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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Sassacus (I)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal

Sassacus Class Sidewheel Steam Gunboat:

Built as a wooden, double-ended sidewheel steamer at Portsmouth (N.H.) Navy Yard

Launched, 23 December 1862

Commissioned, USS Sassacus, 5 October 1863, at Boston Navy Yard, LCDR Francis A. Roe in command

During the Civil War USS Sassacus was assigned to North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, off Wilmington, N.C. in January 1864

USS Sassacus with the aid of USS Florida destroyed the blockade runners SS Wild Dayrell, 1 February and SS Nutfield, 4 February 1864

Damaged by encounter with the Confederate ironclad ram CSS Albemarle, 5 May 1864

Reassigned to the James River, 22 June 1864

Participated in the attacks on Fort Fisher in December 1864 and January 1865

Participated in operations against Forts Anderson and Strong on the Cape Fear River in February 1865

Reassigned to the James River in late February in support of General Grant's advance on Richmond

Decommissioned and laid up at Philadelphia Navy Yard, 13 May 1865

Sold, 28 August 1868, to John Roach

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications:
Displacement 974 t.
Length 205'
Beam 35'
Depth 11' 6"
Draft 9' (loaded)
Speed 14.5 kts
Complement 145

Armament

two 100-pdr Parrott rifles

four 9" Dahlgren smoothbores

two 24-pdr howitzer rifles

one 12-pdr rifle

one heavy 12-pdr smoothbore

Propulsion steam

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
098635505	85k	Generic lithograph representing the Sassacus-class gunboats. Wikipedia	John Spivey
	81k	19th Century photograph of an artwork, depicting USS Sassacus ramming the Confederate ironclad, during CSS Albemarle's engagement with Federal gunboats on Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 5 May 1864. *Sassacus* was hit in a boiler and disabled during this action. *Albemarle* was not significantly damaged by the ramming or by gunfire. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 1500.	Bill Gonyo
	145k	Artwork by Bacon, published in "Deeds of Valor", Volume II, page 58, by the Perrien-Keydel Company, Detroit, 1907 depicting USS Sassacus ramming CSS Albemarle, in Albemarle Sound, N.C., 5 May 1864. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 79923.	Bill Gonyo
	143k	"Wood versus iron" 19th Century photograph of an artwork by Acting Second Engineer Alexander C. Stuart, USN, 1864. It shows CSS Albemarle engaging several Federal gunboats on Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 5 May 1864. USS Sassacus is in left center, ramming the Confederate ironclad. Other U.S. Navy ships seen are (from left): USS Commodore Hull, USS Wyalusing and USS Mattabesett. The Confederate transport CSS Bombshell, captured during the action, is in the right background. *Albemarle* was not significantly damaged during this action, which left *Sassacus* disabled by a hit in one of her boilers. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 1673. From the collection of Surgeon H.P. Babcock, presented by George R. Babcock, 1938.	Robert Hurst
098635503	118k	Engraving published in ""Harper's Weekly", 4 June 1864, depicting USS Sassacus ramming CSS Albemarle, during the Confederate ironclad's engagement with US Navy gunboats in Albemarle Sound, N. C., 5 May 1864. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 59162.	Bill Gonyo
	71k	Battle between USS Sassacus and CSS Albemarle, May 1864. Copy of painting. ,1883 - 1966. Image from Still Picture Records LICON, Special Media Archives Services Division (NWCS-S). National Archives ARC Identifier: 513022	Robert Hurst

USS Sassacus (I)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

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Last Updated 22 July 2022