USS Tritonia (1863)

USS "Tritonia" (1863) was a 202-ton steamer commissioned by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.

She served the Union Navy’s struggle against the Confederate States of America in a variety of ways: as a tugboat, a patrol gunboat, a dispatch boat, a salvage ship, a minesweeper, and as a small (202 ton) transport.

Steamer constructed in Connecticut in 1863

"Tritonia" -- a side-wheel steamer built as "Sarah S. B. Gary" in 1863 at East Haddam, Connecticut -- was purchased by the Navy at Hartford, Connecticut, on 1 December 1863; and commissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 23 April 1864, Lt. Roswell H. Lamson in command.

Civil War operations

Clearing mines and debris in Virginia’s James River

With "Stepping Stones" and "Delaware", "Tritonia" served in a special torpedo and picket division established in the James River, Virginia, on 12 May 1864. The division patrolled the river to keep it clear of Confederate vessels, torpedoes (mines), and fire rafts.

Assigned to the West Gulf blockade

On 26 July, "Tritonia" left the division for duty with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. She arrived in Mississippi Sound on 5 August, the day of Admiral David Farragut's victory in Mobile Bay, and spent the remainder of the month operating as a dispatch vessel between New Orleans, Louisiana, and that historic body of water.

Destroying valuable salt works

On 8 and 9 September, boat crews from "Tritonia", "Rodolph", "Stockdale", and Army transport "Planter" destroyed several large Confederate salt works at Salt House Point in Bon Secours Bay, Alabama.

As they returned to Mobile Bay on 11 September, the vessels were fired upon but suffered no casualties.

Continued blockade duty along the Gulf

"Tritonia" resumed blockade duty, towing the captured schooner "Medora" to New Orleans, Louisiana, on 15 December for adjudication. She then operated in Mobile Bay until the end of the war and later at Pensacola, Florida, and New Orleans, Louisiana.

Post-war services with U.S. Army troops

On 29 January 1866, "Tritonia" carried a company of U.S. Army troops up the Tombigbee River and recaptured the steamer "Belfast" which had been seized by guerrillas and taken up that stream. The joint expedition also recovered the steamer's cargo of cotton and captured five guerrillas as well.

Decommissioning, sale and subsequent maritime career

"Tritonia" was sold at public auction at New York City on 5 October 1866; redocumented as "Belle Brown" on 19 November; and lost at sea in 1880.

References

See also

* American Civil War
* Union Navy
* Confederate States Navy

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/t8/tritonia.htm USS Tritonia]