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USS Prairie Bird (1862)
Encyclopedia
USS Prairie Bird (1862) was a steamer commissioned by the Union Navy
during the American Civil War
.
She served the Union navy fleet as a gunship
during operations on Mississippi River
and its tributaries.
, 19 December 1862, was fitted out at Cairo, Illinois
, renamed Prairie Bird and commissioned in January 1863, Acting Master J. C. Moore in command.
in mid-February 1863, to assist Juliet
, grounded 20 miles below Island No. 10. She then continued on to Memphis, Tennessee
, whence she escorted a provision ship to the Yazoo River
, where she joined the Mississippi Squadron.
At the end of the month she took up station above the White River
to protect a coal depot. In mid-March she shifted to Greenville
; in April, she operated at the mouth of the White River; and in May, she returned to Memphis.
Remaining in the Arkansas-White River area into the following spring, she reconnoitered the Sunflower River
, as far as Lake George and Silver Creek, with Petrel
in March 1864. In April she steamed with Petrel and Freestone up the Yazoo River to fire on and pass Yazoo City, Mississippi
, in support of Union Army
operation against that city. On the 22nd Prairie Bird, having received engine damage, rescued survivors from Petrel, then retired to Vicksburg for repairs.
, and the Arkansas River
.
On 21 July she seized the steamer Union for violation of revenue laws and giving “aid and comfort to the enemy.”
On the 23rd she rescued 350 of 500 passengers aboard B. M. Runyan, sunk off Skipwith’s Landing, and on 11 August she engaged the enemy battery at Gaines Landing, Arkansas, in support of operations there.
The following December she joined with other vessels and Union Army units to cut the rebel communications in Mississippi
and on the 31st assisted blowing the railway bridge over the Big Black River.
, she remained a unit of the Mississippi Squadron until ordered decommissioned in July. On 17 August 1865 she was sold by public auction to Henry Morton.
Category:Ships of 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...
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 served the Union navy fleet as a gunship
Gunship
The term "gunship" is used in several contexts, all sharing the general idea of a light craft armed with heavy guns.-In Navy:In the Navy, the term originally appeared in the mid-19th century as a less-common synonym for gunboat.-In military aviation:...
during operations on 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 its tributaries.
Purchased at Cincinnati, Ohio
Prairie Bird, a” tinclad” wooden steamer purchased as Mary Miller at Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, 19 December 1862, was fitted out at Cairo, Illinois
Cairo, Illinois
Cairo is the southernmost city in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the county seat of Alexander County. Cairo is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The rivers converge at Fort Defiance State Park, an American Civil War fort that was commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant...
, renamed Prairie Bird and commissioned in January 1863, Acting Master J. C. Moore in command.
Assigned to the Mississippi squadron
Prairie Bird steamed down the Mississippi RiverMississippi 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...
in mid-February 1863, to assist Juliet
USS Juliet (1862)
USS Juliet was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways.- Built in Pennsylvania and purchased in Ohio :...
, grounded 20 miles below Island No. 10. She then continued on to Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, whence she escorted a provision ship to the Yazoo River
Yazoo River
The Yazoo River is a river in the U.S. state of Mississippi.The Yazoo River was named by French explorer La Salle in 1682 as "Rivière des Yazous" in reference to the Yazoo tribe living near the river's mouth. The exact meaning of the term is unclear...
, where she joined the Mississippi Squadron.
At the end of the month she took up station above the White River
White River (Arkansas)
The White River is a 722-mile long river that flows through the U.S. states of Arkansas and Missouri.-Course:The source of the White River is in the Boston Mountains of northwest Arkansas, in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest southeast of Fayetteville...
to protect a coal depot. In mid-March she shifted to Greenville
Greenville, Kentucky
Greenville is a city in and the county seat of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, United States. It is named for Revolutionary War General Nathan Greene...
; in April, she operated at the mouth of the White River; and in May, she returned to Memphis.
Remaining in the Arkansas-White River area into the following spring, she reconnoitered the Sunflower River
Sunflower River
The Sunflower River is one of the main tributaries of the Yazoo River in the U.S. state of Mississippi. It is navigable by barge for 50 miles. It rises in De Soto County, Mississippi near the Tennessee border and flows south for 100 miles to the Yazoo River...
, as far as Lake George and Silver Creek, with Petrel
USS Petrel (1862)
The second USS Petrel was a tinclad wooden steamer in the United States Navy. Petrel was purchased as Duchess at Cincinnati, Ohio, 22 December 1862, renamed Petrel, and commissioned with Volunteer Lt...
in March 1864. In April she steamed with Petrel and Freestone up the Yazoo River to fire on and pass Yazoo City, Mississippi
Yazoo City, Mississippi
Yazoo City is a city in Yazoo County, Mississippi, United States. It was named after the Yazoo River, which, in turn was named by the French explorer Robert La Salle. It is the county seat of Yazoo County and the principal city of the Yazoo City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the...
, in support of 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...
operation against that city. On the 22nd Prairie Bird, having received engine damage, rescued survivors from Petrel, then retired to Vicksburg for repairs.
Final Mississippi operations
Assigned to the 6th District, Mississippi Squadron, for most of the remainder of the war, Prairie Bird operated between Vicksburg, MississippiVicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
, and the Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
.
On 21 July she seized the steamer Union for violation of revenue laws and giving “aid and comfort to the enemy.”
On the 23rd she rescued 350 of 500 passengers aboard B. M. Runyan, sunk off Skipwith’s Landing, and on 11 August she engaged the enemy battery at Gaines Landing, Arkansas, in support of operations there.
The following December she joined with other vessels and Union Army units to cut the rebel communications in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
and on the 31st assisted blowing the railway bridge over the Big Black River.
Post-war decommissioning
Prairie Bird remained in the 6th District until March 1865. Then sent to Mound City, IllinoisMound 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 ....
, she remained a unit of the Mississippi Squadron until ordered decommissioned in July. On 17 August 1865 she was sold by public auction to Henry Morton.
External links
Category:Ships of the Union Navy