The Union Navy commissioned her as a supply ship and dispatch boat who task was to support the Navy ships blockading the Confederate States of America.
Honduras, a side wheel steamer, was built in 1861 at New York City and purchased from her owner, Simeon Ackerman, 31 July 1863. Converted to Navy use, she commissioned at New York Navy Yard 8 September 1863, Acting Lieutenant T. Stites in command.
Civil War operationsedit
Assigned as support vessel for the East Gulf Blockadeedit
Assigned as a supply boat and dispatch steamer with the East Gulf Blockading Squadron, Honduras sailed for Key West, Florida, soon after commissioning. She carried mail and dispatches, and in addition served on the blockade which so effectively strangled southern commerce and strength.
She captured British blockade-runner Mail in the Gulf of Mexico 15 October 1863, and early the next year supported a joint operation at the mouth of the Caloosahatchie River. Honduras carried troops to the mouth of the river and disembarked them 4 January 1864.
In addition to her regular dispatch duties, the steamer also participated in the capture of Tampa, Florida, by joint expedition, 4–7 May 1864. Honduras, with USS Sunflower and USS James L. Davis, carried General Woodbury and his troops to Tampa, Florida, and provided a naval landing party which joined in the assault. During the successful operation the ships also captured blockade-running sloop Neptune 6 May.
Problems with yellow fever sicknessedit
Continuing to supply the squadron, Honduras, like many of the ships in that tropical climate, suffered from yellow fever among the crew during July 1864, and spent much of her time at Key West, Florida.
She interrupted her regular itinerary among the stations of the squadron 4 January 1865 to come to the assistance of San Jacinto, stranded on a reef in the Bahamas. Honduras helped to salvage ordnance and equippage from the stricken ship.
Participating in the St. Marks River expeditionedit
Honduras also participated in a joint expedition to the mouth of the St. Marks River, Florida, 23 February-7 March 1865. Gunboats with troops embarked destroyed Confederate installations near the mouth of the river, and effectually blockaded it against illegal commerce.
Post-war decommissioning and saleedit
In July 1865 Honduras was ordered to New York City, where she decommissioned 5 August. The steamer was sold 5 September 1865 to W. A. Lightfall and returned to merchant service, finally stranding off Key West, Florida, in 1870.
honduras, steamer, acquired, union, navy, during, american, civil, history, united, states, laid, downdate, unknown, launched1861, acquired31, july, 1863, commissioned8, september, 1863, decommissioned5, august, 1865, stricken1865, fatesold, september, 1865, g. USS Honduras was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War History United States Laid downdate unknown Launched1861 Acquired31 July 1863 Commissioned8 September 1863 Decommissioned5 August 1865 Stricken1865 est FateSold 5 September 1865 General characteristics Displacement376 tons Length150 ft 46 m Beam27 ft 8 2 m Depth of hold10 ft 3 0 m Propulsionsteam engine side wheel propelled Speed12 knots Complementnot known Armamenttwo 12 pounder rifled guns The Union Navy commissioned her as a supply ship and dispatch boat who task was to support the Navy ships blockading the Confederate States of America Contents 1 Built in New York city in 1863 2 Civil War operations 2 1 Assigned as support vessel for the East Gulf Blockade 2 2 Problems with yellow fever sickness 2 3 Participating in the St Marks River expedition 3 Post war decommissioning and sale 4 ReferencesBuilt in New York city in 1863 editHonduras a side wheel steamer was built in 1861 at New York City and purchased from her owner Simeon Ackerman 31 July 1863 Converted to Navy use she commissioned at New York Navy Yard 8 September 1863 Acting Lieutenant T Stites in command Civil War operations editAssigned as support vessel for the East Gulf Blockade edit Assigned as a supply boat and dispatch steamer with the East Gulf Blockading Squadron Honduras sailed for Key West Florida soon after commissioning She carried mail and dispatches and in addition served on the blockade which so effectively strangled southern commerce and strength She captured British blockade runner Mail in the Gulf of Mexico 15 October 1863 and early the next year supported a joint operation at the mouth of the Caloosahatchie River Honduras carried troops to the mouth of the river and disembarked them 4 January 1864 In addition to her regular dispatch duties the steamer also participated in the capture of Tampa Florida by joint expedition 4 7 May 1864 Honduras with USS Sunflower and USS James L Davis carried General Woodbury and his troops to Tampa Florida and provided a naval landing party which joined in the assault During the successful operation the ships also captured blockade running sloop Neptune 6 May Problems with yellow fever sickness edit Continuing to supply the squadron Honduras like many of the ships in that tropical climate suffered from yellow fever among the crew during July 1864 and spent much of her time at Key West Florida She interrupted her regular itinerary among the stations of the squadron 4 January 1865 to come to the assistance of San Jacinto stranded on a reef in the Bahamas Honduras helped to salvage ordnance and equippage from the stricken ship Participating in the St Marks River expedition edit Honduras also participated in a joint expedition to the mouth of the St Marks River Florida 23 February 7 March 1865 Gunboats with troops embarked destroyed Confederate installations near the mouth of the river and effectually blockaded it against illegal commerce Post war decommissioning and sale editIn July 1865 Honduras was ordered to New York City where she decommissioned 5 August The steamer was sold 5 September 1865 to W A Lightfall and returned to merchant service finally stranding off Key West Florida in 1870 References editThis article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Honduras amp oldid 1151546536, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
