The Union Navy placed Spirea, with a crew of 65 sailors and naval officers, in service as a gunship and assigned her to blockade operations against the Confederate States of America, placing her as a gunboat on the Gulf of Mexico coast of Florida where she spent her entire U.S. Navy career.
Spirea—a twin-screw steamer built in 1864 at Fair Haven, Connecticut, and sister ship of USS Hibiscus (1864)—was purchased by the Union Navy at New York City on 30 December 1864 from S. M. Pook; and was commissioned on 9 January 1865, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant George E. Nelson in command. [1]
Spirea and two other ships ran aground, but she was refloated and patrolled off St. Marks, Florida, until 1 May when she joined the blockade off Apalachicola, Florida. Two weeks later, she returned to St. Marks.
Post-war deactivation
After the end of the Civil War, Spirea remained on duty in the Gulf of Mexico until she sailed early in August. Spirea was decommissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 23 August 1865 and was sold at public auction at New York City on 5 October 1866.
Subsequent maritime career
The screw steamer was documented as Sappho on 30 January 1867 for operation out of New York City. She was apparently lost later in 1867, but details of her demise have not been found.
spirea, steamer, acquired, union, navy, towards, american, civil, historyunited, stateslaid, downdate, unknownlaunchedin, 1864, fair, haven, connecticutacquired30, december, 1864, york, city, yorkcommissioned9, january, 1865decommissioned23, august, 1865, york. USS Spirea was a 409 ton steamer acquired by the Union Navy towards the end of the American Civil War HistoryUnited StatesLaid downdate unknownLaunchedin 1864 at Fair Haven ConnecticutAcquired30 December 1864 in New York City New YorkCommissioned9 January 1865Decommissioned23 August 1865 at the New York Navy YardStricken1866 est FateSold 5 October 1866General characteristicsDisplacement409 tonsLengthnot knownBeamnot knownDraughtnot knownPropulsionsteam engine screw propelledSpeednot knownComplement65Armamenttwo 30 pounder Parrott rifles four 24 pounder howitzersThe Union Navy placed Spirea with a crew of 65 sailors and naval officers in service as a gunship and assigned her to blockade operations against the Confederate States of America placing her as a gunboat on the Gulf of Mexico coast of Florida where she spent her entire U S Navy career Contents 1 Built in Fair Haven Connecticut in 1864 2 Civil War operations 3 Post war deactivation 4 Subsequent maritime career 5 ReferencesBuilt in Fair Haven Connecticut in 1864 EditSpirea a twin screw steamer built in 1864 at Fair Haven Connecticut and sister ship of USS Hibiscus 1864 was purchased by the Union Navy at New York City on 30 December 1864 from S M Pook and was commissioned on 9 January 1865 Acting Volunteer Lieutenant George E Nelson in command 1 Civil War operations EditSpirea was ordered to join the East Gulf Blockading Squadron at Key West Florida in early January 1865 On 23 February she led an expedition up the St Marks River to land Union Army troops for an attack on Tallahassee Florida Spirea and two other ships ran aground but she was refloated and patrolled off St Marks Florida until 1 May when she joined the blockade off Apalachicola Florida Two weeks later she returned to St Marks Post war deactivation EditAfter the end of the Civil War Spirea remained on duty in the Gulf of Mexico until she sailed early in August Spirea was decommissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 23 August 1865 and was sold at public auction at New York City on 5 October 1866 Subsequent maritime career EditThe screw steamer was documented as Sappho on 30 January 1867 for operation out of New York City She was apparently lost later in 1867 but details of her demise have not been found References Edit American Civil War portal DANFS This 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 Spirea amp oldid 1151813528, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
