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USS Western World


Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal

Screw Steamer:
  • Built in 1856 as the screw steamer Western World, at Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Purchased by the Navy, 21 September 1861, at New York City from S. Schuyler
  • Commissioned USS Western World, 3 January 1862, at New York Navy Yard, Acting Master Samuel B. Gregory in command
  • On 2 January 1862 Western World was ordered to Port Royal, S.C., to join the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron
  • On 26 January she participated in a major reconnaissance sweep of the Savannah River, GA., and its tributaries
  • On 14 February 1862, Western World and USS E. B. Hale drove off four Confederate vessels attempting to break the Union blockade of the Mud and Wright's Rivers
  • On 10 June she was reassigned to the blockade off Georgetown, S.C.
  • On 25 June 1862, Western World, SS Andrew, and USS E. B. Hale entered the North Santee River, S.C., where parties from the warships set fire to several plantations and took over 400 slaves on board the steamers
  • During an expedition in Winyah Bay, S.C., Western World captured the British schooner Volante on 2 July
  • On 25 June, Western World sailed for Port Royal carrying contraband leaving the squadron base for blockade duty off Doboy Sound, GA.
  • After a period of repair at New York Navy Yard Western World departed New York, 16 February 1863 for duty with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron
  • After additional yard work at Philadelphia Western World departed the yard on 1 April for Yorktown, VA., and blockade duty between the Piankatank River and Fort Monroe, VA.
  • On 19 April, she and USS Commodore Morris escorted transport units of the Army of the Potomac up the York as far as the Pamunkey River
  • On 24 April, Western World and USS Samuel Rotan, captured schooners Martha Ann and A. Carson off Horn Harbor, VA.
  • On 27 April, with USS Crusader she destroyed two abandoned schooners in Milford Haven, VA.
  • On 1 May, she captured two large sailboats, took two prisoners, and confiscated Confederate coin and currency in Stokes Creek, VA.
  • On 13 June 1863, Western World proceeded north to search for Confederate commerce raider Tacony
  • On 23 June 1863, with gunboats USS Commodore Barney, USS Commodore Morris, USS Morse and transports SS Smith Briggs, and SS Jesup, she escorted and covered a troop landing at White House, VA.
  • On 1 July 1863, she was deployed and a brief period with the Potomac Flotilla before reentering to the Washington Navy Yard
  • On 10 November 1864, Western World was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron were she patrolled the Virginia coast between the Nansemond River and Lawn's Creek
  • On 15 December, she helped to refloat the grounded monitor USS Saugus
  • On 5 March 1865, Western World arrived in the Rappahannock River to support the Army of the Potomac in operations against Fredericksburg
  • On 21 March, she sailed for duty in the Potomac Flotilla at St. Inigoes, MD.
  • On 6 April, Western World was deployed in Virginia's Mobjack Bay
  • Decommissioned, 26 May 1865, at Washington Navy Yard, and was sold at public auction, 24 June 1865 to H. R. Hazelhurst
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 441 t
    Length 178'
    Beam 34'3"
    Draft unknown
    Depth of Hold unknown
    Speed 5 kts
    Complement unknown
    Armament
    one 30-pdr Parrott rifle
    two 32-pdr Parrott rifles
    Propulsion steam

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    USS Western World
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    Last Updated 5 May 2017