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USS Althea (I)
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons
Civil War Medal
Screw Tug:
Built in 1863 as the screw tug Alfred A. Wolkyns, by Lewis Hoagland, New Brunswick, N.J.
Purchased by the Navy at New York City, 9 December 1863; renamed Althea soon thereafter
Fitted out for naval service by Secor and Co., Jersey City, N.J.
Commissioned, USS Althea circa April-May 1864
After commissioning Althea was earmarked for Rear Admiral David Glasgow Farragut's West Gulf Blockading Squadron
However, because of the threat from the Confederate Squadron at Richmond descending the James River and siezing control of the river from Union's James River Flotilla,
Althea was ordered to Hampton Roads to help reinforce the James River Flotilla
While assigned to the James River Flotilla Althea served as a tender to Union ironclads
Late in July, the situation in the river seemed stable enough to permit the Union warships borrowed from Farragut to move on to the gulf
Repaired and prepared for sea by the Norfolk Navy Yard, USS Althea departed Hampton Roads in company with three other tugs 26 July and reached Mobile Bay, 5 August
the date of Farragut's great victory there.
Too late to participate in the Battle of Mobile Bay, Althea busied herself in ensuing months supporting Farragut's combatant ships as they joined Army forces in
operations against the city of Mobile
On 12 April, the day Mobile finally surrendered, Althea struck a torpedo in the Blake River and sank while returning from a run up that stream in which she had
dragged primitive sweep gear in an effort to clear the channels of explosive devices
Two members of her crew were killed in the accident, and three others, including the tug's commanding officer, Acting Ensign Frederick A. G. Bacon, were wounded.
Raised and repaired after the Confederate collapse, Althea was recommissioned at Mobile. 7 November 1865, Acting Ensign William F. Kilgore in command
She carried out towing chores and performed other varied services there, at Pensacola, and at Key West until, towing the monitor
USS Sangamon, she departed the latter port, 10 April 1866
After reaching the Philadelphia Navy Yard, 18 April, she was decommissioned, 25 April 1866
Sold at auction, 8 December 1866, to F. Swift, redocumented Martin Kalbfleisch, 10 January 1868, she served as a merchant tug until 1896
Final Disposition, fate unknown
Specifications:
Displacement 72 t.
Length 70'
Beam 16'4"
Depth of Hold 7'
Draft unknown
Speed 9 kts
Complement 15
Armament
one heavy 12-pdr smoothbore gun
Propulsion
steam
single screw
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Althea (I)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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Last Updated 3 June 2022