Civil War Union Ships S through T

United States   U.S. Civil    Union Navy in the Civil War    Civil War Union Ships S through T

Introduction
The information below comes from. Included are the names of ships with information about dates of service in the Civil War, type of ship, name changes, etc.

Ships names beginning with Sa to Sn

 * Sabine. Built by Government at New York Navy Yard; launched, February 3, 1855. Class: Sailing frigate. Sold September 23, 1883, at Portsmouth, N. H., to J. L. Snow, Rockland, Me., for $11,100. Out of commission, Jly 8, 1861, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, N. H.; recommissioned, August 30, 1861. Ordered, October 28, 1862, to cruise in search of theAlabama. August 19,1864, ordered to be fitted as a practice schoolship for naval apprentices and landsmen. Description
 * Sachem. Purchased, September 20, 1861, at New York, N. Y., by George D. Morgan, form Dudley Buck. Screw steamer. Surrendered, September 8, 1863, at Sabine Pass, by Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Amos Johnson. Total cost of repairs while in the Government service was $22,313.04. Description
 * Saco. Hull built at Boston Navy Yard; machinery by contract with Corliss Steam Engine Company, Providence, R. I. Launched at the former place, August 28, 1863. Class: Screw steamer; gunboat; wood. Sold, November 20, 1863, to William E. Mighell, San Francisco, Calif., for $6,850. Commissioned, July 11, 1864, at Boston Navy Yard; went out of commission, January 27, 1865, at Washington Navy Yard. Total cost of repairs while in the naval service was $173,083.44. Description
 * Sacramento. Hull built by Government at Portsmouth Navy Yard; machinery by Taunton Locomotive Works, Taunton, Mass. Launched at the former place, April 28, 1862. Class: Screw steamer; sloop; wood. Totally wrecked, June 19, 1867, on the shoal off the mouth of the Kothapali, a brance of the Godavery River, Madras District, Lat. 16 degrees 53' N., Long. 82 degrees 23' E. Commissioned, January 7, 1863, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, for special service. August 21, 1865, went out of commission. Total cost of repairs was $363.67. Description
 * Saffron. Purchased, December 8, 1864, at Perth Amboy, N. J., by Admiral D. D. Porter. Class: Screw steamer. Sold at public auction, October 25, 1865, at New York, to D. Townsend by Burdett, Jones &amp; Co., for $7,500. Name changed to Saffron from J.  T. Jenkins, under which she was purchased. Cost of repairs at Norfolk, June 30, 1865, was $637. 18. Strongly built. Description
 * Sagamore. Built by contract with A. &amp; G. T. Sampson and Atlantic Works, Boston, Mass., at East Boston, Mass.; turned over to authorities at Charlestown Navy Yard, November 1, 1861, Launched September 1, 1861, at East Boston, Mass.  Class: Screw steamer; gunboat; wood. Sold June 13, 1865, at New York, for $12,300. December 7, 1861, commissioned at Boston Navy Yard; went out of commission December 1, 1864, at Philadelphia, Pa.; recommissioned March 15, 1865. Total cost of repairs while in the naval service was $17,099.97. Description
 * Saginaw. Hull built at Mare Island Navy Yard by the Government; machinery by Peter Donahue, San Francisco, Cal. Launched March 3, 1859, at the former place. Commenced in July, 1858, and completed in March 1860. Class: Side-wheel steamer; 3d class; laurel wood. Wrecked at 3 am. October 29, 1870, on Ocean Island Reef. January 3, 1862, out of commission at Hong Kong, China; recommissioned March 23, 1863, at Mare Island, Calif. There is no record of the manner in which the Saginaw got home. Description
 * St. Clair. Purchased August 13, 1862, at St. Louis, Mo., by Commodore J. B. Hull, from R. D. Cochran, Robert Finney, C. A. Dravo, Jane and Mary A. Nimick, Allegheny County, Pa. Class: Stern-wheel steamer; wood. Sold at public auction August 17, 1865, at Mound City, Ill., to J. H. Stearn, by Solomon A. Silver, for $9,000. Commissioned September 24, 1862, at Carondelet, Mo.; went out of commission July 12, 1865, at Mound City, Ill. She was purchased for Commodore Davis's fleet, to be used on Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. Total cost of repairs while in the Government service was $7,554.53. Description
 * St. Charles, see Paw Paw.
