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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Niphon


Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal

Screw Steamer:
  • Built, 1862-63, at Atlantic Iron Works, East Boston, MA.
  • Launched in February 1863
  • Delivered to the Navy at Boston, 22 April 1863
  • Commissioned USS Niphon, 24 April 1863, at Boston Navy Yard, Acting ENS. Joseph B. Breck in command
  • Purchased by the Navy, 9 May 1863
  • USS Niphon was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron off Fort Fisher, N.C.
    Captured blockade runner Banshee at New Inlet, N.C., 29 July 1863
    Forced the blockade runner SS Hebe aground north of Fort Fisher, 18 August 1863, were she was destroyed
    Participated in the capture of steamer CS Cornubia north of New Inlet, 8 November 1863
    Captured blockade runner SS Ella and Annie, off Masonboro Inlet, N.C., 9 November 1863
    Participated in the destruction of salt works at Masonboro Sound, 21 April 1864
    Participated in the destruction of blockade runner Lynx, 25 April 1864
    Ran blockade runner Night Hawk aground and destroyed her, 29 September 1864
    Ran the British blockade runner Condon aground off New Inlet, N.C., 1 October 1864
    Participated in the capture of British blockade runner Annie, 31 October 1864
  • Decommissioned, 1 December 1865, at Boston, MA.
  • Sold at public auction, 17 April 1865, documented as SS Tejuca, 23 October 1865
  • Sold abroad in 1867
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 475 t.
    Length 253' 2"
    Beam 24' 9"
    Depth 17' 3"
    Draft 11' 3"
    Speed 12,5 kts
    Complement 70
    Armament
    one-20-pdr rifle
    four-32-pdrs
    Propulsion steam

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    Size Image Description Source
    Wilderness
    098665601
    351k "Capture of Blockade Runner Annie October 31, 1864.-Sketch by Charles F. Ellmore."
    From left to right: USS Howquah; USS Alabama launch; USS Wilderness; USS Nipon; blockade runner Annie; USS Kansas; USS Alabama.
    Flickr - State Archives of North Carolina
    John Spivey
    Niphon 89k A Civil War lithograph of USS Niphon by J.B. Bufford, after a drawing by S.S. Tuckerman. Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 49812
    US Naval History and Heritage Command

    USS Niphon
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    Last Updated 17 June 2022