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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive
USS Gamage (I)
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons
Civil War Campaign Medal
Sidewheel Gunboat:
Built in 1864 as the wood merchant steamer Willie Gamage at Cincinnati, OH.
Launched, in 1864
Purchased by the Federal Navy, 24 December 1864, at Cincinnati, OH. by Paymaster C.C.Jackson for $35,000
Converted to a gunboat by Joseph Brown of Cincinnati, renamed Gamage
Commissioned USS Gamage, 23 March 1865, at Mound City, IL., Acting Master William Neil in command
Gamage was assigned to the Fifth Division of the Mississippi Squadron
She departed Mound City, 30 March 1865, reaching Natchez, MS., 2 April, where she remained in readiness to intercept Confederate President Jefferson Davis, his cabinet and
other Confederate leaders should they attempt to cross the Mississippi River. The President of the Confederacy and members of his staff were captured on 10 May at Irwinville, Ga.
On 1 June 1865 Gamage entered the mouth of Red River to form up a joint expedition up that river to receive surrendered Confederate ships and men
The Union naval force of eight steamers under command of LCDR. W. E. Fitzhugh was accompanied by Army steamer Ida May, carrying Maj. Gen. F. J. Herron and his staff
Arriving at Alexandria, LA., 2 June, CDR. Fitzhugh took possession of the Confederate ironclad Missouri and proceeded up river to Shreveport,
LA., in Gamage, where he seized the steamer Cotton and supplies at the Navy storehouse and on the 8th departed for the mouth of the river
At Gen. Herron's request, Gamage remained at Alexandria to assist the Army as needed until 27 June when she departed for Natchez, arriving on 7 July
Ultimately, Gamage reached Mound City , 22 July 1865
Decommissioned, 29 July 1865
Sold at public auction, 17 August 1865, at Mound City, IL. to Sol A. Silver for J. R. Griffith for $11,000
Redocumented as Southern Belle, 4 October 1865
Final Disposition, burned on 11 October 1876 at Plaquemine, LA.
Specifications:
Displacement 187 t.
Length 148'6"
Beam 30'3"
Depth of Hold 4'6"
Draft unknown
Speed unknown
Complement unknown
Armament
six 24-pdr howitzers
two 20-pdr Parrott rifles
one 12-pdr rifle
Propulsion
steam engines
boiler
two sidewheels
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Gamage (I)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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Last Updated 1 July 2022