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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Eolus

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal
Sidewheel Steamer:
  • Built in 1864 by Thomas S. Marvel, Jr., Newburgh, N.Y.
  • Purchased by the Navy, 26 July 1864
  • Commissioned USS Eolus, 12 August 1864, LCDR. John J. Cornwell in command
  • During the Civil War USS Eolus as assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron at Wilmington, N.C.
    During October 1864 Eolus captured the blockade runner Hope and assisted in the capture of SS Lady Sterling
    Participated in mid-January 1865 on the attacks of Fort Fisher
  • Decommissioned, 24 June 1865, at Boston
  • Sold for mercantile service, 1 August 1865
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 368 t.
    Length 140'
    Beam 25'
    Draft 7'
    Speed 16mph
    Complement unknown
    Armament
    three 30-pdr rifles
    two 24-pdr howitzers
    Propulsion steam
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Eolus
    Eolus 323k
    Namesake

    Eolus (Aeolus) was the ruler of the winds and the father of Alcyone and Athamas (Met IV.487, XI.431, 748). As a servant of Juno, he lived on Aeolia, an island near Thrace, where he kept the winds in a cave (Aeneid I.50-87). In medieval iconography Aeolus was represented blowing two trumpets, as in a miniature in a manuscript of Fulgentius Metaforalis (c. 1331), by John Ridewall (Panofsky, Plate XIII). There Aeolus blows two trumpets while working a pair of bellows with his feet. The trumpets and bellows are briefly described by Albericus Philosophus, De deorum imaginibus libellus XIII (1342). The trumpets of Fame appear in Gower's Mirour de l'omme, 22129-22152.    		 Tommy Trampp
    Eolus 47k Watercolor by Erik Heyl of USS Eolus, painted for use in his book "Early American Steamers", Volume IV.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 63709. Courtesy of Erik Heyl.    		 Bill Gonyo
    Eolus 95k USS Eolus capturing the blockade runner Lady Sterling off Wilmington, North Carolina, 28 October 1864.
    Phototype by F. Gutekunst, Philadelphia, PA., published circa the later 1800s.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 2014.    		 Bill Gonyo
    Merchant Service
    Eolus 58k The coastal steamer SS Eolus (ex-USS Eolus) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 93836, courtesy of the Steamship Historical Society of America. Collection of W.K. Covell..    		 Bill Gonyo
    Eolus 69k Watercolor by Erik Heyl of SS Eolus (ex-USS Eolus), painted for use in his book "Early American Steamers", Volume IV. She is depicted here during her post-Civil War commercial service.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 63710. Courtesy of Erik Heyl.    		 Robert Hurst
    USS Eolus
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Cornwell, John J.12 August 1864 - 18 September 1864
    02Act. Master Lundt, William O.18 September 1864 - 12 December 1864
    03Act. Master Keyser, Edward S12 December 1864 - 24 June 1865
    Courtesy Bill Gonyo
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 2 June 2017