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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Southfleld

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal

Sidewheel Gunboat:

Southfleld-a double-ended, side wheel ferryboat built in 1857 at Brooklyn, N.Y., by John English-served as a ferry between South Ferry, New York City, and St. George, Staten Island, N.Y.

Purchased by the Navy at New York City, 16 December 1861, from the New York Ferry Co.

Commissioned USS Southfleld late in December 1861, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Charles F. W. Behm in command

During the Civil War USS Southfleld joined the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron at Hampton Roads, 2 January 1862

Participated in the attack on Hatteras Island, 7 and 8 January 1862

Participated in the capture of Elizabeth City, Beaufort and New Bern, N.C. during February through April 1862

Supported General MClellan's Peninsula campaign on the York and James Rivers during the summer of 1862

Engaged a Confederate land force that attacked Plymouth, N.C., 3 December 1862

Participated in the defense of Washington, N.C. in March and April 1863

Participated in the defense of Plymouth, N.C. in April 1864

Lashed to the side of USS Miami engaged Confederate Ram CSS Albemarle on the Roanoke River, 19 April 1864

Final Disposition, sunk by CSS Albemarle, 19 April 1864

Specifications:
Displacement 750 t.
Length 200'
Beam 34'
Depth of Hold 11' 8"
Draft 6' 6"
Speed 12kts
Complement 61

Armament

one 100-pdr Parrott rifles

three 9" Dahlgren smoothbores Propulsion steam

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
098649318	265k	CSS Albemarle rams and sinks the Union gunboat USS Southfield at Plymouth, N.C., 19 April 1864. Photo caption dates this action as 18 April while other sources date the action as 19 April. Image is from p. 650 of the 1887 book Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, being for the most part contributions by Union and Confederate officers, based upon “the Century War Series"', volume 4.		Robert Hurst
	138k	"The Rebel Ram Attacking Federal Gun-Boats at Plymouth, North Carolina" Engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", May 1864, depicting CSS Albemarle driving off USS Miami, after ramming and sinking USS Southfield (foreground), 19 April 1864. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # Photo #: NH 59161		Robert Hurst

USS Southfield
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	Acting Vol. LT. Behm, Charles F. W. (Died in Andersonville Prison)	11 April 1865 - 21 July 1865


Courtesy Bill Gonyo

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Last Updated 4 September 2020