USS Catskill (1862)

USS "Catskill" (1862) was a monitor that served the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War in the Union blockade of the Confederate States of America. She continued to serve the Navy after the war’s end until decommissioned in 1898 after the completion of the Spanish-American War.

Built in Greenpoint, New York, in 1862

USS "Catskill", a single-turreted "Passaic"-class monitor, was launched 16 December 1862 by Continental Iron Works, Greenpoint, N.Y.; outfitted at New York Navy Yard; commissioned 24 February 1863, Commander George W. Rodgers in command; and reported to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

Civil War Operations

Assigned to the South Atlantic blockade

"Catskill" reported for duty at Port Royal, S.C., on 5 March 1863, and for the remainder of the war operated intensively on the blockade off Charleston, S.C.. "Catskill" was damaged by Confederate gunfire during the 7 April 1863 attack on Fort Sumter that demonstrated both the strengths of well-defended fortifications and the limitations of monitor-type ironclads. That began the lengthy series of operations against the strongly fortified and stoutly defended harbor.

July–September 1863 "Catskill" repeatedly took part in attacks on the batteries and forts protecting Charleston from the sea. She also cruised on picket duty, guarding other ships of the squadron from the determined and ingenious attacks launched against them, and patrolling constantly against blockade runners.

Commanding officer killed in action

"Catskill"'s commanding officer, Commander Rodgers, was killed in action 17 August 1863, while directing the fire of his ship against Charleston's forts. The ship was hit by Confederate gunfire on several occasions, but skillful work by her crew -- under the command of Lieutenant Commander Edward Barrett -- returned her to action without returning for repairs.

"Catskill" destroyed the grounded blockade runner "Prince Albert" off Fort Moultrie on 9 August 1864. When Charleston was evacuated, on 18 February 1865, she boarded and took possession of the grounded blockade runner, "Deer", and later in that day raised the flag over another grounded steamer, "Celt".

Post-Civil War service

Relieved from duty, "Catskill" cleared Charleston 13 July 1865, and sailed to the Philadelphia Navy Yard, where she was decommissioned 26 July 1865. Here she remained in ordinary until 1873. During that time she was briefly renamed "Goliath" (15 June–10 August 1869). Repaired at New York during 1874 and 1875, "Catskill" joined the North Atlantic Squadron, with whom she cruised along the northeast coast between 4 March 1876 and 5 November 1877. From 1878 to 1895, "Catskill" was in ordinary at various anchorages in Virginia, and from 1895 to 1898, in ordinary at Philadelphia's League Island Navy Yard.

Spanish-American War service

Upon the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, "Catskill" was one of the craft recommissioned for patrol duty in New England waters, thus releasing more modern ships for active fighting. This period of commission lasted from 16 April 1898 to 22 September 1898, after which "Catskill" returned to League Island until sold 4 December 1901.

References

*"This article contains text from the US Naval Historical Center."
*DANFS
*"Additional technical data from" cite book
last = Gardiner
first = Robert
coauthors =
title = Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905
publisher = Conway Maritime Press
year = 1979
pages = p. 120
month =
isbn = 0 85177 133 5

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c5/catskill-i.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Catskill"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/catskill.htm navsource.org: USS "Catskill"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/monitors/catskill.htm hazegray.org: USS "Catskill"]