Civil War Union Ships O through R

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

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.

Ship names beginning with O

 * O. H. Lee. Purchased, August 27, 1861, at New York, New York. Class: Sailing mortar schooner. Sold at public auction, August 10, 1865, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Commissioned, February 4, 1862, at New York Navy Yard; went out of commission at Philadelphia, July 19, 1865. December 5, 1861, the O.H. Lee was selected for a mortar boat. Description.
 * O.M. Pettit. Purchased August 17, 1861, at New York, New York, Class:Side-wheel steamer; wood. Sunk by collision; raised and sold by Bay Point, S.C. September 2, 1865. Commissioned, October 4, 1861, at New York Navy Yard. Description.
 * Octorara. Hull built by Government at New York Navy Yard; machinery by Neptune Iron Works, New York, New York. Launced December 7, 1861. Description.
 * Ohio. Built by the Government, Launced May 30, 1820. Class: Sailing ship-of-the-line; wood. Sold September 27, 1883, at Boston, Mass., to J. L. Snow, Rockland, Me., for $17,100. The Ohio was commenced in November, 1817. Cost of repairs from June 30, 1853, to December, 1879, was $58,911.34. Description.
 * Ohio Valley, see Ibex.
 * Oleander. Purchased March 28, 1863, at New York, by Rear Admiral H. Paulding from James Howe and C. W. Copeland. Launched Janaury 10, 1863. Class: Side-wheel steamer; wood. Sold at public auction, September 5, 1865, at New York, by Burdett Jones &amp; Co., to Smith &amp; Downing, for $16,400. Went out of commission, August 18, 1865, at New York. Description.
 * Oliver H. Lee, see O. H. Lee.
 * Oneida. Hull built at New York Navy Yard; machinery by J. Murphy &amp; Co., New York, N. Y. Lauched November 20, 1861, and commissioned February 28, 1862. Class: Screw steamer; wood; sloop. Run down and sunk, Janaury 24, 1870, in Yokohama Bay by the P. &amp; O. steamer Bombay; wreck was sold at Yokohama, October 9, 1872 for $1,505. August 11, 1865, out of commission, at New York. The wreck was sold to the Tatcho-bo-nai-yo. Description.
 * Oneota. Built at Cincinnati, Ohio, by contract with Alexander Swift &amp; Co., and Niles Works, June 1865. Class: Screw steamer. Sold April 13, 1868, at New Orleans, La., to Alexander Swift &amp; Co., by Department for $375,000. She carried 2 guns. Description.
 * Onondaga.Built by contract with G. W. Quintard, New York. Launched July 29, 1863, at Green Point, New York. Commissioned, March 24, 1864, at New York Navy Yard. Class: Twin screw steamer; double-turreted monitor; iron. By act of Congress, approved March 2, 1867, she was returned to G. W. Quintard, on payment of $759,673. Went out of commission June 8, 1865, at New York. Description.
 * Ontario. Hull built at New York Navy Yard; machinery, Aetna Iron Works. Class: Screw steamer. Name changed from Ontario to New York., May 15, 1869. November 27, 1865, ordered that work be suspended on her. Dimensions of boiler are same as those of Java. Date of contract for machinery was October 26, 1863, to be completed ten months from date of contract, provided the vessel be placed at their command seven months from that date; otherwise three months from time that the contractors shall be notified the vessel is at their command. Description.
 * Onward, see Grand Gulf.
 * Onward. Purchased September 9, 1861, at New York, N. Y. by George D. Morgan from John Ogden. Class: Sailing vessel; wood. Sold November 1, 1884, at Callao, Peru, for $1,850. Commissioned January 11, 1862, at New York Navy Yard; went out of commission June 20, 1865, at New York. Total cost of repairs to her by the Government was $94,608.73. Description.
 * Oregon, see Quinsigamond.
 * Oriole. Purchased, December 7, 1864, at Cincinnati, Ohio, by Paymaster C. C. Jackson. Light-draft steamboat. Sold at public auction, August 17, 1865. at Mound City, Ill., to Thomas Scott, for $17,000. Name changed to  Oriole from Florence Miller, under which she was purchased. Purchased for U. S. Mississippi Squadron and repaired by Joseph Brown at a cost of $24,550. Commissioned, March 22, 1865, at Mound City Ill., went out of commission at that place, August 4, 1865. Description.