 * St. Lawrence. Built in 1844 at Norfolk Navy Yard by the Government. Class: Sailing frigate; wood. Sold, December 31, 1875, at Norfolk, Va., to E. Stannard, for $17,900. Waiting the decision of the department as to her final disposition, she was at Norfolk Navy Yard, December 27, 1865. October 12, 1865, Naval Constructor Hanscom had examined the St. Lawrence and estimated that it would cost $22,500. to convert her into a permanent store vessel. She as a commissioned June 21, 1851, at Philadelphia, Pa.; went out of commission May 30, 1863, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, N. H. Recommissioned, August 5, 1860. Description
 * St. Louis, see Baron de Kalb.
 * St. Louis. Sailing sloop; wood. January 31, 1862, commissioned, at Philadelphia, Pa.; May 6, 1865, ordered to be placed in ordinary at Philadelphia Navy Yard, where she went out of commission, May 12, 1865. Description
 * St. Mary's, see Alexandria.
 * St. Mary's, see Hatteras.
 * St. Mary's. Built at Washington in 1843, by Government. Class: Sailing sloop; wood. At Mare Island Navy Yard, September 22, 1866, went out of commission. Description
 * Sallie Woods. Captured, February 9, 1862, at Florence, Ala., by Tyler, Lexington, and Conestoga. Naval transport. Captured and burned, July 17, 1862, at Island No. 82, Mississippi River, by Confederates. Description
 * Sally Bishop, see Gladiolus.
 * Sam Houston. Captured, July 6, 1861, off Galveston, Tex. Class: Sails. Sold at public auction, April 25, 1866, by J. B. Walton for $1,998.70, at New Orleans, La. Description
 * Samson, see Chickasaw.
 * Samson, seePansy.
 * Samson. Transferred by War Department, November 27, 1862 at St. Louis, Mo., by Quartermaster Department. Class: Tug; wood. Sold at public auction, August 17, 1865, at Mound City, Ill., by Solomon A. Silver, to J. W. Clark and J. Nixon et al, for $16,100. Formerly one of the Ellet Ram Fleet. Went out of commission, August 9, 1865, at Mound City, Ill. Description
 * Samuel Rotan. Purchased, September 21, 1861 at Philadelphia, Pa., by Admiral Du Pont. Class: Sailing vessel; wood. Sold at public auction. August 15, 1865, at New York, by Burdett. Jones &amp; Co., to Mr. Stannard, for $8,300. November 12, 1861, she was commissioned at Philadelphia, Pa., and went out of commission, June 10, 1865, at New York Navy Yard. Total cost fo repairs while in the Government service was $15,835.93. Description
 * Sandusky. Built at Pittsburgh, Pa., April, 1866, by contract with Tomlinson, Hartupee &amp; C. Launched, January, 1865, at Pittsburgh, Pa. Class: Steamer; iron and wood. Sold, April 17, 1873, at Mound City, Ill., to David Campbell, for $18,000. Name changed to Minerva from Sandusky, June 15, 1869; August 10, 1869, to Sandusky again. The contract price for the Sandusky was $188,000; but there were two allowances for extra work, one on April 8, 1865, for $10,000 and the other on January 10, 1867, for $37,039.57. Description
 * Sangamon. Built by contract with John Ericsson, Chester, Pa., where she was launched, October 27, 1862. Class: Screw steamer; wood and iron; single-turret monitor. Name changed from Conestoga, September 9, 1862, by order of Department, to Sangamon; then, June 15, 1869, to Jason. Commissioned, May 13, 1898; went out of commission at League Island, 1899-1900. She was first commissioned, February 9, 1863, at Chester, Pa.
