USS Elfin (1864)

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

The first USS Elfin was a light draft gunboat acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a patrol vessel on Confederate waterways.

History
United States
Ordered	as W. C. Mann
Laid down	date unknown
Launched	date unknown
Acquired	February 23, 1864
In service	(circa) February 1864
Out of service	November 4, 1864
Stricken	1864 (est.)
Fate	Destroyed in combat November 4, 1864
General characteristics
Displacement	192 tons
Length	155 ft (47 m)
Beam	31 ft (9.4 m)
Depth of hold	4 ft 4 in (1.32 m)
Propulsion	steam engine
Speed	not known
Complement	50
Armament	eight 24-pounder howitzers

She was purchased as W. C. Mann by Admiral David Dixon Porter at Cincinnati, Ohio, February 23, 1864, and placed under the command of Acting Master A. F. Thompson.

Assigned to the Mississippi Squadron

Assigned to the Mississippi Squadron, she cruised in the 7th District between Caledonia and Mound City, Illinois, for a month, then took up duty in the 9th District extending from Cairo, Illinois, to the head of the Tennessee River.

Elfin destroyed in combat with Confederate shore batteries

On November 4, 1864 Elfin was operating with USS Tawah and USS Key West in the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. After a severe engagement of several hours with heavy Confederate shore batteries it was considered impossible to save the three vessels, and they were burned to prevent capture.

References

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