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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

Polaris
ex
USS Periwinkle (1864 - 1871)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal

Screw tug:

Built in 1864 as the two-masted, schooner rigged, white oak tug America at Philadelphia

Purchased by the Navy, 9 December 1864, from John W. Lynn

Commissioned USS Periwinkle in early January 1865, Acting Master Henry C. Macy in command

During the Civil War USS Periwinkle was assigned to the Potomac Flotilla as a gunboat

Following the war USS Periwinkle operated with the flotilla up to June 1865 when she was reassigned to Norfolk

Placed in ordinary in 1867 at Norfolk

Reactivated for service with the Hall Scientific Expedition to the Arctic in 1870, repaired at Washington Navy Yard

Renamed Polaris in 1871

Departed New York Navy Yard in July 1871, Charles F. Hall in command

Aiming for the North Pole Polaris reached the furthest point north yet reached by an vessel, 82° 1' 11"N

During her homeward voyage in October 1872, she was caught in the ice and crushed, her crew were rescued.

Specifications:
Displacement 383 t.
Length 140'
Beam 28'
Depth 12'
Draft 10' 6"
Speed unknown
Complement 16
Armament

two 24-pdrs

Propulsion steam and sail

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
098618212	192k	Photo by Baumgardner, Springfield, OH., of Charles Frances Hall leader the U.S. Congress-backed Hall Scientific Expedition to the Arctic in *Polaris* in 1871. *Polaris* penetrated farther north than any other vessel up to that time. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 49231.	Robert Hurst
098618208	124k	*Polaris* (Ex-USS Periwinkle) as fitted for the Arctic Expedition, under the Command of Captain C. F. Hall by the U.S. Government. Dated 1876. Henry Hobart Nichols Sr. (1816-1886). Gallica Digital Library digital ID btv1b2300141v/f3.item.	Robert Hurst
098618209	126k	*Polaris* as fitted for the Arctic Expedition, under the Command of Captain C. F. Hall by the U.S. Government. Dated 1876. Henry Hobart Nichols Sr. (1816-1886). Gallica Digital Library, digital ID btv1b2300141v/f3.item	Robert Hurst
	221k	Hall Scientific Expedition research vessel *Polaris* moored at Washington Navy Yard. She was renamed *Polaris* in 1871 and made the first expedition to the North Pole. Library of Congress photo.	Bill Gonyo
	163k	Research vessel *Polaris* equipped for polar exploration, moored at Washington Navy Yard, circa 1871. Library of Congress photo.	Robert Hurst
	126k	A wood engraving of *Polaris* entitled "Captain Hall's Arctic Expedition -- The 'Polaris'" , published in Harper's Weekly, May 1873.	Robert Hurst
098618204	291k	An engraving of *Polaris* entitled "Working through Ice" by the artist Henry Hobart Nichols Sr. (1816–1886), circa 1876. Gallica Digital Library, digital ID btv1b2300141v/f9.item.	Robert Hurst
098618205	480k	An engraving of *Polaris* entitled "Passing Fitz Clarence Rock, Aug. 26, 1871" by the artist Henry Hobart Nichols Sr. (1816–1886). Gallica Digital Library digital ID btv1b2300141v/f11.item.	Robert Hurst
098618207	266k	*Polaris* amidst ice floes. Engraving entitled "Shooting Walrus, Aug. 26, 1871" by the artist Henry Hobart Nichols Sr. (1816–1886). Gallica Digital Library digital ID btv1b2300141v/f10.item.	Robert Hurst
098618210	166k	Oil on canvas painting of *Polaris* by William Bradford (1823-1892), dated 1875. Taubman Museum of Art	Robert Hurst
098618211	171k	Photograph by Wuselig of an oil on canvas painting of *Polaris* entitled "The Polaris Far North" by the artist William Bradford (1823-1892), dated 1882. Royal Ontario Museum, gift of Dr. Sigmund Samuel, Accession number 962.33.3.	Robert Hurst
098618214	272k	A print of Polaris at Godhaven, Greenland, awaiting the USS Congress on 10 August 1871. Captain Charles F. Hall's Arctic expedition sailed from New York in *Polaris* on 29 June 1871 and proceeded to Smith Sound through Kane Basin to Robeson Channel, where they wintered in Thank God harbor. Sketch by the engineer and artist Emil Schumann. US National Archives Photo # USN 901038, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command..	Robert Hurst
098618213	311k	A print of the perilous position of PolarisUS National Archives Photo # USN 901093, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command..	Robert Hurst
098648102	102k	USS Congress (V) (left) arrived at Disco Island, 10 August 1871, carrying extra supplies for Charles Francis Hall's Arctic expedition aboard *Polaris, which steamed away on August 17. Harper's Weekly, May 1873*	Robert Hurst
098618206	246k	*Polaris* breaking free from the ice pack. Engraving entitled "The Separation, Oct. 15, 1872" by the artist Henry Hobart Nichols Sr. (1816–1886). Gallica Digital Library digital ID btv1b2300141v/f41.item.	Robert Hurst
098618215	405k	The Grave of Captain Charles F. Hall. Tablet erected on the grave of Captain Hall of the *Polaris* by British polar exposition, 1875. US Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # NH 1992.	Robert Hurst