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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Roebuck

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Campaign Medal

Bark-rigged Clipper Ship:

Built at New York in 1856 by Thomas Collyer

Launched, date unknown

Operated as a merchantman making at least one voyage around Cape Horn to California

Purchased by George D. Morgan for the Navy at New York, 21 July 1861, from Reynolds and Cushman for $20,000

Commissioned USS Roebuck at New York Navy Yard, 8 November 1861, Act. Vol. LT. George A. Trundy in command

USS Roebuck was assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, she took station off Charleston Bar late in November and continued blockade duty there, interrupted only by occasional brief visits to Port Royal, S.C., for supplies or repairs, until returning to New York on 15 July 1862 for repairs

Back in fighting trim and now commanded by Acting Master John Sherrill, Roebuck departed New York, 30 August to return to blockade duty off the Carolina coast

Roebuck reported for duty to RADM. DuPont upon arriving at Port Royal, 5 September

Two days later she sailed for the Gulf of Mexico in compliance with new orders reassigning her to the East Gulf Blockading Squadron

Reporting to COMO. J. L. Lardiner upon arriving at Key West, FL., 19 September, Roebuck was assigned to the blockade off St. Marks, FL.

While operating in the blockade off St. Marks, she caught the English schooner, Kate, 27 December attempting to slip into the St. Marks River, laden with salt, coffee, copperas, and liquors from Havana.

On 1 February 1863, USS Roebuckk relieved bark USS Ethan Allen on blockade station off St. Andrews Bay, FL.

On 20 March a party from the bark's launch landed to investigate a report that a vessel was loading with cotton up the Bay. The landing party was attacked by a guerrilla band and suffered heavy losses.

on 2 May two boats from Roebuck captured the British schooner, Emma Amelia

Between 1 and 3 August, she picked up 10 bales which apparently had been thrown overboard by some blockade runner fleeing from capture

On 28 August, Acting Master Joseph B. Barclay was ordered to St. Andrews Bay to relieve Acting Master Sherrill in command of Roebuck

Early in October, the bark returned to Key West to prepare for duty off Indian River, FL. There she seized a small sloop on 13 December. Four days later she captured English schooner Ringdove bringing salt, coffee, tea, and whiskey from the Bahamas

On 11 January 1864, she made a prize of English schooner Suzan; and on the 19th, she caught British schooner Eliza attempting to escape from the Confederate coast laden with cotton

On 26 February, she caught the British sloop, Two Brothers

British sloop, Nina, surrendered to Roebuck, 27 February and on the same day she burned Nassau schooner Rebel

On 1 March British schooner Lauretta, was added to Roebuck's prize list

On 30 March, a boat crew from Roebuck took possession of sloop, Last Resort

On 10 July, Nassau schooner, Terrapiss, struck her colors to the bark

Late that month, Roebuck, because of weakened rigging, proceeded to Tampa Bay where she acted as a storeship

While in Tampa Bay yellow fever broke out among the crew and on 12 September the bark was ordered north to recuperate, she reached Portsmouth, N.H., on 28 September

Decommissioned, 17 October 1864,

Sold at public auction at Portsmouth, N.H. to Mr. Bartlett, 20 July 1865, for $14,100

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications:
Displacement 455 t.
Length 135'
Beam 27'
Depth of Hold 14'6"
Draft unknown
Speed 12kts
Complement 69

Armament

5 August 1861 - six 32-pdrs

19 October 1861 - four 32-pdrs 42cwt

27 August 1862 - four 32-pdrs 42cwt, one 20-pdr Parrott rifle

Propulsion sail

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
There are no images of Roebuck available at *NavSource*

Roebuck
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

Commanding Officers
01	Acting Vol. LT. Trundy, George A.	8 November 1861 - July 1862
02	Acting Master Sherrill, John	August 1862 - September 1863
03	Acting Master Barclay, Joseph B.	September 1863 - 17 October 1864

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Last Updated 5 August 2022