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USS Corypheus
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CSS Corypheus (1862)


Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Campaign Medal

Schooner:
  • Built in 1859 as the yacht Corypheus at Brook Haven, N.Y.
  • Seized under orders of Gen. M. Lovell, CSA
  • Fitted out as a gunboat, and operated in Lakes Borgne and Pontchartrain
  • 13 May 1862, a cutter from USS Calhoun proceeded to Bayou Bonfuca and cut out the gunboat
  • Following appraisal, the prize was purchased that month from the Key West prize court for $14,724, and promptly taken into the Union Navy, commissioned and assigned to the Gulf Blockading Squadron
  • During the spring of 1862, Flag Officer David Glasgow Farragut, the squadron commander, reinforced the patrol sector off the coast of Texas between Matagorda and Corpus Christi where LT. John W. Kittredge in USS Arthur patrolled with the yacht USS Corypheus, the screw gunboat USS Sachem and the lugger General Butler for operations in the shallow inlets, bays, and bayous found in Arthur's sector
  • 10 July, LT. Kittredge in Corypheus captured the 9-ton sloop Belle Italia. A few days later, she reentered the gulf where Kittredge returned to USS Arthur
  • 24 August, USS Corypheus, still working under the direction of Kittredge, captured Water Witch of Jamaica as that schooner attempted to enter Aransas Bay with a cargo including a large quantity of gunpowder.
  • Corypheus returned to the Gulf arriving at Galveston, Texas, 28 December 1862
  • She participated in the Battle of Sabine Pass, 1 January 1863, where she fought valiantly and cleared amid a rain of fire from the enemy when the Union force withdrew
  • Admiral David G. Farragut wrote of her officers and crew that they acted with uncommon coolness and great courage, keeping up their fire for the protection of the soldiers on shore, and, when ordered to abandon their vessel, preserved and safely extricated their ship although left entirely by themselves except for USS Sachem.
  • Corypheus's' next assignment was on Lake Pontchartrain where she was stationed to break up the small-craft traffic crossing between New Orleans and coastal waters
  • She remained on this duty until November 1864 when ordered to Pensacola, FL.
  • Following repairs, she was stationed around Mobile, AL.
  • With the end of the war was decommissioned, and sold 15 September 1865
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 81 tons
    Length 72'
    Beam 20'
    Depth of Hold 6'
    Draft unknown
    Speed unknown
    Complement unknown
    Armament unknown
    Propulsion sail

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    CSS Corypheus / USS Corypheus
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

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    Last Updated 18 November 2022