USS Seneca (1861)

USS Seneca (1861) was a screw-driven gunboat procured by the Union Navy during the start of the American Civil War. Seneca was outfitted with guns for horizontal fire as well as with two howitzers for bombardment of shore targets. With her crew of 84 she was assigned to the Union blockade of the Confederate States of America.

Commissioned at New York City in 1861

One of the “Ninety-day gunboats”, "Seneca" -- the first U.S. 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 Ammen in command. Her executive officer was John G. Sproston of Maryland.

Civil War service

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 Carolina; 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 to the 12th, she took part in the expedition which took possession of Beaufort, South Carolina. On the 5th of 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 to January 1863, "Seneca's" 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 "Montauk" in the destruction of privateer, "Rattlesnake", the former Confederate warship, "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.

Reassigned to the North Atlantic blockade

She was recommissioned on 3 October 1864, Commander George E. Belknap in command, and was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. On 24 and 25 December 1864, "Seneca" took part in the abortive attack on Fort Fisher; and, between 13 and 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.

Post-war decommissioning

At the end of the war, "Seneca" returned to Norfolk, Virginia, where she was decommissioned on 24 June 1865. The ship was sold on 10 September 1868 at Norfolk to Purvis and Company.

ee also

* American Civil War
* Union Navy
* Confederate States Navy

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s9/seneca-i.htm
*cite web
url= http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-s/seneca.htm
title= USS Seneca (1861-1868)
date= 31 August 2001
work= Online Image Library | publisher= Naval Historical Center
accessdate= 2008-01-30