USS Mahopac (1863)

The first USS "Mahopac", a heavily armored "Canonicus"-class monitor built by Z. & F. Secor at New York, NY, was launched 17 May 1864, and, after a trial trip 20 August, commissioned in September at New York, Commander William A. Parker in command.

The "Mahopac" participated in the joint attack on Charleston, SC 9 September. She operated on the James River in the autumn where she engaged a Confererate artillery battery at Howlett's Farm on 5 and 6 December. She then steamed to the Wilmington, NC area in time to join the first bombardment of Fort Fisher 24 and 25 December 1864 and the and Second Battle of Fort Fisher 13 through 15 January 1865. In the latter attacks, she was hit eight times without serious damage.

Next steaming to Charleston, "Mahopac" remained there on picket duty until 8 March when she returned to Chesapeake Bay. In April, she and sister Union ships helped General Ulysses S. Grant’s force in the capture of Richmond, VA. She decommissioned in June and laid up at the Washington Navy Yard.

"Mahopac" recommissioned 15 January 1866 and operated along the east coast. Renamed "Castor" 15 June 1869, she resumed the name "Mahopac" 10 August. Going into reserve at Hampton Roads 11 March 1872, she recommissioned 21 November 1873 and sailed to Key West, FL for fleet drill and remained there over 2 years. In 1876 she steamed to Port Royal, SC and moved to Norfolk, VA in July 1877. She was stationed with several other monitors at Brandon, VA until March 1880, when she proceeded to City Point, VA, where she was based until 1888. She was in ordinary at Richmond 1889‑95, then moved to League Island. She was struck from the Navy Register 14 January 1902 and was sold 25 March 1902.

See also

*See USS "Mahopac" for other ships of this name.
*See USS "Castor" for other ships of this name.

References

*"This article contains text from the US Naval Historical Center."
*DANFS
*"Additional technical data from" cite book
last = Gardiner
first = Robert
coauthors =
title = Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905
publisher = Conway Maritime Press
year = 1979
pages = p. 122
month =
isbn = 0 85177 133 5

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m2/mahopac-i.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Mahopac"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/mahopac.htm navsource.org: USS "Mahopac"]