USS Chatham (1836)
Encyclopedia
USS Chatham (1836) was a Confederate side-wheel steamer captured by the Union Navy
during the American Civil War
.
She was used by the Union Navy as a harbor ship, used to transport military personnel, dispatches, and supplies to and from ships anchored in the harbor.
, England
for export to Savannah, Georgia
, knocked-down. Assembled in Savannah, she was used as a river steamer until the Civil War when she became a blockade runner
. She was captured by while attempting to run the blockade on 16 December 1863.
Master
E. L. Smith in command.
Assigned as harbor ship at Port Royal, South Carolina
, Chatham transported men and supplies in the harbor throughout the remainder of the war, providing essential support to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron as it carried out its decisive mission of cutting the Confederacy off from overseas sources of supply.
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 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 used by the Union Navy as a harbor ship, used to transport military personnel, dispatches, and supplies to and from ships anchored in the harbor.
Chatham, a blockade runner, captured by the Union Navy
Chatham — an iron side-wheel steamer — was built in 1836 by John Laird, BirkenheadBirkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for export to Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, knocked-down. Assembled in Savannah, she was used as a river steamer until the Civil War when she became a 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...
. She was captured by while attempting to run the blockade on 16 December 1863.
Commissioned and assigned to the South Atlantic Blockade
Chatham was turned over to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and commissioned on 22 June 1864, ActingBrevet (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...
E. L. Smith in command.
Assigned as harbor ship at Port Royal, South Carolina
Port Royal, South Carolina
Port Royal is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Largely because of annexation of surrounding areas , the population of Port Royal rose from 3,950 in 2000 to 10,678 in 2010, a 170% increase. As defined by the U.S...
, Chatham transported men and supplies in the harbor throughout the remainder of the war, providing essential support to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron as it carried out its decisive mission of cutting the Confederacy off from overseas sources of supply.