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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Mercedita

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal

Screw Gunboat:

Built in 1861 as the wooden steamer Mercedita at Brooklyn N.Y.

Launched, date unknown

Purchased by the Federal Navy, 31 July 1861, from J. C. Jewett & Co.

Commissioned, 8 December 1861, at New York, CDR. H. S. Stellwagon in command

During the Civil War USS Mercedita was initially assigned to the Gulf Blockading Squadron, 3 January 1862

Chased two vessels on 4 January 1862, attempting to run the blockade; Julia and an unidentified ship which ran aground trying to escape and were set afire by their crews

At West Pass Mercedita near Apalachacola, FL., destroyed the Confederate batteries at St. Vincent’s, 21 March 1862

Mercedita and USS Sagamore captured Apalachacola 3 April

Captured blockade runner Bermuda, 27 April and schooners Victoria and Ida, 12 July 1862

Transferred to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron arriving at Charleston, 19 September 1862

Served on the blockade of Charleston Harbor until the end of January 1863

On the night of the 31 January 1863, Confederate ironclad rams CSS Palmetto State and CSS Chicora slipped out of the main ship channel attacking USS Mercedita

Palmetto State succeeded in ramming her, ripping a hole in her keel, piercing her boiler, and leaving her in a sinking condition

Challenged “Surrender or I’ll sink you,” Mercedita. unable to move or bring her guns to bear, struck her colors.

Making temporary repairs Mercedita proceeded to Port Royal and Philadelphia for complete repairs

Attached to the West India Squadron in April 1864 USS Mercedita

Escort California steamers over part of their route, from New York to Aspinwall

Reassigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron in the spring of 1864 operating from Beaufort, N.C.

Mercedita joined the West Gulf Squadron in March 1865

After the Civil War USS Mercedita was assigned to protecting American citizens and their property in the Caribbean

Decommissioned, 14 October 1865, at New York

Sold at public auction at New York, 25 October 1865, and redocumented in merchant service 9 November 1865. She was converted to a brigantine 16 June 1879

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications:
Displacement 1,000 t.
Length 183' 6"
Beam 30' 3"
Depth of Hold unknown
Draft 12' 9"
Speed 11.5 kts
Complement unknown

Armament eight 32-pdrs

Propulsion steam

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
58k	Water color of SS Mercedita by Erik Heyl painted for use in his book "Early American Steamers", Volume I. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 63879. Courtesy Krik Heyl.	Robert Hurst
86k	Watercolor of USS Mercedita at anchor. 1861-65. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 64095-KN (Color). Courtesy Erik Heyl.	Robert Hurst
61k	"The Rebel Rams engaging our Blockading Fleet off Charleston, South Carolina, January 31, 1863" Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", January-June 1863, page 117, depicting CSS Chicora and CSS Palmetto State attacking USS Mercedita, with USS Keystone State at right US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 59304	US Naval History and Heritage Command

USS Mercedita
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

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Last Updated 24 March 2017