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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Samson (II)
ex
 US Army Ram Samson (1862)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal
Sidewheel Steamer:
  • Built in 1860 as the wooden side wheel steamer Samson at California, PA.
  • Purchased by the Army, 14 July 1862, for service in the Ellet ram fleet
  • Transferred to the Navy, 27 November 1862, for service with the Mississippi Squadron as a tug and a floating machine shop
  • Sold at public auction, 9 August 1865, at Mound City, ILL., to J. W. Clark and J. Nixon, et, al.
  • Re-documented, 27 December 1865, for merchant service
  • Final Disposition, broken up in 1869
    Specifications:
    Displacement 230 t.
    Length 169'
    Beam 29'8"
    Depth of Hold unknown
    Draft 4'8"
    Speed unknown
    Complement unknown
    Armament unknown
    Propulsion steam
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Monarch 126k "Colonel Ellet's Ram Fleet on the Mississippi"
    Line engraving after a sketch by Alexander Simplot, published in "Harper's Weekly", 1862. Ships in the foreground are: Monarch (letter "M" between stacks), Queen of the West (with letter "Q") and Lioness (letter "L"). In the left background are: Switzerland (with letter "S" on paddlebox), Samson and Lancaster. Note cotton bales stacked on deck to protect boilers.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 59007    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Samson (II)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01Act. ENS. Buckley, James D.1 August 1863 - 16 December 1863
    02Act. ENS. Painter, George W.16 December 1863 - 1 August 1863
    03Act. Chief Engr. Bickerstall, SamuelMay 1864 - 9 September 1864
    04Act. Chief Engr. Christopher, Charles H.10 September 1864 - 15 April 1865
    Courtesy Bill Gonyo
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 22 July 2016