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USS Ceres (1856)
Encyclopedia
USS Ceres (1856) was a small 150 LT (152.4 t) steamboat
acquired by the Union Navy
during the beginning of the American Civil War
. She was outfitted as a gunboat
and used in the Union blockade
of the waterways of the Confederate States of America
.
, was built at Keyport
, New Jersey
in 1856. Ceres was purchased by the United States Navy
on 11 September 1861, fitted out at the Washington Navy Yard
, and commissioned the same month, Acting
Master
J. L. Elliott in command.
and North Carolina
. Here she maintained the close watch for Confederate States merchantmen through which the blockading forces provided so important a part of the U.S. Navy's contribution in the American Civil War
. She was successful in capturing four blockade runner
s during her service, as well as aiding in the seizure of others.
forces holding or attempting to take coastal positions, as well as providing boats and cover for amphibious operations, raids, and reconnaissance. She took part in the capture of Roanoke Island
on 7-8 February 1862, during which she was hit while firing on Confederate shore positions. When nearby Confederate naval ships retired up Albemarle Sound
as Roanoke Island fell, Ceres joined in following them, and next took part in the naval engagement off Elizabeth City, North Carolina
. During this action, in which one of her men was wounded, she captured CSS Ellis
.
Continuing her operations in North Carolinian waters, Ceres took the steamer Wilson on 9 July 1862 while covering the landing of an Army raiding party near Hamilton, North Carolina
. Through most of 1863, she protected the forces holding such posts as Fort Anderson
at New Bern, North Carolina
and the positions near Washington, North Carolina
, coming under fire from Confederate batteries on several occasions.
, Ceres lost two men killed and six wounded when she was taken under heavy fire from Fort Grey
, upriver from Plymouth, on 17 April 1864. Two days later, it was Ceres who gave warning of the approach of the formidable Confederate ram CSS Albemarle
, and took part in the first engagement with the ram which followed. On 5 May, her group again was engaged with Albemarle and two other steamers.
Following the dramatic sinking of Albemarle by Lieutenant
William B. Cushing
, and later salvage, Ceres towed Albemarle north to Norfolk, Virginia
at the close of the war.
, Ceres was decommissioned at New York City
on 14 July 1865, and sold on 25 October 1865.
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
acquired by the Union Navy
Union Navy
The Union Navy is the label applied to the United States Navy during the American Civil War, to contrast it from its direct opponent, the Confederate States Navy...
during the beginning of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. She was outfitted as a gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
and used in the Union blockade
Union blockade
The Union Blockade, or the Blockade of the South, took place between 1861 and 1865, during the American Civil War, when the Union Navy maintained a strenuous effort on the Atlantic and Gulf Coast of the Confederate States of America designed to prevent the passage of trade goods, supplies, and arms...
of the waterways of the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
.
Construction
Ceres, an armed side-wheel merchant steamerSteamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
, was built at Keyport
Keyport, New Jersey
Keyport is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,240. Keyport's nickname is the "Pearl of the Bayshore" or the "Gateway to the Bayshore"....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in 1856. Ceres was purchased by the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
on 11 September 1861, fitted out at the Washington Navy Yard
Washington Navy Yard
The Washington Navy Yard is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy...
, and commissioned the same month, Acting
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
Master
Master (naval)
The master, or sailing master, was a historic term for a naval officer trained in and responsible for the navigation of a sailing vessel...
J. L. Elliott in command.
North Atlantic blockade operations
Originally assigned to the Potomac Flotilla, Ceres was ordered on 18 September 1861 to report to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, and for the remainder of the war, aside from repair periods at Baltimore, Maryland operated in the rivers and sounds of VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Here she maintained the close watch for Confederate States merchantmen through which the blockading forces provided so important a part of the U.S. Navy's contribution in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. She was successful in capturing four blockade runner
Blockade runner
A blockade runner is usually a lighter weight ship used for evading a naval blockade of a port or strait, as opposed to confronting the blockaders to break the blockade. Very often blockade running is done in order to transport cargo, for example to bring food or arms to a blockaded city...
s during her service, as well as aiding in the seizure of others.
