USS Monticello (1859)
Encyclopedia
The first USS Monticello was a wooden screw-steamer in the United States Navy
during the American Civil War
. She was named for the home
of Thomas Jefferson
. She was briefly named Star in May 1861.
Monticello was built at Mystic, Connecticut
, in 1859; chartered by the Navy in May 1861; and purchased on 12 September 1861 at New York
from H. P. Cromwell & Company, for service in the Atlantic Blockading Squadron
, Captain
Henry Eagle in command.
and preventing communication with the Elizabeth River
on 2 May, then relieved at Cape Henry
on the 8th. She engaged the batteries at Sewell's Point
from 10–14 May, then continued blockade duty until steaming up the Rappahannock
to Smith's Island on 24 June. Operating with the Army
on the James River above Newport News, Virginia
on 5 July, she dispersed a body of Confederate
cavalry
. Often engaging Confederate batteries through the remainder of 1861, she was in the squadron that captured the batteries at Hatteras Inlet
on 28–29 August in the first significant Union victory, one which greatly encouraged the North. She drove off Confederates attacking Union soldiers in that area on 5 October.
Departing Baltimore, Maryland on 25 March 1862 for the blockade of Wilmington, North Carolina
, Monticello sent a boat party to the expedition up Little River
on 26 June that destroyed two schooner
s. She engaged the batteries at New Inlet
on 12 July, and took British
schooner Revere off Wilmington on 21 October. After relieving on blockade at Shallow Inlet
on 15 November, Monticello destroyed British schooners Ariel and Ann there the 24th.
Monticello operated around Little River through 1863, taking British schooner Sun on 30 March, and steamer Old Fellow on 15 April. She joined the expedition to Murrell's Inlet on 25 April, and shelled a schooner there on 12 May with . In November, she destroyed salt works near Little River Inlet.
Returning to the Wilmington blockade in January 1864, she joined in the expedition to Smithville
on 29 February, capturing Captain Kelly of General Hobert’s staff. In July, she joined in the chase after , and on 24 August attacked Confederate batteries at Masonboro Inlet
.
Monticello participated in the attacks on Fort Fisher
on 24–25 December and on 13–14 January 1865. She took the surrender of Fort Casswell on 18–19 January, then participated in the Little River expedition of 4–6 February.
After the war, Monticello decommissioned on 24 July 1865 at Portsmouth, New Hampshire
, and was sold at public auction
at Boston, Massachusetts to W. H. Lincoln on 1 November. Redocumented for merchant service on 25 July 1866, she served American commerce until foundering off Newfoundland on 29 April 1872.
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...
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 named for the home
Monticello
Monticello is a National Historic Landmark just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia; it is...
of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
. She was briefly named Star in May 1861.
Monticello was built at Mystic, Connecticut
Mystic, Connecticut
Mystic is a village and census-designated place in New London County, Connecticut, in the United States. The population was 4,001 at the 2000 census. A historic locality, Mystic has no independent government because it is not a legally recognized municipality in the state of Connecticut...
, in 1859; chartered by the Navy in May 1861; and purchased on 12 September 1861 at New York
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...
from H. P. Cromwell & Company, for service in the Atlantic Blockading Squadron
Atlantic Blockading Squadron
The Atlantic Blockading Squadron was a unit of the United States Navy created in the early days of the American Civil War to enforce a blockade of the ports of the Confederate States...
, Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
Henry Eagle in command.
Service history
Monticello was renamed Star on 3 May 1861, but resumed her original name on 23 May. Seeing immediate action, Monticello relieved in blockading the James RiverJames 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...
and preventing communication with the Elizabeth River
Elizabeth River (Virginia)
The Elizabeth River is a tidal estuary forming an arm of Hampton Roads harbor at the southern end of Chesapeake Bay in southeast Virginia in the United States. It is located along the southern side of the mouth of the James River, between the cities of Portsmouth and Norfolk...
on 2 May, then relieved at Cape Henry
Cape Henry
Cape Henry is a cape on the Atlantic shore of Virginia north of Virginia Beach. It is the southern boundary of the entrance to Chesapeake Bay.Across the mouth of the bay to the north is Cape Charles...
