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USS Glasgow (1863)
Encyclopedia
USS Glasgow (1863) was a blockade runner
captured by the Union Navy
during the American Civil War
. She was used by the Union Navy principally as a dispatch boat
and storeship in support of the blockade of the ports of the rebellious Confederate States of America
.
Eugenie, captured off Mobile Bay
6 May 1863 by R. R. Cuyler
. She was purchased from the Key West, Florida
, Prize Court
and commissioned 9 July 1863, Acting Ensign N. M. Dyer in command.
and supply ship for the squadron between Mobile Bay
and Pensacola, Florida
.
, Louisiana
, 22 December 1863, for the capture of two British blockade runners. schooner
Derby was captured, but had to be burnt because of heavy enemy shore fire on the attacking party.
, in early February, was back on station with the blockading fleet off Mobile, Alabama
.
's historic victory at Mobile Bay, and received the Admiral on board for a brief visit 26 November.
of the West Gulf Squadron. She struck an obstruction and sank in shoal water off Mobile 8 May 1865, and was not raised until 19 June. Glasgow was taken to Pensacola, Florida
, for repairs and returned to duty 1 July 1866.
and off Pensacola, returning there 6 August 1868.
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...
captured 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 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 principally as a dispatch boat
Dispatch boat
Dispatch boats were small boats, and sometimes large ships, tasked to carry military dispatches from ship to ship or from ship to shore or, in some cases from shore to shore...
and storeship in support of the blockade of the ports of the rebellious 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...
.
Blockade runner Eugenie
Glasgow was originally blockade runnerBlockade 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...
Eugenie, captured off Mobile Bay
Mobile Bay
Mobile Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, lying within the state of Alabama in the United States. Its mouth is formed by the Fort Morgan Peninsula on the eastern side and Dauphin Island, a barrier island on the western side. The Mobile River and Tensaw River empty into the northern end of the...
6 May 1863 by R. R. Cuyler
USS R. R. Cuyler (1860)
USS R. R. Cuyler was a steamer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She was outfitted by the Union Navy as a gunboat and was assigned to the Union blockade of the Confederate States of America....
. She was purchased from the Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
, Prize Court
Prize court
A prize court is a court authorized to consider whether or not a ship has been lawfully captured or seized in time of war or under the terms of the seizing ship's letters of marque and reprisal...
and commissioned 9 July 1863, Acting Ensign N. M. Dyer in command.
the West Gulf Blockade
Assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, Eugenie served as a dispatch boatDispatch boat
Dispatch boats were small boats, and sometimes large ships, tasked to carry military dispatches from ship to ship or from ship to shore or, in some cases from shore to shore...
and supply ship for the squadron between Mobile Bay
Mobile Bay
Mobile Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, lying within the state of Alabama in the United States. Its mouth is formed by the Fort Morgan Peninsula on the eastern side and Dauphin Island, a barrier island on the western side. The Mobile River and Tensaw River empty into the northern end of the...
and Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
.
Mermentau Lake, Louisiana,
Eugenie sent an expedition to Mermentau LakeMermentau River
The Mermentau River is a river in southern Louisiana in the United States. It enters the Gulf of Mexico between Calcasieu Lake and Vermilion Bay on the Chenier Coastal Plain.The Mermentau River supplies freshwater for the Mermentau Basin...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, 22 December 1863, for the capture of two British blockade runners. schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
Derby was captured, but had to be burnt because of heavy enemy shore fire on the attacking party.
Renamed
Eugenie was renamed Glasgow 21 January 1864, and after a week repairing at New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, in early February, was back on station with the blockading fleet off Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
.
Admiral Farragut
Serving mainly as dispatch boat, Glasgow aided in the destruction of blockade runner Ivanhoe under the fire of Fort Morgan 30 June 1864, and fired at an unknown blockade runner under the guns of the fort 1 July. She was present off Fort Gaines 8 August when the fort surrendered to Union forces after Admiral David FarragutDavid Farragut
David Glasgow Farragut was a flag officer of the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in the United States Navy. He is remembered in popular culture for his order at the Battle of Mobile Bay, usually paraphrased: "Damn the...
's historic victory at Mobile Bay, and received the Admiral on board for a brief visit 26 November.
Sinks near Mobile, Alabama
During 1865, Glasgow continued her regular duties, and in addition served occasionally, because of her speed and light draft, as flagshipFlagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of the West Gulf Squadron. She struck an obstruction and sank in shoal water off Mobile 8 May 1865, and was not raised until 19 June. Glasgow was taken to Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, for repairs and returned to duty 1 July 1866.
Post war
Chosen to be retained for the post-war cruising squadron in the Gulf, Glasgow served as storeship and visited New Orleans, Lakeport, and Mexican ports until she entered the Pensacola Navy Yard for repairs 23 January 1868. Departing Pensacola 10 March, she spent another five months cruising with the squadron on the lower Mississippi RiverMississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
and off Pensacola, returning there 6 August 1868.