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U.S. NAVY TEMPORARY AUXILIARY SHIPS, 1861-1865

Civil War Era Storeships, Supply Ships, and Related Types
During the Civil War the Union Navy acquired many hundreds of civilian vessels for temporary use during the war. Most were acquired for part- or full-time use as combatant warships, and except for some sailing ships these combatants are listed on pages 86-97 of Bauer and Roberts, Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990, Major Combatants (1991). Some vessels, however, were acquired primarily for use as support vessels, and lists of these are presented here in the sections for AF (storeships, supply ships, and related types), AG (miscellaneous auxiliaries), and AT (large tugs, many harbor-size tugs being omitted). With the rapid demobilization after the Civil War, nearly all of these temporary ships were disposed of before the end of 1865 and the last were decommissioned in 1868. Full listings are provided for three storeships that were acquired for temporary use during the Civil War but retained in the postwar fleet: PURVEYOR (ex J. C. KUHN), GUARD (ex NATIONAL GUARD), and ONWARD.


1. Steam

ADMIRAL. Screw steamer, 1248t, 209' x 34.5'. Built by S. H. Pook, Fairhaven, Conn., 1863. Purch. 8 Jan 64, commiss. 5 Feb 64. Supply steamer. Renamed FORT MORGAN 1 Sep 64. Decomm. 22 Aug 65, sold 5 Sep 65.

BERMUDA (ex blockade runner). Screw steamer, iron hull, 888t, 226' x 29.2'. According to local historian Alan Betteney, this was the second of four ships specially built for the war by Pearse Lockwood at Stockton-on-Tees, the others being CZAR (the first ship) and BAHAMA (both 1861) and THE SOUTHERNER (1863). BERMUDA launched 8 Jul 61, departed Hartlepool on her first run 18 Aug 61, captured 27 Apr 62, purch. 14 Oct 62, commiss. 13 May 63. Supply ship. Sold 21 Sep 65, last log 22 Sep 65.

CIRCASSIAN (ex blockade runner). Screw steamer, iron hull, 1750t, 255' x 39.25'. Built by Robert Hickson, Belfast, 1856. Captured 4 May 62, purch. 8 Nov 62, commiss. 12 Dec 62. Transport and store vessel. Decomm. 26 Apr 65, sold 22 Jun 65.

DONEGAL (ex blockade runner DONEGAL, ex AUSTIN). Side-wheel steamer, iron hull, 1150t, 200' x 36'. Built by Harlan & Hollingsworth, Wilmington, Del., 1860 as AUSTIN for Charles Morgan's New Orleans-Galveston Line. Seized by Confederacy at New Orleans 14 Jan 62 and by 1863 was operating under British registry as DONEGAL. Captured 6 Jun 64, purch. Jun 64, commiss. as USS DONEGAL 3 Sep 64. Supply ship. Decomm. 8 Sep 65, sold 27 Sep 65.

EUGENIE (ex blockade runner). Side-wheel passenger steamer, 428t, 235' x 24.25'. EUGÉNIE, a passenger vessel named for the French empress and with a near sister named VICTORIA, was built by Samuelson of Hull in 1861 for the Folkestone and Boulogne service of the South-Eastern Railway Co. (16.15 kts on trials in Nov 61) but was found to be unsuited for that service and was sold to Cunard & Co. for a good price “owing to the demand for vessels for blockading purposes.” Captured 6 May 63, purch. and commiss. 9 Jul 63. Renamed GLASGOW 21 Jan 64. Supply ship and dispatch vessel. Retained as storeship for Gulf Squadron 1865-1867, North Atlantic Squadron 1867-1868. Decomm. 17 Oct 68, sold 4 Jun 69. No masts or sails. Deck logs start 31 May 63.

FAHKEE. Screw steamer, wood and iron hull, 660t, 163' x29.5'. Built by E. F. Williams, Greenpoint, N.Y., 1862, for China trade. Purch. 15 Jul 63, commiss. 24 Sep 63. Supply ship. Decomm. 28 Jun 65, sold 10 Aug 65.

HONDURAS. Side-wheel steamer, 376t, 150' x 27'. Built by Thomas Collyer, New York, 1861. Purch. 31 Jul 63, commiss. 8 Sep 63. Supply ship and dispatch vessel. Decomm. ca. 5 Aug 65, sold 5 Sep 65.

KENSINGTON. Screw steamer, 1052t, 195' x 31.8'. Built by John W. Lynn, Philadelphia, 1858 for operation between Philadelphia and Boston, purch. 27 Jan 62, commiss. 15 Feb 62. Supply and water vessel, transport between Key West and Ship Island. Decomm. 5 May 65, sold 12 Jul 65.

MASSACHUSETTS. Screw steamer, 1165t, 219.8' x 33.2'. Iron hull. Built by Harrison Loring, Boston, 1860 for service between Boston and Savannah. Purch. 3 May 61, commiss. 24 May 61. Sister of combatant SOUTH CAROLINA. Decomm. 26 Feb 62, ordered on 29 Feb 62 fitted as transport and supply ship, recomm. 16 Apr 62. Retained as supply steamer 1866-1867. Decomm. 23 Sep 67, sold 1 Oct 67.

NEW BERNE (ex UNITED STATES, often rendered as NEWBERN). Screw steamer, wood and iron hull. 978t, 195' x 32'. Built by C. & R. Poillon, New York, 1862, purch. 27 Jun 63, commiss. 5 or 15 Aug 63. Supply ship. Retained as supply steamer 1866-1867, special service 1868. Decomm. 29 Mar 68, sold to War Dept. 1 Dec 68.

