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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Huntsville (I)


Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal

Screw Steamer:
  • Built, as a wooden screw steamer in New York, City
  • Launch in 1857
  • Chartered, 24 April 1861, by the US Navy from her owner, H. B. Cromwell & Co., in New York City and converted to a gunboat
  • Commissioned USS Huntsville, 9 May 1861, at New York City, CDR. Cicero Price in command
  • Purchased by the Navy, 24 August 1861
  • During the Civil War USS Huntsville joined the Gulf Blockading Squadron at Key West, 11 May 1861
    Captured two small schooners off Mobile
    Cruised on blockade duty from Alabama to Texas
    Engaged blockade runner Florida off Mobile Bay, 24 December 1861, turning her back into Mobile
  • Decommissioned at New York, 5 April to 11 June 1862
  • Recommissioned, 11 June 1862, LT. Howard Rogers in command, returning to blockade duty along the Gulf Coast
    Took five prized; Confederate steamers Adela and Reliance, British schooner Agnes, schooners Courier and Ariel before the year was out
    During 1863 Huntsville captured two Confederate ships, Minnie and A. J. Hodge; two British schooners, Surprise and Ascension; and Spanish steamer Union
    Participated in capture of Confederate sloop Last Trial near Key West
    During 1864 Huntsville supported landings union forces in May at Tampa Bay
  • Quarantined due to Yellow Fever Huntsville departed Tampa 23 July for New York
  • Decommissioned, 19 August 1864 at New York
  • Recommissioned, 25 March 1865, LCDR. Edward F. Devens in command
  • USS Huntsville made transport voyages to New Orleans and Panama, carried passengers between New York and Boston and escorted a monitor to Philadelphia
  • Decommissioned, 28 August 1865, at Philadelphia, PA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Sold, 30 November 1865, at New York, to Russell Sturgis
  • Final Disposition, burned in December 1877
    Specifications:
    Displacement 860 t.
    Length 196' 4"
    Beam 29' 6"
    Depth unknown
    Draft 19' 5"
    Speed 11 kts
    Complement 64
    Armament
    one 64-pdr
    two 32-pdrs
    Propulsion steam
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Source
    Huntsville 66k
    Watercolor by Erik Heyl, 1945, of SS Huntsvillepainted for use in his book "Early American Steamers", Volume I. This steamer served as USS Huntsville from 1861 to 1865.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 64876, courtesy of Erik Heyl
    Bill Gonyo

    USS Huntsville (I)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Price, Cicero6 May 1861 - 5 April 1862
    02Act. Vol. LT. Rogers William C.11 June 1862 - 18 January 1864
    03LCDR. Chandler, Ralph18 January 1864 - 19 August 1864
    04Act. Vol. LCDR Giraud, Pierre17 January 1865 - 3 March 1865
    05Act. Vol. LT Devens, Edward F.25 March 1865 - 28 August 1865
    Courtesy Bill Gonyo

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    Last Updated 15 February 2013