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USS Pembina (1861)
Encyclopedia
USS Pembina was a built for the United States Navy
during the American Civil War
.
She was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy
to prevent the South from trading with other countries.
, was commissioned 16 October 1861, Lt. John P. Bankhead in command.
, Seneca
, and Pawnee
engaged and dispersed a small Confederate Squadron in Port Royal Sound
, then fired on Fort Beauregard
and Fort Walker
. Returning with a larger force on the 7th, she fired on Fort Walker until it was abandoned. Then, on the 9th she covered the occupation of Beaufort, South Carolina
.
In early December she penetrated into Wassaw Sound
to assist in closing off Savannah, Georgia
. By the end of the month she had engaged Confederate positions at Port Royal Ferry and into January 1862 assisted in clearing the Coosaw River. Between 17 January and 18 February she operated in the Wright’s and Mud rivers area, clearing mines from the Savannah River
above the mouth of Wright’s River 13–15 February.
and northern Florida
coasts she escorted transports and covered troops as they assaulted Confederate positions and, on 9 April, as they evacuated Jacksonville, Florida
. In May she shifted to the Carolina coast for operations in the Stono River
where on 6 June seized her first prize the schooner Rowena.
Later shifted to the U.S. Gulf Coast, she captured a second vessel, sloop
Elias Beckwith, near Mobile, Alabama
, 23 April 1863.
Remaining on the Gulf Coast she seized her third and last blockade runner, the Dutch brig Geziena Hilligonda, carrying medicines, iron and cloth, off Brazos Santiago, Texas
, 4 December 1864. After the war she returned to the U.S. East Coast.
22 September 1865, she was sold, at New York City
, 30 November 1865.
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 Navy to patrol navigable waterways of 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...
to prevent the South from trading with other countries.
Constructed in New York City in 1861
Pembina, a screw gunboat built by Thomas Stack and Novelty Iron Works, New York CityNew 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...
, was commissioned 16 October 1861, Lt. John P. Bankhead in command.
Operating with the South Atlantic Blockade
By 5 November she had joined the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and with OttawaUSS Ottawa (1861)
USS Ottawa was a built for the United States Navy during the American Civil War. Her wooden hull was built by J. A. Westervelt, and her engines by the Novelty Iron Works of New York. She was commissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 7 October 1861, Lieutenant Thomas H...
, Seneca
USS Seneca (1861)
USS Seneca was a built on behalf of the United States Navy for service during the American Civil War. Seneca was outfitted with guns for horizontal fire as well as with two howitzers for bombardment of shore targets...
, and Pawnee
USS Pawnee (1859)
The first USS Pawnee was a sloop-of-war in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She was named for the Pawnee Indian tribe....
engaged and dispersed a small Confederate Squadron in Port Royal Sound
Port Royal Sound
Port Royal Sound is a coastal sound, or inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the Sea Islands region, in Beaufort County in the U.S. state of South Carolina...
, then fired on Fort Beauregard
Fort Beauregard
Fort Beauregard, located half a mile north of the village of Harrisonburg, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, was one of four Confederate forts guarding the Ouachita River during the American Civil War...
and Fort Walker
Fort Walker
Fort Walker was a Civil War redoubt located on what is now the southeastern corner of Grant Park in Atlanta, Georgia.-History:The redoubt was built by Confederate forces in 1863....
. Returning with a larger force on the 7th, she fired on Fort Walker until it was abandoned. Then, on the 9th she covered the occupation of Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
.
In early December she penetrated into Wassaw Sound
Wassaw Sound
Wassaw Sound is a bay of the Atlantic Ocean on the coast of Georgia, United States near Savannah where which the Wilmington River flows.-American Civil War naval battle:...
to assist in closing off Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
. By the end of the month she had engaged Confederate positions at Port Royal Ferry and into January 1862 assisted in clearing the Coosaw River. Between 17 January and 18 February she operated in the Wright’s and Mud rivers area, clearing mines from the Savannah River
Savannah River
The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
above the mouth of Wright’s River 13–15 February.
Pembina captures her first prize, the Rowena
Continuing to cruise off the GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and northern 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...
coasts she escorted transports and covered troops as they assaulted Confederate positions and, on 9 April, as they evacuated Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. In May she shifted to the Carolina coast for operations in the Stono River
Stono River
The Stono River is a tidal channel in southeast South Carolina, located southwest of Charleston. The channel runs southwest to northeast between the mainland and Wadmalaw Island and Johns Island, from north Edisto River between Johns and James Island. The Intracoastal Waterway runs through...
where on 6 June seized her first prize the schooner Rowena.
Later shifted to the U.S. Gulf Coast, she captured a second vessel, sloop
Sloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
Elias Beckwith, near Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, 23 April 1863.
Remaining on the Gulf Coast she seized her third and last blockade runner, the Dutch brig Geziena Hilligonda, carrying medicines, iron and cloth, off Brazos Santiago, Texas
Brazos Island
Brazos Island is a barrier island on the Gulf Coast of Texas in the United States, south of the town of South Padre Island.-History:The island is also known as Brazos Santiago Island, a reference to the port of Brazos Santiago, the first Spanish settlement on the island. Later it became the Port...
, 4 December 1864. After the war she returned to the U.S. East Coast.
Post-war decommissioning and sale
Decommissioned at the Washington Navy YardWashington Navy Yard
The Washington Navy Yard is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy...
22 September 1865, she was sold, at 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...
, 30 November 1865.