USS Vixen (1861)
Encyclopedia
USS Vixen (1861) was acquired by the Union Navy
from the Coast Survey
on 26 August 1861 for use as a reconnaissance vessel during the American Civil War
; and was later commissioned on 31 July 1862.
bound for Port Royal, South Carolina
, in October 1861 with orders to conduct survey work along the southern coast en route. Escorted by Ottawa
and Seneca
, she entered Port Royal Sound
on 4 November to place buoy
s in the channel preparatory to Flag Officer Samuel F. Du Pont's planned attack there, and drew scattered fire from the Confederate naval squadron under Commodore Josiah Tattnall
.
The vessel conducted local surveys following the Union capture of the sound on the 7th, and reconnoitered Saint Helena Sound
, South Carolina
, on the 24th. In early December, a second survey was taken of St. Helena and, on the 18th, Pawnee
, Seneca, and Vixen took possession of North and South Edisto Rivers, South Carolina, and drove a Confederate force from Rockville, South Carolina
. Vixen became disabled in January 1862 and was sent to the New York Navy Yard for repairs.
. The gunboat
participated in the expedition against the Confederate works at Pocotaligo, South Carolina, on 21 to 23 October, and returned to the New York Navy Yard shortly thereafter. Here, she was decommissioned on 8 November to be repaired and returned to the Coast Survey.
in early 1863 and 1864. She also participated in several routine patrol and reconnaissance
expeditions along the southeastern coast during this time.
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...
from the Coast Survey
U.S. National Geodetic Survey
National Geodetic Survey, formerly called the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey , is a United States federal agency that defines and manages a national coordinate system, providing the foundation for transportation and communication; mapping and charting; and a large number of applications of science...
on 26 August 1861 for use as a reconnaissance vessel 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...
; and was later commissioned on 31 July 1862.
Coastal Survey operations
Vixen left 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...
bound for Port Royal, South Carolina
Port Royal, South Carolina
Port Royal is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Largely because of annexation of surrounding areas , the population of Port Royal rose from 3,950 in 2000 to 10,678 in 2010, a 170% increase. As defined by the U.S...
, in October 1861 with orders to conduct survey work along the southern coast en route. Escorted by Ottawa
USS 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...
and 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...
, she entered 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...
on 4 November to place buoy
Buoy
A buoy is a floating device that can have many different purposes. It can be anchored or allowed to drift. The word, of Old French or Middle Dutch origin, is now most commonly in UK English, although some orthoepists have traditionally prescribed the pronunciation...
s in the channel preparatory to Flag Officer Samuel F. Du Pont's planned attack there, and drew scattered fire from the Confederate naval squadron under Commodore Josiah Tattnall
Josiah Tattnall
Commodore Josiah Tattnall, Jr. was an officer in the United States Navy during the War of 1812, the Second Barbary War, and the Mexican-American War. He later served in the Confederate Navy during the American Civil War....
.
The vessel conducted local surveys following the Union capture of the sound on the 7th, and reconnoitered Saint Helena Sound
Saint Helena Sound
Saint Helena Sound is a coastal inlet in Beaufort and Colleton counties, South Carolina. The inlet is located East of Beaufort, between Edisto Island. and Hunting Island. Saint Helena Sound is 7.5 mi/12.1 km wide. The Combahee River empties from the Northwest and the Edisto River and...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, on the 24th. In early December, a second survey was taken of St. Helena and, on the 18th, 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....
, Seneca, and Vixen took possession of North and South Edisto Rivers, South Carolina, and drove a Confederate force from Rockville, South Carolina
Rockville, South Carolina
Rockville is a town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States that was founded in 1784. The population was 137 at the 2000 census. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S...
. Vixen became disabled in January 1862 and was sent to the New York Navy Yard for repairs.
Union Navy operations
Vixen -- commissioned by the Union Navy on 31 July 1862 -- left the navy yard in August for Port Royal and duty with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. She arrived on the 12th and, on the 16th, received orders to report to the blockade at Ossabow Sound, 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...
. The 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:...
participated in the expedition against the Confederate works at Pocotaligo, South Carolina, on 21 to 23 October, and returned to the New York Navy Yard shortly thereafter. Here, she was decommissioned on 8 November to be repaired and returned to the Coast Survey.
Career after service with the Union Navy
The historical record detailing the remainder of Vixen's career is incomplete. However, after her transfer to the Coast Survey, she conducted numerous explorations of the rivers and inlets along the coast of FloridaFlorida
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...
in early 1863 and 1864. She also participated in several routine patrol and reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
expeditions along the southeastern coast during this time.