 * San Jacinto. Hull built by Government at New York Navy Yard; machinery by Merrick &amp; Sons, Philadelphia, Pa. Launched at the former place in 1850. Class: Screw steamer; 1st-class sloop; wood. Wrecked, January 1, 1865, at No Name Key, Great Abaco, Bahama Islands. The wreck was sold, May 17, 1871, at Nassau, for $224.61. Went out of commission, November 30, 1861, at Boston Navy Yard; recommissioned, March 1, 1862. Total cost, including repairs, to July 30, 1853, was $418,835.25. Description
 * Santee. Hull built by Government at Portsmouth Navy Yard, where she was launched, February 16, 1855. Class: Sailing frigate; wood. Commissioned, June 9, 1861, at Portsmouth Navy Yard. Went out of commission, September 4, 1862, at New York Navy Yard, where she was recommissioned, October 4, 1862. Description
 * Santiago De Cuba. Purchased, September 6, 1861, at New York, by George D. Morgan. Class: Side-wheel steamer; wood. Sold at public auction, September 21, 1865, at Philadelphia, Pa., by Samuel C. Cook, for $108,000. Commissioned, November 5, 1861, at New York Navy Yard; went out of commission, June 17, 1865, at Philadelphia Navy Yard. Total cost of repairs by Government was $104,088. Description
 * Sarah Bibbey. Purchased August 13, 1861, by Captain H. S. Stellwagen. Schooner. Purchased to sink. Stone fleet. Description
 * Sarah and Caroline. Purchased August 1, 1863, from New York prize court by Navy Department. Prize schooner. Sold August 8, 1865, at Port Royal. Description
 * Sarah Bruen. Purchased, September 3, 1861, at New York, N. Y., by George D. Morgan from Dallner &amp; Potter. Class: Sailing mortar schooner; wood. Sold at public auction, August 15, 1865, at New York, by Burdett, Jones &amp; Co., to Mr. Rhinehart, for $7,250. Commissioned February 3, 1862, at New York Yard; went out of commission there July 6, 1865. Total cost of repairs by Government was $29,114.46. Description
 * Sarah M . Kemp. Purchased August 13, 1861, at Baltimore, Md., by Captain H. S. Stellwagen. Schooner. Purchased to sink. Stone fleet. Description
 * Sarah S. B. Carey, seeTritonia.
 * Saranac. Hull Built by Government at Portsmouth Navy Yard, where she was launched in 1848; machinery by Jebez Coney, Boston, Mass. Class: Side-wheel steamer; 1st-class sloop; wood. Sunk June 18, 1875, in Seymour Narrows, off Vancouver Island. Early in 1857, machinery was overhauled and repaired and two new boilers put in her by Merrick &amp; Sons at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, who also received the contract for building two vertical tubular boilers and altering and repairing the machinery, December 29, 1856. Description
 * Saratoga. Built by Government at Kittery Me., where she was launched July 26, 1842. Class: Sail; sloop of war; wood Commissioned November 5, 1860 and June 1863, at Philadelphia Navy Yard for African Squadron and South Atlantic station, respectively. Description
 * Sassacus.Hull built at Portsmouth Navy Yard by Government, where she was launched, December 23, 1862; machinery by Atlantic Works, Boston, Mass., and completed, May 15, 1863. Class: Side-wheel steamer; double-ender; wood. Sold, together with the Chenango and Metacomet, August 28, 1868, to John Roach, for $65,062.50. October 5, 1863, commissioned at Boston Navy Yard; went out of commission, May 13, 1865 at Philadelphia Navy Yard; went out of commission May 13, 1865, at Philadelphia Navy Yard. Total cost of repairs while in naval service was $49, 275.61. Description
 * Satellite. Purchased, July 24, 1861, at New York, N. Y., by George D. Morgan from Hammond. Class: Side-wheel steamer; tug; wood. Captured, August 23, 1863, by Confederate boat expedition, in Rappahannock River. Commissioned, September 27, 1861, at New York Navy Yard for Potomac Flotilla.Description
 * Saugus. Built by contract with Harlan, Hollingsworth &amp; Co., at Wilmington, Del. Launced, December 16, 1863. Class: Screw steamer; single-turret monitor; wood and iron. She was condemned and moored (January, 1889) in the Potomac River opposite Washington Navy Yard. June 15, 1869, name changed to Centaur; August 10, 1869, name again changed to Saugus. Total cost of repairs to January 1, 1889, was $190.957.56. Commissioned, April 7, 1864, at Philadelphia, Pa.; wnet out of commission, June 13, 1865, at Washington Navy Yard. October 8, 1864, had spped trial from buoy off Hospital wharf, Norfolk, Va., to Sewells Point and return. Description
 * Savannah, see Chotank.