 * Orion, see Chimo.
 * Orion. Purchased, August 13, 1861, at Baltimore, Md., by Captain H. S. Stellwagen. Schooner. Purchased to sink. Stone Fleet Description.
 * Orvetta. Purchased, October 1, 1861, at New York, N. Y., by George D. Morgan, from E. &amp; D. Bigelow, agents. Class: Sails; mortar schooner; wood. Sold at public auction August 15, 1865, at New York, to Mr. Henseman, by Burdett Jones &amp; Co., for $25, 496.40. Description.
 * Osage. Built at St. Louis, Mo., under contract with James B. Eads. Launched, January 13, 1863. Class: Single -turreted monitor. Sunk, March 29, 1865. by a torpedo in Blakely River, Ala.; successfully raised and sold at public auction. November 22, 1867, at New Orleans, La., including the Calhoun, Tennessee, and Nashville, for $20,467.10. Commissioned, July 10, 1863, at Cairo, Ill. Description.
 * Osceola, see Neosho.
 * Osceola. Built at Boston, Mass., by contract; hull by Curtis &amp; Tilden; machinery by Altantic Works. Delivered to Government at Boston Navy Yard, January 9, 1864. Class: Side-wheel steamer; double-ender; wood. Sold October 1, 1867, at New York for $16,000. Commissiond, February 10, 1864, at Boston Navy Yard; went out of commission there May 13, 1865, Total cost of repairs while in naval service was $48,020,58. Description.
 * Ossipee. Hull built at Portsmouth Navy Yard, N. H.; machinery by Reliance Machine Co., Mystic River, Conn. Commenced, June, 1861; launced, November 16, 1861; completed, November, 1862. Class: Screw steamer; wooden sloop. Commissioned November 6, 1862; went out of commission, Philadelphia Navy Yard, July 3, 1865. Description.
 * Otsego, see Tunxis.
 * Otsego. Built at New York by contract hull by J. A. &amp; D. D. Westervelt; machinery by Fulton Works. Class: Side-wheel steamer; double-ender. Sunk, December 9, 1864, in Roanoke River, by a torpedo. Cost of repairs while in naval service was $4929.91. After the Otsego was sunk her battery was recovered and disposed of. Description.
 * Ottawa. Built by contract with J. A. Westervelt and Novelty Iron Works, both of New York. Class: Screw steamer; gunboat; wood. Sold at public auction, October 25, 1865, at New York, N. Y., for $13,200. Commissioned, October 7, 1861, at New York Navy Yard. All repairs cost $12,291.61. Went out of commission, August 12, 1865, at New York Navy Yard. Description.
 * Ouachita. Purchased, September 29, 1863, at Cairo, Ill., by Navy Department. Class Side-wheel steamer. Sold at public auction, September 25, 1865, at Mound City, Ill., to Tait, Able &amp; Gill. by Solomon A. Silver, for $25,000. Name changed to Ouachita from Louiseville, her former name, September 25, 1863. Cost of repairs to April 1865, was $91.50 Commissioned, January 18, 1864. Description.
 * Owasco. Built by contract with Charles Mallory. Launched, October 5, 1861, at Mystic Conn. Class: Screw steamer; gunboat; wood. Sold at public auction, October 25, 1865, at New York, for $11,900. Delivered, December 6, 1861, at New York Navy Yard. Commissioned, January 23, 1862, at New York Navy Yard; went out of commission there, July 12, 1865. Total cost of repairs while in naval service was $1,025.80. Description.
 * Ozark. Built by contract with George C. Bestor, Mound City, Ill. Launced, February 18, 1863, and taken to St. Louis to put in her machinery. Class: Twin-screw steamer; iron-clad: wood. Sold at auction, November 29, 1865, at Mound City, Ill., to F. B. Ellis &amp; Brother. Commissioned, February 18, 1864, at Cairo, Ill.; went out of commission, July 24, 1865, at Mound City, Ill. For extra work on the Ozark, Mr. Bestor was allowed $9.134.20. Description.

