USS Camelia

This article is about the American Civil War gunboat. For the lighthouse tender and World War I patrol vessel, see USLHT Camellia.

USS Camelia was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was armed as a gunboat by the Navy and assigned to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries.

History
United States
Ordered	as Governor
Laid down	date unknown
Launched	1862 at New York City
Acquired	17 September 1863
Commissioned	28 November 1863
Decommissioned	1865 at New York City
Stricken	1865 (est.)
Fate	Sold, 15 August 1865
General characteristics
Displacement	198 tons
Length	111 ft (34 m)
Beam	19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)
Draught	10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)
Propulsion	steam engine screw propelled
Speed	10 knots
Complement	40
Armament	two 20-pounder rifled guns

Built in New York City in 1862

Camelia, a screw tugboat, was built in 1862 at New York City as Governor; purchased there 17 September 1863; and commissioned 28 November 1863 with Acting Ensign R. W. Parker assuming command the next day.

Civil War service

From 21 January 1864 to 1 July 1865, Camelia served with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron off Charleston, South Carolina, and at Port Royal, South Carolina.

In addition to playing a part in the blockade which kept critically needed war materials and civilian commodities from entering the Confederacy, Camelia contributed officers and men to the naval brigade which carried out successful operations ashore in the Broad River area of South Carolina in November and December 1864.

Post-war decommissioning and sale

Returning to New York City, the tug was sold there 15 August 1865.

References

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

See also

• Confederate States Navy