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USS Emma (1863)
Encyclopedia
The first USS Emma was a steamer captured by the Union Navy
during the American Civil War
. She was used by the Union Navy as a picket and patrol vessel on Confederate
waterways.
; purchased by the Navy from the New York City
prize court
30 September 1863; fitted out at New York Navy Yard; and put to sea on 4 November 1863, Acting Master G. B. Livingston in command.
, 7 November 1863 to patrol with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron until the end of the war. Enforcing the blockade, she played a significant role in the Navy's indispensable contribution to victory through isolating the South from oversea sources of supply. Emma joined in the destruction of blockade runner
Ella
off Wilmington, North Carolina
, 6 December 1864, and the attacks on Fort Fisher
of 24 and 25 December 1864 and 13 to 15 January 1865.
, with an urgent message from General William Tecumseh Sherman
to Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren
, commanding the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, which warned the Admiral that Confederate President Jefferson Davis
and his cabinet, not yet located, might attempt to escape by way of Florida
to Cuba
. Emma put in to Key West, Florida
, on this cruise, then returned to patrol the Carolina
coast until 24 August, when she arrived at Boston, Massachusetts.
Union Navy
The Union Navy is the label applied to the United States Navy during the American Civil War, to contrast it from its direct opponent, the Confederate States Navy...
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 used by the Union Navy as a picket and patrol vessel on 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...
waterways.
Emma captured and placed into Union Navy service
Emma, a screw steamer, was captured 24 July 1863 while running the blockade by the Army transport AragoUSS Arago (1861)
USS Arago was a schooner borrowed by the Union Navy from the United States Coast Survey during the American Civil War. She was outfitted as a gunboat and used by the Union Navy as a picket and patrol vessel on Confederate waterways....
; purchased by the Navy from the New York City
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...
prize court
Prize court
A prize court is a court authorized to consider whether or not a ship has been lawfully captured or seized in time of war or under the terms of the seizing ship's letters of marque and reprisal...
30 September 1863; fitted out at New York Navy Yard; and put to sea on 4 November 1863, Acting Master G. B. Livingston in command.
Assigned to patrol with the North Atlantic Blockade
Emma arrived at Newport News, VirginiaNewport 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...
, 7 November 1863 to patrol with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron until the end of the war. Enforcing the blockade, she played a significant role in the Navy's indispensable contribution to victory through isolating the South from oversea sources of supply. Emma joined in the destruction of blockade runner
Blockade runner
A blockade runner is usually a lighter weight ship used for evading a naval blockade of a port or strait, as opposed to confronting the blockaders to break the blockade. Very often blockade running is done in order to transport cargo, for example to bring food or arms to a blockaded city...
Ella
USS Ella (1862)
The first USS Ella was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.She was used by the Union Navy as a picket and patrol vessel, as well as a dispatch boat, on Confederate waterways....
off 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...
, 6 December 1864, and 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....
of 24 and 25 December 1864 and 13 to 15 January 1865.
Supporting the effort to prevent Jefferson Davis from fleeing
On 26 April 1865, Emma sailed from Fort Caswell, North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, with an urgent message from General William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
to Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren
John A. Dahlgren
John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren was a United States Navy leader. He headed the Union Navy's ordnance department during the American Civil War and designed several different kinds of guns and cannons that were considered part of the reason the Union won the war...
, commanding the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, which warned the Admiral that Confederate President Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
and his cabinet, not yet located, might attempt to escape by way of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. Emma put in to Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
, on this cruise, then returned to patrol the Carolina
The Carolinas
The Carolinas is a term used in the United States to refer collectively to the states of North and South Carolina. Together, the two states + have a population of 13,942,126. "Carolina" would be the fifth most populous state behind California, Texas, New York, and Florida...
coast until 24 August, when she arrived at Boston, Massachusetts.