USS Maratanza (1861)
Encyclopedia
USS Maratanza (1862) was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy
during the American Civil War
. She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy
to prevent the South from trading with other countries.
Double-ender, wooden steamer Maratanza, built at Boston Navy Yard
in 1861, was launched 26 November and commissioned at Boston, Massachusetts, 12 April 1862, Comdr. G. H. Scott in command.
's Peninsula Campaign
, operating on the York
and James
rivers from April to September 1862. After participating in the capture of Yorktown
3 May, Maratanza shelled various points, including Wormley's Creek, Murrell's Inlet
, and Fort Darling
(Drewry's Bluff). En route to scouting Turkey Bend, 4 July, she engaged and captured the CSS Teaser
at Haxall's.
, firing on Fort Casswell the 25th. She remained there on patrol duty through much of the conflict, joining Chocura
in capturing sloop
Express off the South Carolina
coast 4 May and capturing sloop Ceres on Western Bar, Smith's Island, North Carolina, 7 December.
24 and 25 December 1864 and 13 through 15 January 1865 when Admiral David Dixon Porter
noted that the Union had enough forces there to hold against the whole Southern Confederacy. Maratanza captured steamers Stag and Charlotte 20 January. She participated in the bombardment and capture of Fort Anderson
19 February, opening the way to Wilmington. In March, General William Tecumseh Sherman
was at Fayetteville, North Carolina
, where boat crews from Maratanza, two other gunboats, and Eolus
rendezvoused with him, opening communications between Sherman’s position and the coast.
in June and was ordered north, arriving at the Portsmouth Navy Yard (Maine
) the 18th and decommissioning the 21st of June 1865. She remained in ordinary at Portsmouth until sold to A. B. & C. W. Lewis in August 1868. She subsequently served as a Haiti
an gunboat
under the names Salnave and Union.
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 gunboat to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy
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...
to prevent the South from trading with other countries.
Double-ender, wooden steamer Maratanza, built at Boston Navy Yard
Boston Navy Yard
The Boston Navy Yard, originally called the Charlestown Navy Yard and later Boston Naval Shipyard, was one of the oldest shipbuilding facilities in the United States Navy. Established in 1801, it was officially closed as an active naval installation on July 1, 1974, and the property was...
in 1861, was launched 26 November and commissioned at Boston, Massachusetts, 12 April 1862, Comdr. G. H. Scott in command.
Supporting the Peninsular Campaign of General McClellan
Immediately after commissioning, Maratanza saw service in support of General George B. McClellanGeorge B. McClellan
George Brinton McClellan was a major general during the American Civil War. He organized the famous Army of the Potomac and served briefly as the general-in-chief of the Union Army. Early in the war, McClellan played an important role in raising a well-trained and organized army for the Union...
's Peninsula Campaign
Peninsula Campaign
The Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The operation, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B...
, operating on the York
York River (Virginia)
The York River is a navigable estuary, approximately long, in eastern Virginia in the United States. It ranges in width from at its head to near its mouth on the west side of Chesapeake Bay. Its watershed drains an area including portions of 17 counties of the coastal plain of Virginia north...
and James
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
rivers from April to September 1862. After participating in the capture of Yorktown
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...
3 May, Maratanza shelled various points, including Wormley's Creek, Murrell's Inlet
Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Murrells Inlet is a small fishing village in Horry County, South Carolina, United States that is considered to be the "Seafood Capital of South Carolina". The population was 5,519 at the 2000 census. It was once primarily a fishing village, but has grown substantially in modern time, along with the...
, and Fort Darling
Battle of Drewry's Bluff
The Battle of Drewry’s Bluff, also known as the Battle of Fort Darling, or Fort Drewry, took place on May 15, 1862, in Chesterfield County, Virginia, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. Five American warships, including the ironclads and , steamed up the James River to...
(Drewry's Bluff). En route to scouting Turkey Bend, 4 July, she engaged and captured the CSS Teaser
CSS Teaser
CSS Teaser had been the aging Georgetown, D.C. tugboat York River until the beginning of the American Civil War, when she was taken into the Confederate States Navy. Later, she was captured by the United States Navy and became the first USS Teaser.-CSS Teaser:Teaser was built at Philadelphia,...
at Haxall's.
Blockade duty off the Carolina coast
After the collapse of the Peninsula Campaign, Maratanza departed Hampton Roads, Virginia, 15 September for blockade and cruising duty off Wilmington, North CarolinaWilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
, firing on Fort Casswell the 25th. She remained there on patrol duty through much of the conflict, joining Chocura
USS Chocura (1861)
The first USS Chocura was a which saw service with the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War.Chocura was launched 5 October 1861 by Curtis and Tilden, Boston, Massachusetts, and commissioned 15 February 1862, Commander T. H...
in capturing sloop
Sloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
Express off the South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
coast 4 May and capturing sloop Ceres on Western Bar, Smith's Island, North Carolina, 7 December.
Participating in the bombardment of Fort Fisher
As Union forces assembled to move against Wilmington, Maratanza participated in the bombardment of Fort FisherFort Fisher
Fort Fisher was a Confederate fort during the American Civil War. It protected the vital trading routes of the port at Wilmington, North Carolina, from 1861 until its capture by the Union in 1865....
24 and 25 December 1864 and 13 through 15 January 1865 when Admiral David Dixon Porter
David Dixon Porter
David Dixon Porter was a member of one of the most distinguished families in the history of the United States Navy. Promoted as the second man to the rank of admiral, after his adoptive brother David G...
noted that the Union had enough forces there to hold against the whole Southern Confederacy. Maratanza captured steamers Stag and Charlotte 20 January. She participated in the bombardment and capture of 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...
19 February, opening the way to Wilmington. In March, General William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
was at Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
, where boat crews from Maratanza, two other gunboats, and Eolus
USS Eolus (1864)
The USS Eolus was a 368-ton side wheel steamship that served in the Union Navy from 1864 to 1865 before becoming a commercial steamship.-Union Navy:...
rendezvoused with him, opening communications between Sherman’s position and the coast.
End-of-war decommissioning, sale and civilian career
After the end of the conflict, Maratanza was detached from her station on Cape Fear RiverCape Fear River
The Cape Fear River is a long blackwater river in east central North Carolina in the United States. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The overall water quality of the river is continuously measured and monitored by and conducted by the , , and the...
in June and was ordered north, arriving at the Portsmouth Navy Yard (Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
) the 18th and decommissioning the 21st of June 1865. She remained in ordinary at Portsmouth until sold to A. B. & C. W. Lewis in August 1868. She subsequently served as a Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
an 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:...
under the names Salnave and Union.