 * Savannah. Class: Sailing sloop; wood. Sold, September 27, 1883, at Norfolk, Va., to E. Stannard &amp; Co., Westbrook, Conn., for $12,403. Commissioned, June 27, 1861, at New York Navy Yard; out of commission at New York, February 11, 1862. Recommissioned as Instruction ship. Description
 * Sciota, see Meteor.
 * Sciota. Built by contract with Jacob Birely and J. P. Morris &amp; Co., Philadelphia, Pa., where she was launched, October 15, 1861. Delivered at Philadelphia Navy Yard, November 26, 1861. Class: Screw steamer; gunboat; wood. Sunk April 14, 1865, in Mobile Bay, by a torpedo; wreck sold at public auction, October 25, 1865, at New York, N. Y., for $16.000. December 15, 1861, commissioned at Philadelphis Navy Yard; went out of commission, July 27, 1865, at New York Navy Yard. Total cost of repairs while in naval service was $15, 735.11. Description
 * Scylla, seeCanonicus.
 * Sea Bird. Purchased July 12, 1863, from Key West prize court by Navy Department. Class: Sailing vessel. Sold at public auction, June 28, 1865, at Key West, Fla., to W. F. Pitcher, for $2,510. April 11, 1863, assisted in destroying sloop Annie, in Crystal River; April 11, 1865, assisted in the destruction of sloop Florida off Crystal River, Florida. Description
 * Sea Foam. Purchased September 14, 1861, at New York, N. Y., by George D. Morgan from John R. Dow. Class: Sailing mortar schooner; wood. Sold at public auction, June 12, 1865, at Boston, Mas., by Horatio Harris &amp; Co., to A. C. DeWells, for $10,000. Commissioned January 27, 1862, at New York Navy Yard; August 1, 1864, at Boston Navy Yard. Went out of commission May 31, 1864, at Boston Navy Yard; May 16, 1865, at the same place. Total cost of repairs while owned by the Government. Description
 * Sebago. Hull built by Government at Portsmouth Navy Yard, where she was launched November 30, 1861; completed March 15, 1862, from which place she went to sea April 7, 1862, Machinery by the Novelty Iron Works, New York, N. Y. Class: Side-wheel steamer; gunboat; wood. Sold January 19, 1867, at New York, N. Y., for $16,000. Commissioned March 26, 1862, at Portsmouth Navy Yard; December, 2, 1863, at New York Navy Yard. Went out of commission July 9, 1863, at New York Navy Yard, and July 29, 1865. Total cost of repairs while in naval service was $28, 054.66. Description
 * Selma.Captured August 5, 1864, in Mobile Bay, by the U.S. S. Metacomet. Class: Steamer; wood. Sold at public auction July 12, 1865, at New Orleans, La., by G. A. Hall &amp; Co., for $4,325. Commissioned evening of August 5, 1864, at Mobile Bay. Commission paid for sale, $21.62 and cost of advertisement, $31,50, deducted from the amount of sale, leaves as the net proceeds of the sale, $4,271.88. Cost of repairs while in naval service was $4,475.10. Description
 * Seminole. Built by the Government at Pensacola Navy Yard, where she was launched, June 25, 1859. Machinery by Morgan Iron Works, New York, N. Y. Class: Screw steamer; 2d-class sloop; wood. Sold, July 20, 1870, at New York, N. Y., to Mullen &amp; Winchester, for $25,000. Commissioned, April 25, 1860, at Pensacola, Fla.; went out of commissioin, August 11, 1865, at Boston Navy Yard. Description
 * Seneca, see Currituck.
 * Seneca. Built by contract with J. Simonsou and Novelty Iron Works, New York, N. Y., where she was launched, August 27, 1861. Class: Screw steamer; gunboat; wood. Sold, September 10, 1868. at Norfolk, Va., to Purvis &amp; Son, for $9,924.75. Commissioned, October 14, 1861, at New York Navy Yard; finally went out of commission, June 24, 1865 at Norfolk Navy Yard. Total cost of repairs while in naval service was $36,682.12. Description
 * Severn, see Mosholu.
 * Seymour, seeI. N. Seymour.
