon'' was a that was built for service with the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

History

''Wissahickon'' was built at

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...

, Pennsylvania. Commissioned in November 1861, she initially served in the Gulf of Mexico and on the Mississippi River, where in April–July 1862 she participated in the capture of

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

, bombardment of Grand Gulf, two runs past the Confederate fortifications commanding the river at Vicksburg and a battle with the ironclad . After repairs at Philadelphia from August–October 1862, ''Wissahickon'' joined the blockade of the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia and eastern Florida. She took part in bombardments of

Fort McAllister Fort McAllister was a Confederate earthen-work fort used to defend Savannah, Georgia during the American Civil War. It was the southernmost of the forts defending Savannah and was involved in the most battles. It was located on the Ogeechee Rive ...

, Georgia, in late 1862-early 1863 and in the destruction of the

privateer A privateer is a private person or ship that engages in maritime warfare under a commission of war. Since robbery under arms was a common aspect of seaborne trade, until the early 19th century all merchant ships carried arms. A sovereign or deleg ...

''Rattlesnake'' (ex- CSS ''Nashville'') on 28 February 1863. One of her sailors, Captain of the Forecastle Henry Shutes, was awarded the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...

for his part in the action at Fort McAllister and the earlier

Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip The Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip (April 18–28, 1862) was the decisive battle for possession of New Orleans in the American Civil War. The two Confederate forts on the Mississippi River south of the city were attacked by a Union Nav ...

. In March–June 1863, ''Wissahickon'' destroyed one blockade runner (the SS ''Georgiana'')''Treasures of the Confederate Coast: the "real Rhett Butler" & Other Revelations'' by Dr. E. Lee Spence, Narwhal Press, ©1995. and helped to destroy another. During the summer, she bombarded Forts Wagner and

Sumter Sumter may refer to: People Given name * Sumter S. Arnim (1904–1990), American dentist * Sumter de Leon Lowry Jr. (1893–1985), United States Army general Surname * Rowendy Sumter (born 1988), Curaçaoan footballer * Shavonda E. Sumter ( ...

, off Charleston, South Carolina. ''Wissahickon'' spent the rest of the Civil War patrolling off South Carolina and in expeditions into the inland waters of that state and Georgia. She went to New York in June 1865, after the end of hostilities, and was decommissioned there at the beginning of July. ''Wissahickon'' was sold in October 1865 and soon became a merchant vessel under the name ''Adele''. She was employed in commercial service for some 20 more years.

References

External links

USS Wissahickon (1861-1865)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wissahickon Ships of the Union Navy Unadilla-class gunboats American Civil War patrol vessels of the United States Ships built in Philadelphia 1861 ships

History

See also

References

External links