Ship names beginning with P

 * P. B. Van Houten, seeJasmine.
 * Palos. Built at Chelsea, Mass., under contract with James Tetlow, July 1866. Class: Screw steamer; iron. Total cost of repairs to 2d quarter of 1889 was $104,361.15 Description.
 * Pampero. Purchased July 7, 1861, at New York, from J. Bishop &amp; Co., by George D. Morgan. Class: Sailing vessel. Sold at public auction October 1, 1867, at New York, by Admiral C. H. Bell, for $6,000. Total cost of repairs while in the Government service was $12, 931.36 Description.
 * Panola, see Pinola.
 * Pansy. Transferred, September 30, 1862 by War Department. Steam tug. Sold September 1, 1868, at Mound City, Ill., for $450. Formerly namedSamson from which it was changed to Pansy, October 24, 1862. September 2 1863, carrying no battery, she was used as a tug on Western rivers. Description.
 * Para. Harris &amp; Co., for $10.300. Commissioned February 4, 1862, at New York Navy Yard; went out of commission August 5, 1865, at Boston. December 5, 1861, the Para was selected to be converted into a mortar boat. Total cost of repairs while in service of Government was $22,555.46. She was altered for naval service by T. Z. Tucker at a cost of $1,791.15. Description.
 * Passaconaway. Hull built by Government at Portsmouth Navy Yard, N. H.; machinery by contract with C. H. Delamater, New York, N. Y. Class: Screw steamer; double-turreted monitor; wood and iron. She was condemned under act of Congress August 5, 1882, and broken up in 1884 at Portsmouth Navy Yard, N. H. She was originally named Passaconaway, but was changed to Thunderer, June 15, 1869; thence to Massachusetts, August 10, 1869. Two turrets were constructed by the Atlantic Works, South Boston, Mass. Side armor contracted for by M. K. Moorhead &amp; Co., Pittsburgh, Pa. Commenced in November 1863. Description.
 * Passaic. Built by contract with John Ericsson, Green Point N. Y. Delivered by contractor, November 25, 1862. Launced August 30, 1862. Class: Screw steamer; single-turrected monitor; wood and iron. Turned over 1890-5-6, to the Massachusetts Naval Militia; then to Georgia Naval Militia, 1896-7-8. Commissioned November 25, 1862, at New York Navy Yard; went out of commission June 16, 1865, at Philadelphia. She was altered and repaired by John Roach from January, 1874, to July 1875, at a cost of $193,740.which is included in the total cost of repairs to January 1, 1889, $256,142.82. Description
 * Patapsco. Built December, 1862, at Wilmington, Del., by contract with John Ericsson. Launched September 27, 1862. Class: Screw streamer; single-turret monitor; wood and iron. Sunk by torpedo, January 16, 1865, below Sumter, Charleston, S. C. Commander S. P. Quackenbush, commanding. Commissioned January 2, 1863, at Philadelphia Navy Yard. Total cost of repairs, sundries and extra work was $26,730.40.Description
 * Patriot. Purchased August 13, 1861, at Baltimore, Md. by Captain H. S. Stellwagen. Schooner. Purchased to sink. Stone Fleet. Description
 * Patroon. Purchased October 28, 1861. at Trenton, N. J., by George D. Morgan. from R. T. Loper. Class: Screw steamer; wood. Sold at public auction, December 30, 1862, Philadelphia, Pa., by commandant Philadelphia Yard, for $11,200. Commissioned March 18, 1862, at New York Navy Yard. Total cost of repairs while in Government service was $22,249.56.Description
 * Paul Jones. Built by contract; hull by J. J. Abrahams, Baltimore, Md.; Machinery by Reaney, Son, &amp; Archbold, Chester, Pa. Class: Side - wheel steamer; gunboat. Sold July 13, 1867, at New York, N. Y., for $10,000. Commissioned July 9, 1862, at Baltimore Md.; September 15, 1863, at New York Navy Yard; April 1, 1865, Boston Navy Yard. Total cost of repairs while in naval service was $39,017.47. Description