Capture of Roanoke Island
Another crucial assignment carried out by Ceres squadron was support for Union ArmyUnion Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
forces holding or attempting to take coastal positions, as well as providing boats and cover for amphibious operations, raids, and reconnaissance. She took part in the capture of Roanoke Island
Roanoke Island
Roanoke Island is an island in Dare County near the coast of North Carolina, United States. It was named after the historical Roanoke Carolina Algonquian people who inhabited the area in the 16th century at the time of English exploration....
on 7-8 February 1862, during which she was hit while firing on Confederate shore positions. When nearby Confederate naval ships retired up Albemarle Sound
Albemarle Sound
Albemarle Sound is a large estuary on the coast of North Carolina in the United States located at the confluence of a group of rivers, including the Chowan and Roanoke. It is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Outer Banks, a long barrier peninsula upon which the town of Kitty Hawk is located,...
as Roanoke Island fell, Ceres joined in following them, and next took part in the naval engagement off Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Elizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County and Camden County in the State of North Carolina. With a population of 18,683 at the 2010 census, Elizabeth City is the county seat of Pasquotank County....
. During this action, in which one of her men was wounded, she captured CSS Ellis
CSS Ellis
CSS Ellis was a gunboat in the Confederate States Navy and the United States Navy during the American Civil War. It was lost during a raid while under command of famed Navy officer Lieutenant William B...
.
Continuing her operations in North Carolinian waters, Ceres took the steamer Wilson on 9 July 1862 while covering the landing of an Army raiding party near Hamilton, North Carolina
Hamilton, North Carolina
Hamilton is a town in Martin County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 516 at the 2000 census. The current mayor is Gil Matthews.-Geography:Hamilton is located at ....
. Through most of 1863, she protected the forces holding such posts as Fort Anderson
Fort Anderson
Fort Anderson can refer to:*Fort Anderson — A Union fort used in the American Civil War and site of the Battle of Paducah, Kentucky*Fort Anderson — A Confederate fort used in the American Civil War...
at New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...
and the positions near Washington, North Carolina
Washington, North Carolina
Washington is a city in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 9,744 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Beaufort County. The closest major city is Greenville, approximately 20 miles to the west....
, coming under fire from Confederate batteries on several occasions.
Under fire with casualties
In the lengthy series of attacks around Plymouth, North CarolinaPlymouth, North Carolina
Plymouth is the largest town in Washington County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,107 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...
, Ceres lost two men killed and six wounded when she was taken under heavy fire from Fort Grey
Fort Grey
Fort Grey, colloquially known as the "cup and saucer", is a Martello tower located on a rock in Rocquaine Bay on the west coast of Guernsey. The French called the rock upon which the tower was built the Chateau de Rocquaine...
, upriver from Plymouth, on 17 April 1864. Two days later, it was Ceres who gave warning of the approach of the formidable Confederate ram CSS Albemarle
CSS Albemarle
CSS Albemarle was an ironclad ram of the Confederate Navy , named for a town and a sound in North Carolina and a county in Virginia...
, and took part in the first engagement with the ram which followed. On 5 May, her group again was engaged with Albemarle and two other steamers.
Following the dramatic sinking of Albemarle by Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
William B. Cushing
William B. Cushing
William Barker Cushing was an officer in the United States Navy, best known for sinking the Confederate ironclad CSS Albemarle during a daring nighttime raid on October 27, 1864, a feat for which he received the Thanks of Congress.-Early life and career:Cushing was born in Delafield, Wisconsin,...
, and later salvage, Ceres towed Albemarle north to Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
at the close of the war.
Post-war decommissioning and sale
After a final patrol period off North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, Ceres was decommissioned at New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on 14 July 1865, and sold on 25 October 1865.