USS Fairplay
Encyclopedia
Fairplay was a wooden riverine ship in the United States Navy
during the American Civil War
.
She was originally built in 1859 at New Albany, Indiana
, for service on the Mississippi River
and other waterways. She was pressed into service at the start of the Civil War by the Confederacy
, but was captured by the 76th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment on August 18, 1862, during a joint expedition to Milliken's Bend
on the Mississippi. The Union Army
took possession of the ship, and on September 6, 1862, Fairplay was commissioned into Federal service with Lieutenant Commander LeRoy Fitch
in command. She was transferred to the Union Navy
on October 1, 1862.
From the base at Smithland, Kentucky
, Fairplay operated with other gunboat
s in cooperation with the Army, patrolling the Cumberland
, Tennessee
, and Ohio
rivers, convoying troop transports and Army supply ships, and searching out and shelling concentrations of Confederates
ashore.
On February 3, 1863, Fairplay was steaming up the Cumberland from the Smithland base to Nashville, Tennessee
, guarding a convoy of transports during a lengthy campaign. She and the five other gunboats of the escort received word that the garrison at Dover, Tennessee
, was under attack by a large Confederate force. The small flotilla sailed at full speed to disperse the main body of attackers, taking them by surprise, and then returned to complete the passage to Nashville.
Fairplay continued to operate in the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Ohio rivers, and on December 3, 1864, engaged a Confederate battery at Bell's Mill near Nashville. The next day, with the Carondelet
, she recaptured two transport steamers, previously taken by the Confederates and held at Bell's Mill.
After patrolling the same area after the war, as well as the Mississippi, she was decommissioned at Mound City, Illinois
, on August 9, and sold August 17, 1865.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
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 originally built in 1859 at New Albany, Indiana
New Albany, Indiana
New Albany is a city in Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River opposite Louisville, Kentucky. In 1900, 20,628 people lived in New Albany; in 1910, 20,629; in 1920, 22,992; and in 1940, 25,414. The population was 36,372 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of...
, for service on the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
and other waterways. She was pressed into service at the start of the Civil War by the Confederacy
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...
, but was captured by the 76th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment on August 18, 1862, during a joint expedition to Milliken's Bend
Battle of Milliken's Bend
The Battle of Milliken's Bend, fought June 7, 1863, was part of the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. Confederate Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton and his army were besieged in Vicksburg, Mississippi, by Union commander Maj. Gen. Ulysses S...
on the Mississippi. The Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
took possession of the ship, and on September 6, 1862, Fairplay was commissioned into Federal service with Lieutenant Commander LeRoy Fitch
LeRoy Fitch
LeRoy Fitch, born 1 October 1835 in Logansport, Indiana, was a member of the United States Naval Academy class of 1856, and served with great distinction in the American Civil War and afterward...
in command. She was transferred to the Union Navy
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...
on October 1, 1862.
From the base at Smithland, Kentucky
Smithland, Kentucky
Smithland is a city in Livingston County, Kentucky, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers. The population was 401 at the 2000 census...
, Fairplay operated with other gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
s in cooperation with the Army, patrolling the Cumberland
Cumberland River
The Cumberland River is a waterway in the Southern United States. It is long. It starts in Harlan County in far southeastern Kentucky between Pine and Cumberland mountains, flows through southern Kentucky, crosses into northern Tennessee, and then curves back up into western Kentucky before...
, Tennessee
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
, and Ohio
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
rivers, convoying troop transports and Army supply ships, and searching out and shelling concentrations of Confederates
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
ashore.
On February 3, 1863, Fairplay was steaming up the Cumberland from the Smithland base to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, guarding a convoy of transports during a lengthy campaign. She and the five other gunboats of the escort received word that the garrison at Dover, Tennessee
Dover, Tennessee
Dover is a city in Stewart County, Tennessee, United States, westnorthwest of Nashville on the Cumberland River. An old national cemetery is in Dover. The population was 1,442 at the 2000 census...
, was under attack by a large Confederate force. The small flotilla sailed at full speed to disperse the main body of attackers, taking them by surprise, and then returned to complete the passage to Nashville.
Fairplay continued to operate in the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Ohio rivers, and on December 3, 1864, engaged a Confederate battery at Bell's Mill near Nashville. The next day, with the Carondelet
USS Carondelet (1861)
USS Carondelet was a gunboat constructed for the Union Navy by James B. Eads during the American Civil War...
, she recaptured two transport steamers, previously taken by the Confederates and held at Bell's Mill.
After patrolling the same area after the war, as well as the Mississippi, she was decommissioned at Mound City, Illinois
Mound City, Illinois
Mound City is a city located along the Ohio River in Pulaski County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 692. It is the county seat of Pulaski County.-Geography:Mound City is located at ....
, on August 9, and sold August 17, 1865.