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USS Octorara
A
creek in Pennsylvania
named for an Indian word meaning running water.
I
(SwStr: t. 829; 1. 193’2”; b.
34’6”; dr. 4’9½”; s. 11 k.; cpl. 102; a. 1 80–pdr D.r., 1 9” D. sb., 4
24–pdrs).
Octorara was launched by the Brooklyn
Navy Yard 7 December 1861, sponsored by Miss Emma Hartt, daughter of Naval
Constructor E. Hartt; and commissioned 28 February 1862, Lt. George Brown in
command.
The new double-ended, side-wheel
steamer departed New York
17 March 1862
and served briefly on blockade duty with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron
before reporting to Commander David D. Porter at Ship
Island,
Miss. She acted as flagship for Porter’s Mortar Flotilla during Flag Officer
Farragut’s expedition up the Mississippi
to attack Vicksburg.
Before dawn 28 June, Porter’s ships opened fire on the Confederate fortress and
shelled the southern batteries while Farragut dashed by the river strong-hold.
At the height of the fight, Octorara became unmanageable when her wheel ropes
jammed. She drifted down stream into Brooklyn’s
line of fire. She was damaged when shells from the steam
sloop of war burst off her port beam.
On 24 July, in route to Baltimore
for repairs, she captured Tubal Cain east of Savannah,
Ga.
as the British blockade running steamer tried to slip into Charleston
with munitions.
Back in top fighting trim earl in
September Octorara, commanded by Comdr. Napoleon Collins, was assigned
to a “flying squadron” formed under Commodore Charles Wilkes to hunt Confederate
commerce raiders Alabama
and Florida.
During the ensuing year she captured nine Confederate and
British blockade runners.
On 11 September 1863 Lt. Comdr.
W. W. Low relieved Comdr. Collins of command of Octorara. Arriving New
Orleans 19 October 1863,
the steamer joined the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. From November to March
1864, she assisted in the blockade of Mobile,
Ala.,
bombarding Fort
Powell
at the entrance to Mississippi Sound
16–29 February. On 5 August Octorara participated in the Battle of Mobile
Bay, passing Fort
Morgan
lashed to Brooklyn.
Farragut’s squadron drove past the forts into the Bay,
engaged and captured the Confederate ram Tennessee
and gunboat Selma.
Octorara received 17 hits during the engagement.
Her casualties numbered 1 killed and 10 wounded. She continued to operate in
the vicinity of Mobile
until July 1865, firing on fortifications and taking part in the capture of the
city 12 April
1865.
Octorara sailed
20 July arriving New York
the 29th, decommissioned 5
August 1865 and was sold 9 November 1866.
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kaighin@iname.com
Copyright 2004, 2005, Gregory D.
Kaighin, All rights reserved
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