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Gunboat Photo Archive

Tallapoosa

Sassacus Class Gunboat:
  • The first Tallapoosa was built in 1863 at The New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, NY by C. W. Booz of Baltimore, MD
  • Launched 17 February 1863
  • Commissioned USS Tallapoosa 13 September 1864
  • Laid up in 1867 at the Washington Navy Yard
  • Reactivated in 1869
  • Rebuilt at Baltimore in 1874/1875
  • Collided with the schooner James S. Lowell 24 August 1884 and sank about 5 miles from Vineyard Haven, RI
  • Raised and repaired she was recommissioned 11 January 1886 at the New York Navy Yard
  • Condemned as unfit for further service 30 January 1892
  • Sold 3 March 1892 at Montevideo, Uruguay
  • Fate unknown.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 974 t.
  • Length 205'
  • Beam 35'
  • Depth of hold 11' 6"
  • Draft 6' 6"
  • Speed 11.5 kts.
  • Complement 190
  • Armament: Two 100-pounder Parrott rifles, four 9" Dahlgren smooth bores, two 20-pounder Parrott rifles, and two 24-pounder howitzers
  • Propulsion: Steam side wheeler.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Tallapoosa 133k A wash drawing by Clary Ray, circa 1900, depicting Tallapoosa as she appeared during the Civil War
    Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington D.C
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 270    		 Robert Hurst
    Tallapoosa 140k Photographed after reconstruction , circa 1874-1884
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 43864
    Tallapoosa 117k Tied up at the Sheer Wharf, Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts, circa 1876, after she was reconstructed. Note the sheer legs on the wharf, and the sterns of USS Wabash and USS Ohio at the left
    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 42479
    Tallapoosa 221k In drydock, probably at the New York Navy Yard in 1884 or 1885, showing damage received in August 1884 when she was sunk in a collision with the schooner James S. Lowell. The view looks toward her starboard side, just forward of the midships superstructure.
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 42231
    Tallapoosa 140k Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, circa 1886, following her final rebuilding.
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 43865
    View the Tallapoosa
    DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.
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