USS Catalpa (1864)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Catalpa.

USS Catalpa was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Navy for various purposes, but especially to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries.

History
United States
Ordered	as Conqueror
Laid down	date unknown
Launched	1864
Acquired	29 June 1864
Commissioned	12 July 1864
Decommissioned	1 September 1865
Stricken	1894 (est.)
Fate	Sold, 23 July 1894
General characteristics
Displacement	191 tons
Length	105 ft 3 in (32.08 m)
Beam	22 ft 2 in (6.76 m)
Draught	9 ft (2.7 m)
Propulsion	steam engine screw-propelled
Speed	not known
Complement	37
Armament	two 24-pounder smoothbores one 12-pounder smoothbore gun

Catalpa, a screw tugboat, was built in Brooklyn, New York, in 1864 as Conqueror; purchased by the Navy 29 June 1864; commissioned 12 July 1864 and reported to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

Assigned to the South Atlantic Blockade

Throughout the remainder of the war, Catalpa operated with her Squadron along the South Carolina coast, performing the varied services with which she rendered valuable support to the successful blockade of the Confederacy.

She carried passengers and light cargo in addition to performing the usual tug services, and skillfully removed torpedoes (mines) and obstructions. She contributed her officers and men to operations in Broad River and Bull's Bay in which a naval brigade cooperated closely with Union Army forces in preparing for William Tecumseh Sherman's march to the sea, and in February 1865, stood up the Pedee River to Georgetown, South Carolina, where her landing party routed a band of Confederate horsemen, and raised the flag over the town.

Decommissioning and continued Navy service

Catalpa was decommissioned 1 September 1865, and was used as a yard tug at New York City until 23 July 1894 when she was sold.

References

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