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USS Undine

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal
Sternwheel Gunboat (Tinclad No.55):
  • Built in 1863 as the sternwheel steamer Ben Gaylord at Cincinnati, OH.
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Purchased by the US Navy at Cincinnati, 7 March 1864
  • commissioned USS Undine (Gunboat No.55) in April, Acting Master John L. Bryant in command
  • Undine joined the Mississippi Squadron, to patrol the Mississippi River between Fort Adams and Natchez, MS.
  • She next operated during early July in the Tennessee River in support of Union forces ashore
  • While standing off Clifton, TN., Undine struck a snag and partially sank,25 July
  • Undine was successfully refloated, 1 August
  • USS Undine, and USS Key West, left Clifton 9 october escorting transports City of Pekin, Kenton, and Aurora on an expedition to capture Eastport, MS.
  • The Union force was ambushed by shore batteries, 10 October as the landed troops near Eastport
  • Undine and Key West evacuated troops caught ashore in the withering crossfire and escorted the disabled transports back downstream
  • After repairs were completed, Undine resumed patrol and reconnaissance duty along the Tennessee River
  • On 30 October, she convoyed the transport Anna from Johnsonville, TN. to Sandy Island
  • After discharging troops Undine investigated cannon fire coming from the river below Sandy Island
  • Near Paris Landing, Undine was again ambushed
  • Transports Venus and Cheeseman joined Undine and engaged the Confederates
  • Three hours later, both transports were disabled, and Undine was out of ammunition and crippled by a broken engine
  • Acting Master John L. Bryant hauled down his flag and surrendered Undine, Venus, and Cheeseman
  • The Confederates wasted little time putting the captured Union vessels to use, while patrolling the Tennessee River, 2 November, USS Key West and USS Tarwah engaged Undine and Venus
  • Venus was retaken, but Undine escaped, badly damaged, to the protection of Confederate batteries at Reynoldsburg Island
  • Final Disposition, Undine was burned by the Confederates, 4 November, to prevent her recapture by Union gunboats attacking the island
    Specifications:
    Displacement 179 t.
    Length unknown
    Beam unknown
    Draft unknown
    Depth of Hold unknown
    Speed unknown
    Complement unknown
    Armament
    at least two 24-pdr howitzers
    Propulsion
    one steam engine
    sternwheel
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Undine 44k Artist version of USS Undine underway. Aryeh Wetherhorn
    Tawah
    098684601    		 118k USS Tawah and USS Key West attack CSS Undine, and the transports, Cheesemen, and Venus, at Davidson’s Ferry on the Tennessee River in Tennessee, 2 November 1864. This results in the Federal recapturing of the vessel, Venus, from Major General Nathan B. Forrest (CSA) who had captured these vessel the previous day. Forrest had been sailing up the Tennessee River towards Johnsonville, Tennessee, but was forced to retire to the safety of the Confederate batteries near Fort Henry.
    Hardman County Tennessee Civil War History    		 Tommy Trampp
    USS Undine
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    Last Updated 25 September 2020