 * Shakamaxon. By Government contract with Pusey, Jones &amp; Co., of Wilmington, Del. Hull, at Philadelphia Navy Yard; machinery, by contractors. Class: Twin-screw steamer; double-turret, ironclad. Broken up, from January, 1874, to March 1875, at Philadelphia Navy Yard, at a cost of $18,869.76. June 15, 1869, name changed to Hecla; August 10, 1869, changed to Nebraska. Two turrets, two pilot houses, and two impregnable smokepipes were built by the Atlantic Works, East Boston, Mass. Phoenix Iron Co., Philadelphia, contracted for the wrought-iron stringers; Reese, Graff &amp; Duell, Pittsburgh, Pa., contracted for the deck plating. Atlantic Works was paid for turrets and extras, $322,700; Reese, Graff &amp; Duell for deck plates, $52,118.01; Moorhead &amp; Co., for armor plates, $54,177.46; Phoenix Iron Co., for wrought-iron stringers, $60,283.49; John Baird for truss frames, $64,130.28. Description
 * Shamokin. Built by contract with Reaney, Son &amp; Archbold, Chester, Pa. Delivered, July 31, 1865, at Philadelphia Navy Yard. Class: Side-wheel steamer; double-ender; iron. Sold, October 21, 1869, at Washington, D. C., to Thomas Clyde, for $25,000. Cost of material and repairs while in the naval service was $12,000.62. Description
 * Shamrock, see Isonomia.
 * Shamrock. Hull built by Government at New York Navy Yard, where, April 17, 1863, she was launched; machinery by contract with Poole &amp; Hunt, Baltimore, Md. Completed in 1864. Class: Side-wheel steamer; double ender; wood. Sold, September1, 1868, to E. Stannard, for $19,700. Commissioned, June 13, 1864, at New York Navy Yard; went out of commission, August 15, 1865, at Philadelphia Navy Yard. Cost of repairs from June 30, 1865, to September 1, 1868, was $27,670.44. Description
 * Shark, see Geo. W. Rodgers.
 * Shawmut. Hull built by Government at Portsmouth Navy Yard, where, June 15, 1863, she was launched. Delivered at New York Navy Yard, October 16, 1864. Machinery by contract with Daniel McLeod, South Brooklyn Works, Brooklyln, N. Y. Class: Screw steamer; gunboat; wood. Sold, September 27, 1883, to E. Stannard &amp; Co., Westbrook, Conn., for $8,106. Commenced, February 2, 1863, and left the navy yard, October 20, 1863, for New York, to take in her engine and machinery. Commissioned, November 1, 1864, at New York Navy Yard, where she went out of commission, April 17, 1865. Total cost of repairs while in the naval service was $234,350.50. Description
 * Shawnee. Built by contract with Curtis &amp; Tilden. July 22, 1865, delivered at Boston Navy Yard. Class: Light-draft monitor. September 9, 1875, to be cut up by Power &amp; Co. Changed from Shawnee to Eolus, June 15, 1869; August 10, 1869, renamedShawnee. November 10, 1865, ordered to be placed in ordinary at Boston Navy Yard. Total cost of repairs while in naval service was $19,217.23. Delivered at Boston Navy Yard, July 22, 1865. November 20, 1866, $3,400 was paid for two gun carriages. Description
 * Shawsheen. Purchased under name of Young America, Septmeber 21, 1861, at New York, N. Y., by George D. Morgan, from S. Schuyler. Class: Side-wheel steamer; tug. Destroyed, May 7, 1864, by Confederate batteries at Turkey Bend, James River. Acting Ensign Charles Ringot was temporarily comanding. Total cost of repairs while in the naval service was $44,760.12. Purchased under name of Young America. Description
 * Shenandoah. Hull built by Government at Philadelphia Navy Yard, where she was launched, December 8, 1862; machinery by Merrick &amp; Sons, Philadelphia, Pa. Class: Screw steamer; sloop of war; wood. Sold, July 30, 1887, to W. T. Garratt &amp; Co., San Francisco, Cal., for $18,002. Commissioned, June 20, 1863, at Philadelphia Navy Yard; went out of commission there, April 25, 1865. July 1864, cruised in search of C. S. S. Florida. Description