 * Paul Jones, Jr. - Built in 1863-64, Steam launch. Sod. August 17, 1865. Description
 * Pawnee. Hull built at Philadelphia Navy Yard; machinery by Reaney, Neafie &amp; Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Commenced, October, 1858 and completed in September, 1860. Luanched October 8, 1859. Class: Twin-screw steamer; 2d-class sloop; wood. Sold May 3, 1884, at Port Royal, S. C., to M. H. Gregory, Great Neck, N. Y. for $6,011. Finally went out of commission July 26, 1865. This vessel is sometimes spoken of as the Griffith ship. Description
 * Paw Paw. Purchased April 9, 1863, at Chicago, Ill., by Rear Admiral D. D. Porter, from J.Van Vortwick. Class: Center-wheel steamer; wood. Sod at public auction, August 17, 1865, at Mound City, Ill., to Samuel Nancil, by Sol. A. Silver, for $5,850. Description
 * Pawtucket. Built by Government at Portsmouth Navy Yark; machinery by Gardner &amp; Lake, Providence, R. I. Launched March 19,1863; arrived at Providence, R. I., for machinery. May 4, 1863. Delivered to Government at New York Navy Yard, May 18, 1864. Class: Side-wheel steamer; double-ender; wood. Sold October 15, 1867, at New York, for $15,000. Commissioned August 26, 1864, at New York Navy Yard; went out of commission there June 15, 1865. Cost of repairs whil in the naval service was $2.947.45. Description
 * Pembina. Built by contract with Thomas Stack and Novelty Iron Works, New York, N. Y. Class: Screw steamer; gunboat; wood. Sold November 30, 1865, at New York, for $14,100. Commissioned October 16, 1861, at New York Navy Yard; was completed October 18, 1861, when she went to sea. Finally went out of commission September 22, 1865, at Washington Navy Yard. Total cost of repairt while in the naval service was $14,239,50. Description
 * Penguin. Purchased, May 23, 1861, at New York, N. Y., by Commodore S. L. Breese. Class: Screw steamer; wood. Sold at publice auction, September 8, 1865, at Boston Navy Yard, by Horatio Harris &amp; Co., to Fogg &amp; Co., for $22,500. Commissioned, June 25, 1861, at Brooklyn Navy Yard; went out of commission, finally, August 24, 1865, at Boston. Cost of repairs while in the naval service was $448.16. Description
 * Penobscot. Built by contract with C. P. Carter, Belfast, Me., and the Allaire Works, New York, N. Y. Launched, November 19, 1861, at the former place. January 16, 1862, she was delivered to the Government at Boston Navy Yard. Class: Screw steamer; gunboat; wood. Sold, October 19, 1869, at Portsmouth, N. H., to Nehemiah Gibson, for $6,700. Went out of commission at New York Navy Yard, July 31, 1865. For extra work C. P. Carter was paid $385. Total cost of repairs while in the naval service was $31, 621.01. Description
 * Pensacola. Built at Warrington Navy Yard, Fla. Launched August 13, 1859. Class: Screw steamer; 1st-class sloop. Commissioned, December 5, 1859, at Warrington, Fla.; went out of commission, at New York Navy Yard, April 29, 1864, finally. Description
 * Pennsylvania.Launched, July 17, 1837, at Philadelphia, Pa. Class: Sailing ship-of-the-line, Burned, April 20, 1861, at Norfolk Navy Yard. Cost of repairs from June 30, 1853, to March 5, 1861, was $16,302.50. Description
 * Peony. Purchased December 7, 1864, at Philadelphia, Pa., by Commodore C. K. Stribling from Bishop &amp; Sons. Class: Screw steamer; wood. Sold at Public auction, August 1, 1865, at Boston, Mass., to S. &amp; J. M. Flanagan, by Horatio Harris, for $16.200. Purchased under name of Republic. She was well built; bottom sheathed with yellow metal. She was completely fitted with all necessary articles, including an auxiliary steam pump and a distilling apparatus, the cost of which, with other spare machinery, was approximately, $1,000. Description