QUEEN (ex blockade runner VICTORY). Screw steamer, iron hull, 613t, 172' x 29'. Built by Novelty Iron Works, New York, 1861, from a design by John Baird for H. B. Cromwell & Co. and its service between New York and Wilmington, N.C. Named NORTH CAROLINA, she arrived at Wilmington on her first voyage on 30 Jan 61, was detained there by her southern owners, and became a blockade runner. Captured 21 Jun 63, commiss. 15 Aug 63, purch. 29 Sep 63. Transport and supply ship. Decomm. 21 Jun 65, sold 16 Oct 65.

UNION. Screw steamer, 1114t, 219.5' x 34'. Built by Charles H. Mallory, Mystic, Conn., chartered 24 Apr 61, commiss. 16 May 61. On blockade duty as a combatant in 1861, decomm. 10 Dec 61, purchased 6 Jan 63 and recomm. 20 Jan 63 as a supply ship and dispatch vessel. Decomm. 29 Sep 65, sold 25 Oct 65.



2. Sail

A. HOUGHTON. Bark. 326t, 113.3' x 25.25'. Built by Rideout, Robbinston, Maine, 1852, purch. 12 Oct 61, commiss. 19 Feb 62. Mortar Flotilla ammunition carrier to July 1862, then ordnance vessel & storeship. Sent 10 Oct 63 to South Atlantic Squadron for use as a storeship and later as a health ship. Decomm. 3 or 9 Jun 65, sold 10 Aug 65.

BEN MORGAN (ex MEDIATOR). Ship. 407t, 114.5' x 29.5'. Built at Philadelphia 1826, purch. 27 May 61. Hospital ship until June 1862, then collier, supply & ordnance ship at Hampton Roads for the North Atlantic Squadron. Sold 30 Nov 65.

BOHIO. Brig. 197t, 100' x 24.75'. Built at Williamsburg, N.Y., 1856, purch. 9 Sep 61, commiss. 30 Dec 61. Blockading duty Jan 1862 to Mar 1864 when converted to coal vessel. Decomm. 25 Jul 65, sold 27 Sep 65.

CHARLES PHELPS. Ship (whaler). 362t, 110' x 27.3'. Built at Westerly, R.I., 1842 or at New London, 1848, purch. 24 Jun 61. Coal hulk stationed at Craney Is. near Norfolk. Sold 25 Oct 65.

COURIER. Ship. 556t, 135' x 30'. Built by Currier, Newburyport, Mass., 1855, purch. 7 Sep 61, commiss. 17 Sep 61. Storeship. Wrecked on Abaco Island, Bahamas, 14 Jun 64.

FEAR NOT (also rendered as FEARNOT). Ship. 1012t, 178' x 35'. Built by George W. Jackman, Newburyport, Mass., 1859, purch. 20 Jul 61, commiss. 28 Aug 61. Coal and supply ship. Retained temporarily in the Gulf Squadron 1866. Decomm. 18 Jul 66, sold 3 Oct 66.

GEMSBOK. Bark. 622t, 141.6' x 30.25'. Built by R. E. Jackson, East Boston, 1857, commiss. 30 Aug 61, purch. 7 Sep 61. Blockading, coal and storeship from Feb 1863. Decomm. ca. 11 Jul 65, sold 12 Jul 65.

INO. Ship (clipper). 895t, 160.5'. Built by Perine's Iron Works, Williamsburg, N.Y., 1851, purch. 30 Aug 61, commiss 23 Sep 61. Cruiser during war. Retained as storeship for the European Squadron from Oct 65 to Jan 67. Decomm. 13 Feb 67, sold 19 Mar 67. As a clipper went from Boston to Cadiz in 13 days, 16 hours.

IRONSIDES JR. Bark. 200t. Builder and date unknown, purch. Aug 63. Storeship at Port Royal 1863-64. No other record.

NIGHTINGALE. Ship (clipper). 1066t, 177.8' x 36'. Built by Hanscombe, Portsmouth, N.H., 1851. Captured as a slaver 20 Apr 61, purch. 6 Jul 61, commiss. 18 Aug 61. Coal and store ship 1861, blockade duty 1862, ordnance ship 1863-64. Decomm. 20 Jun 64, sold 11 Feb 65.

PAMPERO. Ship (clipper). 1375t, 202.25' x 38.2'. Built by Charles H. Mallory, Mystic, Conn., 1853, purch. 7 Jul 61, commiss. Aug 61. Storeship and collier. Retained temporarily in the Gulf Squadron 1866. Decomm. 20 or 28 Jul 66, in ordinary at New York, sold 1 Oct 67.

ROMAN. Ship (whaler). 350t, 112'. Built at New Bedford, Mass., 1835, purch. 18-22 May 61. Coal and ordnance storeship. Sold 30 Nov 65.

VALPARAISO. Brig (Baltimore clipper). 402t, 117.5' x 27.5'. Built at Baltimore 1836, bought 22 Nov 61 for the stone fleet but retained as a storeship at Port Royal, S.C. Sold 2 Sep 65.

WILLIAM BADGER. Ship (whaler). 334t, 106' x 26'. Builder and date unknown, purch. 18 May 61. Stationary supply ship in Hampton Roads 1861-1862, supply hulk at Beaufort, N.C., 1862-1865. Sold 17 Oct 65.