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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Little Ada

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Campaign Medal

Screw Steamer:

Built in 1863 as the ¼ in. iron plate steamer Little Ada by Simons, W. & Co., Renfrew, Scotland

Launched in 1863

Captured and abandoned in the South Santee River, 30 March 1864

Recaptured at sea by USS Gettysburg, 9 July 1864

Purchased by the Navy from the Boston Prize Court, 18 August 1864, for $35,000

Commissioned USS Little Ada, 5 October 1864, at Boston, MA., Acting Master Samuel P. Craft in command

After fitting out, USS Little Ada was ordered to the Western Bar, Cape Fear River, 8 November 1864

In December she participated in the attacks on Fort Fisher.

Little Ada's most active service was in 1865 when she formed part of the separate line of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron on 3 January landing provisions for the Army

She again participated in attacks on Fort Fisher 13 to 15 January, carrying dispatches through the fleet

After being assigned to the Potomac flotilla 10 March, she captured a large yard boat 9 April at Hooper Strait, MD.

She was sent to the Washington Navy Yard, 31 May 1865

Decommissioned, 24 June 1865

Sold to the War Department, 12 August 1865, for $21,000 name retained, served as a survey vessel on the Great Lakes

Retired from US Army service, circa 1878

Purchased by L.P. & A. Smith, Cleveland OH., in 1878, renamed Peter Smith

Departed Cleveland, 6 April 1884, for Toledo with two lighters in tow, she was sunk by a boiler explosion and declared a total loss

Raised, date unknown

In 1899 hull and engine refurbished at Cleveland, OH. placed in service as a tugboat

Sold in 1909 to Canadian owner, renamed little Ada, reflagged Canada

Purchased in 1921 by US owner, renamed Buxton, redocumented US 24 January 1921

Buxton burned at Berkley, VA, 13 April 1922; removed from documentation and converted from steam to oil.

Sold in 1923 to unknown owner, renamed Betty Jane Heard

Converted from steam to gasoline, date unknown (236 gt.)

Purchased, 3 July 1928 by Poling Brothers, renamed Poling Brothers No.2

Final Disposition, succumbed to ice, foundered off Captain Island, Long Island Sound, NY, 12 March 1940; no lives lost.

Specifications:
Displacement 150 t.
Length 112'
Beam 12'6"
Depth of Hold 10'
Draft, loaded, forward 5'6", aft 8'
Speed 10 kts (average 5 kts)
Rig schooner
Complement unknown

Armament

two 20-pdr Parrott rifles

Propulsion

one double steam engine, cylinder diameter 22", stroke 20"

one boiler

single screw

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
0986107601	35k	Little Ada underway on the Great Lakes, date and location unknown. Bowling Green State University, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes		John Spivey

Little Ada
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

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Last Updated 4 November 2022