- USS Henry Andrew (1847)
USS "Henry Andrew" (1847) was a steamer acquired by the
Union Navy during theAmerican Civil War . She was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries."Henry Andrew" was originally built in
1847 atNew York City as a sailing brig, and converted to steam in1859 . She was purchased from her owner, Mr. Van Santvoord, at New York10 September 1861 . Her firstcommanding officer was Acting Master S. W. Mather.Assigned to the South Atlantic Blockade
Assigned to the
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron , "Henry Andrew" arrived on her blockading station in November1861 . She reconnoitered theVernon River 11 December and20 December was sent to blockade the entrance toWassaw Sound . Being of light draft, "Henry Andrew" was especially valuable in stoppingblockade running and gaining intelligence in the shallow rivers and sounds of the coast. She participated17 January -18 February 1862 in an expedition up Wright's andMud River s for the purpose of finding a channel into theSavannah River , encountering no Confederate opposition except a small battery nearRed Bluff . "Henry Andrew" was reassigned toFernandina, Florida ,18 March , and took up duties off Fernandina andMosquito Inlet . Boats from the steamer and "Penguin" entered Mosquito Inlet on a reconnaissance21 March and next day were fired upon by batteries and musketry, killing the captains of both "Henry Andrew" and "Penguin". Subsequently, the ship was active in the blockade off Mosquito Inlet,Stono River , and other points on the coast until sent toWinyah Bay ,South Carolina , where she arrived21 June 1862 .Participating in the expedition up the Santee River
An expedition up the
Santee River was organized in late June and "Henry Andrew" was designated to accompany it. The ships entered the river24 June , reconnoitered the area, and were fired on by shore batteries on the shore. Returning3 July , "Henry Andrew" resumed blockading duties off Stono River until ordered to New York in August for extensive repairs.Returning to New York, "Henry Andrew" is lost in heavy weather
While steaming north, "Henry Andrew" encountered heavy weather off
Cape Hatteras . She was battered about badly and went ashore south ofCape Henry, Virginia ,24 August 1862 . No lives were lost but the ship was a total wreck and was not salvaged.References
See also
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United States Navy
*American Civil War External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/h5/henry_andrew.htm Henry Andrew]
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