 * Peoria. Built at New York Navy Yard; machinery by contract with Aetna Iron Works, New York, N. Y. Launched, October 29, 1863, at New York Navy Yard. Class: Side-wheel steamer; double-ender. Sold, August 26, 1868, to R. C. Flanning, for $6,900. Repairs, June 30, 1867, cosst $252.20. Description
 * Peosta. Purchased, June 13, 1861, at Dubuque, Iowa, by Admiral D. D. Porter. Class Side-wheel steamer; wood. Sold at public auction, August 17, 1865, at Mound City, IIl., to John W. Waggener, by Solomon A. Silver, for $8,350. Commissioned, October 2, 1863, at Cairo, Ill,; went out of commission, at Mound City, Ill., August 7, 1865. March 25, 1864, cooperated in the repulse of a Confederate attack on Paducah, Ky. Description
 * Pequot. Hull built at Boston Navy Yard; machinery by Woodruff &amp; Beach, Hartford, Conn. Launched, June 4, 1863, and commissioned, January 15, 1864, at Boston Navy Yard. Class: Screw steamer; gunboat; wood. Went out of commssion, June 3, 1865, at New York Navy Yard. Total cost of repairs while in the naval service was $1,503.82. Description
 * Percy Drayton. Purchased, November 12, 1863, from New York prize court by Navy Department. Sloop. Sold September 2, 1865, at Bay Point. S. C., to George Crane, for $370. Name changed from Hettiwan to Percy Drayton. Description
 * Peri. Purchased, April 30, 1864, 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., to Alfred Hoff, by Solomon A. Silver, for $7,200. Navm changed for Reindeer. Commissioned, June 20, 1864, at Mound City, Ill.; wnet out of commission, at Cairo, June 30, 1865. Description
 * Peri. Purchased, November 29, 1861, at Portland. Me,, by G. D. Morgan and R. H. Chappell. Ship. Purchased to sink. Stone Fleet. Description
 * Periwinkle. Purchased at Philadelphia, December 9, 1864, by Commodore J. B. Hull from John W. Lynn Class: Screw steamer; white oak; copper-fastened. Lost in the Arctic regions, Hall's expedition. Name changed to Periwinkle from America. Description
 * Perry. Built by Government at Norfolk, Va. Class: Sails; wood. Sold at auction, August 10, 1865, at Philadelphia, Pa., for $6,500. At New York Navy Yard. commissioned, April 23, 1861, for East Gulf Squadron; and February 28, 1863, for South Atlantic Squadron. Went out of commission, finally, April 29, 1865, at Philadelphia Navy Yard. Captured privateer Savannah, June 3, 1861. Description
 * Peter B. Van Houten, see Jasmine.
 * Peter Demill. Purchased, November 9, 1861, at New London, Conn., by G. D. Morgan &amp; R. H. Chappell. Bark. Purchased to sink. Stone Fleet. Description
 * Peterhoff. Purchased, February, 1863, from New York prize court by Navy Department. 4th rate. Sunk, March 6, 1864, by collision, on coast of North Carolina. Description
 * Petrel. Purchased, December 22, 1862, by Rear-Admiral D. D. Porter, at Cincinnati, Ohio. Class: Tinclad; wood. Captured and destroyed, April 30, 1864, by rebels, above Yazoo City, Miss. Name changed to Petrel from Duchess, under which she was purchased. Description
 * Philadelphia. Taken possession of and transferred by War Department, April 21, 1861. Class: Side-wheel steamer; iron. Sold at public auction, September 15, 1865, at Washington, D. C., by William L. Wall &amp; Co., to N. L. &amp; G. Griswold, for $31,000. August 31, 1865, went out of commission, at Washington Navy Yard. Total cost of repairs while in the naval service was $18,968.56. Description
 * Philippi. Purchased, February 23, 1864, from Boston prize court by Navy Department. Class: Side-wheel steamer. Destroyed, August 5, 1864, in Mobile Bay. Purchased under name of Ella, from which, February 27, 1864, it was changed to Philippi. Total cost of repairs while in naval service was $9,637.17. Description