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Gunboat Photo Archive

Gunboat Mendota


Sassacus Class Side Wheel Gunboat: Laid down, (date unknown), by F. Z. Tucker, Brooklyn, NY; Launched, 13 January 1863; Commissioned USS Mendota, 2 May 1864; Decommissioned, 12 May 1865; Sold, 7 December 1867.
Fate unknown.

Specifications: Displacement 1,074 t.; Length 205'; Beam 35'; Draft 8'; Speed 11 kts.; Complement unknown; Armament two 100-pounders, four 10" smoothbore, two 24-pounders, and two 20-pounders.
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Size Image Description Source
Mendota 42k Gunboat Mendota on James River, 1 August 1864.
Mathew Brady Collection.
DVIC Photo HD-SN-99-01854
Defense Visual Information Center
Mendota 96k James River, c. 1864. National Archives

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: Mendota, a sidewheel gunboat, was launched 13 January 1863 by F. Z. Tucker, Brooklyn, N.Y.; acquired by the Navy 1 February 1864; and commissioned 2 May 1864, Comdr. E. T. Nichols
in command.

From the day of her commissioning in 1864, Mendota was assigned to the James River (Va.) Division, North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. The first 10 months she served as a picket ship near Four Mile Creek. Her guns were used to prevent the establishment of Confederate batteries or entrenchments which would threaten river communications or imperil a small Union Army base camp. Action on 28 July was particularly intense. During her last 2 months of service she directed ship movements at Hampton Roads and also at the mouth of the Delaware River.

After the war Mendota decommissioned 12 May 1865 and was laid up at League Island, Philadelphia, until sold 7
December 1867.


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