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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Cherokee (I)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal
Screw Steamer:
  • Built in 1859 at Refrew, Scotland, named SS Thistle
  • Successfully ran the blockade into Charleston in January 1863
  • Ran aground while attempting to leave port in February 1863
  • Salvaged, sold to a new owner, renamed SS Cherokee
  • Captured off Charleston, S.C., by USS Canandaigua, 8 May 1863, as she attempted to run the blockade
  • Condemned at Boston, turned over to the Prize Commissioners, 7 July 1863
  • Purchased by the Federal government, date unknown
  • Outfitted at Boston Navy Yard and commissioned USS Cherokee, 21 April 1864, Acting Volunteer LT. J. F. Nickels in command
  • During the Civil War USS Cherokee was assigned to blockading duty with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron and the East Gulf Blockading Squadrons
  • North Atlantic Blockading Squadron May 1864 to February 1865
  • Capture of blockade runner Emma Henry, 8 October 1864
  • Participation in the bombardment of Fort Fisher, N. C., December 1864 and January 1865
  • East Gulf Blockading Squadron February 1865 to close of the war
  • Patrolled against blockade runners between Key West and Havana
  • Decommissioned at Boston, 23 June 1865
  • Sold, at Boston, 1 August 1865, returned to mercantile service
  • Sold to the Chilean government in 1868, commissioned into the Chilean navy as Ancud
  • Decommissioned by the Chilean navy and sold for mercantile service in 1878
  • Final Disposition, wrecked at Chiloe, Chile, 25 August 1889
    Specifications:
    Displacement 606 t.
    Length 194' 6"
    Beam 25' 2"
    Draft 11' 6"
    Speed 13 kts
    Complement 92
    Armament
    two 20-pdr rifles
    four 24-pdr smoothbores
    Propulsion steam
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Cherokee 125k Civil War vintage painting of USS Cherokee. Courtesy of the Hyde Windlass Company, Bath, Maine, April 1936.
    US Navy History and Heritage Command photo # NH 55211.    		 Tommy Trampp
    USS Cherokee (I)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 1 July 2011