on the 8th. She engaged the batteries at Sewell's Point
Sewell's Point
Sewells Point is a peninsula of land in the independent city of Norfolk, Virginia in the United States, located at the mouth of the salt-water port of Hampton Roads. Sewells Point is bordered by water on three sides, with Willoughby Bay to the north, Hampton Roads to the west, and the Lafayette...
from 10–14 May, then continued blockade duty until steaming up the Rappahannock
Rappahannock River
The Rappahannock River is a river in eastern Virginia, in the United States, approximately in length. It traverses the entire northern part of the state, from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, across the Piedmont, to the Chesapeake Bay, south of the Potomac River.An important river in American...
to Smith's Island on 24 June. Operating with the Army
Union 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...
on the James River above Newport News, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
on 5 July, she dispersed a body of Confederate
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...
cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
. Often engaging Confederate batteries through the remainder of 1861, she was in the squadron that captured the batteries at Hatteras Inlet
Hatteras Inlet
Hatteras Inlet is a estuary in North Carolina, located along the Outer Banks, separating Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island. It connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pamlico Sound. Hatteras Inlet is located entirely within Hyde County.- History :...
on 28–29 August in the first significant Union victory, one which greatly encouraged the North. She drove off Confederates attacking Union soldiers in that area on 5 October.
Departing Baltimore, Maryland on 25 March 1862 for the blockade of Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, 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...
, Monticello sent a boat party to the expedition up Little River
Little River (North Carolina)
Little River may refer to ten streams by that name in the U.S. state of North Carolina:*Little River : A tributary of Albemarle Sound forming a portion of the border between Pasquotank and Perquimans counties....
on 26 June that destroyed two 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....
s. She engaged the batteries at New Inlet
New Inlet
New Inlet was an inlet along the Outer Banks of North Carolina joining the Pamlico Sound with the Atlantic Ocean. It has not existed since 1933.-History:...
on 12 July, and took British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
schooner Revere off Wilmington on 21 October. After relieving on blockade at Shallow Inlet
Shallow Inlet
Shallow Inlet is a marine inlet, opening on to Waratah Bay on the western side of the Yanakie Isthmus in South Gippsland, Victoria, south-eastern Australia...
on 15 November, Monticello destroyed British schooners Ariel and Ann there the 24th.
Monticello operated around Little River through 1863, taking British schooner Sun on 30 March, and steamer Old Fellow on 15 April. She joined the expedition to Murrell's Inlet on 25 April, and shelled a schooner there on 12 May with . In November, she destroyed salt works near Little River Inlet.
Returning to the Wilmington blockade in January 1864, she joined in the expedition to Smithville
Smithville
Smithville is the name of some places in the United States of America:*Smithville, former name of Loomis, California*Smithville, Georgia*Smithville, Monroe County, Indiana*Smithville, Owen County, Indiana*Smithville, Mississippi*Smithville, Missouri...
on 29 February, capturing Captain Kelly of General Hobert’s staff. In July, she joined in the chase after , and on 24 August attacked Confederate batteries at Masonboro Inlet
Masonboro Inlet
Masonboro Inlet is an inlet in New Hanover County, North Carolina, separating the town of Wrightsville Beach from Masonboro Island. The inlet was used as a hideout by Confederate blockade runners during the Civil War. The blockade runners would hide in the inlet until nightfall, then sail to the...
.
Monticello participated in the attacks on Fort Fisher
Fort 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....
on 24–25 December and on 13–14 January 1865. She took the surrender of Fort Casswell on 18–19 January, then participated in the Little River expedition of 4–6 February.
After the war, Monticello decommissioned on 24 July 1865 at Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
, and was sold at public auction
Public auction
A public auction is an auction held on behalf of a government in which the property to be auctioned is either property owned by the government, or property which is sold under the authority of a court of law or a government agency with similar authority....
at Boston, Massachusetts to W. H. Lincoln on 1 November. Redocumented for merchant service on 25 July 1866, she served American commerce until foundering off Newfoundland on 29 April 1872.