 * Shepherd Knapp. Purchased, August 28, 1861, at New York, N. Y., by George D. Morgan, from Lawrence Giles &amp; Co. Class: Sailing vessel. Wrecked, May 18, 1863, on coral reef, Cape Haitien, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant H. S. Eytinge, commanding. Logs missing. Total cost of repairs while in the Government service was $33,173.16. Description
 * Shiloh. Built by contract with George C. Bestor, St. Louis, Mo., March. 1865. Class: Light-draft monitor. Sold, October 1, 1865, to Treasury Department for Lighthouse Board by Navy Department, for $12,000. Name changed to Iris, June 15, 1869. Laid up at New Orleans, La., from 1869 to September, 1874; September 17, 1874, in temporary commission; October 5, 1874, again laid up at New Orleans, La. Turrets of this vessel were constructed at St. Louis, Mo., by J. B. Eads. Description
 * Shokokon. Purchased under name of Clifton at New York, N. Y., April 3, 1863, by Rear-Admiral H. Paulding from George Law. Class: Side-wheel steamer; double-ender; wood, diagonally ironstrapped. Sold at public auction, October 25, 1865, at New York, for $29,000. Total cost of repairs while in naval service was $45,317.50. Commissioned, May 18, 1863, at New York Navy Yard; went out of commission there, May 4, 1865. Altered for naval use by Simonson, New York, for $35,000. Delivered at New York Navy Yard, May 6, 1863. George Law was president of the company to which the boat belonged.Description
 * Shultz, see Columbine.
 * Sibyl. Purchased, April 27, 1864, at Cincinnati, Ohio, by Rear Admiral D. D. Porter. Class: Side-wheel steamer; wood. Sold at public auction, August 17, 1865, at Mound City, Ill., to R. J. Trunstall by Sol. A. Silver, for $10,100. Name changed from Hartford, under which she was purchased to Sibyl. Commissioned, June 16, 1864, at Mound City, Ill.; went out of commission there, July 31, 1865. Description
 * Sidney C. Jones. Purchased, October 7, 1861, at New York, N. Y., by George D. Morgan, from George E. Goodspeed. Class: Sailing mortar schooner. Grounded in an attack on Vicksburg batteries, July 15, 1862, and burned to prevent capture by the enemy. Acting Master Jack, commanding. Cost of repairs while in the naval service was $21,351.82. Description
 * Signal, see Buckethorm.
 * Signal. Purchased, September 22, 1862, at St. Louis, Mo., by Commodore J. B. Hull, from Thomas C. &amp; Andrew J. Sweeney. Class: Stern-wheel steamer; wood. Sunk, May 5, 1864, by shore batteries in Red River about 20 miles below Alexandria, La. Took part in the Yazoo River Expeditions in December, 1862. Total cost of repairs while in the naval service was $2,664.71. Description
 * Silver Cloud. Purchased, November 15, 1862, at Cincinnati, Ohio, by Rear Admiral D. D. Porter. Class: Stern-wheel steamer; wood. Sold at public auction, August 17, 1865, at Mound City, Ill., by Solomon A. Silver to J. H. Kenniston, for $9,500. Commissioned December 24, 1862, at Cincinnati, Ohio; went out of commission, August 11, 1865, at Mound City, Ill. Description
 * Silver Lake. Purchased, November 15, 1862, at Cincinnati, Ohio, by Rear Admiral D. D. Porter. Class: Stern-wheel steamer; wood. Sold at public auction, August 17, 1865, at Mound City, Ill., by Solomon A. Silver to J.H. Kenniston, for $9,500. Commissioned December 24, 1862, at Cincinnati, Ohio; went out of commission, August 11, 1865, at Mound City, Ill. Description
 * Siren. Purchased, March 11, 1864, at Cincinnati, Ohio, by Rear Admiral D. D. Porter, form Mirah Shinkle. Class: Stern-wheel steamer; wood. Sold at public auction, August 17, 1865, at Mound City, Ill., by Solomon A. Silver, to G. E. Warner, E. S. Mills et al, for $ 9,050. Purchased under name of White Rose. Commissioned, August 30, 1864, at Mound City, Ill., where she went out of commission, August 12, 1865. Description
 * Snowdrop. Purchased from C. W. Copeland, at New York, October 16, 1863, by Rear-Admiral H. Paulding. Class: Screw steamer; tug. Broken up at New York in 1884. Purchased as theAlbert De Groot. Description