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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive
USS Heliotrope
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons
Civil War Medal
Sidewheel Steamer:
Built, date and location unknown as the wooden steamer Maggie Baker
Launched, date unknown
Purchased for the Navy by RADM. Gregory from her owner, Stacey Pitcher, at New York, 16 December 1863
Fitted out at the New York Navy Yard
Commissioned USS Heliotrope, 24 April 1864 at New York Navy Yard
USS Heliotrope was assigned initially to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, and sailed soon after her commissioning to Hampton Roads, Va., where she served as a tug
and ordnance boat. She continued this duty with occasional patrols up the James River, until her transfer to the Potomac Flotilla 23 January 1865.
Heliotrope reported for her new duties early in February, and participated 6-8 March in a joint expedition up the Rappahannock River to Fredericksburg. In cooperation
with Army units, Heliotrope and the other gunboats succeeded in destroying railroad facilities, a large quantity of track, and a depot of army supplies
Returning to routine patrolling in the Potomac, she embarked with other gunboats on another expedition 16 March, sending her small boats with about 50 men up Mattox Creek. Three
schooners and various types of supplies were captured or destroyed on this 2-day foray
Heliotrope continued her vital work of Choking off Confederate supplies in the Potomac River area until mid-April, when she steamed for New York, arriving 20 April
Heliotrope decommissioned, 12 January 1865
She was sold 17 June 1865 to the Department of the Treasury for use with the Lighthouse Service
Assigned to the 5th Lighthouse District
Decommissioned, 10 November 1881
Final Disposition, fate unknown
Specifications:
Displacement 239 t.
Length 134'
Beam 24'6"
Depth of Hold 6'8"
Draft unknown
Speed 6 kts
Complement 84
Armament
one 12-pdr rifle
one 30-pdr Parrott rifle (added April 1865)
Propulsion
one inclined steam engine, cylinder diameter 28", stroke 48"
two sidewheels
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Heliotrope
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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Last Updated 10 June 2022