USS ''Clifton'' was a shallow-draft side-wheel paddle steamer, built in 1861 at

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

, as a civilian ferry. The Union Navy bought her early that December, and commissioned her after having her converted into a

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 Pre-steam ...

. In 1863 she ran aground, was captured and commissioned into the

Texas Marine Department The Texas Marine Department (1861–1865) (alt ''Marine Department of Military District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona'', ''Trans-Mississippi Marine Department'') was formed in the State of Texas shortly after Texas came under blockade from t ...

. Her career ended in 1864 when she ran aground and her Confederate crew burned her to prevent her recapture.

US Navy service

''Clifton'' steamed from New York to the

Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico () is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States; on the southw ...

in February–March 1862. In April she towed

mortar schooner This glossary defines the various types of ships and accessory watercraft that have been used in service of the United States. Such service is mainly defined as military vessels used in the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard, as well ...

s into the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...

and supported them as they bombarded the Confederate fortifications below

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

. Following the fall of the forts and city later in the month, she operated with Rear Admiral

David Farragut David Glasgow Farragut (; also spelled Glascoe; July 5, 1801 – August 14, 1870) was a flag officer of the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He was the first Rear admiral (United States), rear admiral, Vice admiral (United State ...

's squadron during its drive up the river to

Vicksburg, Mississippi Vicksburg is a historic city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the county seat. The population was 21,573 at the 2020 census. Located on a high bluff on the east bank of the Mississippi River across from Louisiana, Vicksburg ...

. There, on 28 June 1862 Clifton was damaged by enemy gunfire. ''Clifton'' participated in the Battle of Baton Rouge on 5 August 1862. In October 1862, ''Clifton'' took part in the capture of

Galveston, Texas Galveston ( ) is a Gulf Coast of the United States, coastal resort town, resort city and port off the Southeast Texas coast on Galveston Island and Pelican Island (Texas), Pelican Island in the U.S. state of Texas. The community of , with a pop ...

. She helped seize Fort Burton, at Butte La Rose, Louisiana, in April 1863. In mid-July, her crew assisted in capturing the sailing bark ''H. McGuin''. Later in the month she fired on Confederate batteries on the

Atchafalaya River The Atchafalaya River () is a distributary of the Mississippi River and Red River of the South, Red River in south central Louisiana in the United States. It flows south, just west of the Mississippi River, and is the fifth largest river in N ...

, Louisiana.

Capture and Confederate service

On 8 September 1863, during a Union attack on Sabine Pass, Texas, ''Clifton'' grounded while under intense cannon fire and was captured. Entering Confederate service with the

, ''Clifton'' was employed as a gunboat. According to a report made by Colonel S.P. Bankhead, Chief of Artillery for the Department of Texas in mid-December 1863, she was armed with 3 – 9-inch Dahlgren Cannon, 1- 30 pdr Rifle, and 3 – 32 pdr Guns. On 21 March 1864 she ran aground off Sabine Pass while attempting to run the blockade. After attempts to refloat the ship failed, ''Clifton'' was burned by her crew to prevent capture by Union warships.

References

External links

USS Clifton (1862–1863), CSS Clifton (1863–1864)Daniel D. T. Nestell Papers
(Acting Assistant Surgeon on the ''Clifton'') {{DEFAULTSORT:Clifton 1861 ships American Civil War patrol vessels of the United States Gunboats of the United States Navy Ship fires Ships built in Brooklyn Ships of the Union Navy Shipwrecks of the American Civil War Shipwrecks of the Texas coast Steamships of the United States Navy Maritime incidents in March 1864 Maritime incidents in September 1863