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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

Ida

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Campaign Medal
Steam Tug:
  • Built, date and location unknown
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Placed in service, date unknown
  • Chartered by the Navy at New Orleans, La., 3 February 1863
  • Purchased for the Navy by ADM. D.G. Farragut, 6 March 1863, at New Orleans, LA. from S.P. Griffin for $20,000
  • Assigned to the mortar flotilla for use as a dispatch vessel and for towing the motor boats in the swift and tricky currents of the Mississippi, she operated primarily below Port Hudson, maintaining communication between the flotilla and the squadron flagship
  • She was also used for commandeering and towing off any boats suitable for military use found in the river
  • Ida came under fire while assisting Iberville, 3 July 1863, but escaped damage
  • After Port Hudson fell on 9 July clearing the entire Mississippi for Union shipping, Ida continued to operate in the lower river towing ocean-going vessels between the mouth of the river and New Orleans.
  • Early in 1865 she was ordered to Mobile Bay, where she arrived on 1 February
  • Two weeks later, she took on board two smoothbore howitzers in preparation for picket duty
  • While clearing the main channel of Mobile Bay on 13 April 1865, Ida struck a torpedo [mine] which crushed the timbers on her starboard side, burst her boilers, and tore up her decks. In a few moments, she flooded and sank in mid-channel. Three members of her crew were killed and two wounded.
  • Final Disposition, hull was sold, 11 September 1865
    Specifications:
    Displacement 104 t.
    Length 58'
    Beam 20'
    Depth of Hold unknown
    Draft unknown
    Speed unknown
    Complementunknown
    Armament
    1863 - one gun
    1865 - two smoothbore howitzers
    Propulsion
    one steam engine
    one boiler
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    Ida
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    Last Updated 1 July 2022