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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Curlew

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal
Stern-wheel Steamer (Tinclad #12):
  • Built in 1862 at Elizabeth, PA., as the stern-wheel steamer SS Florence
  • Purchased by the Union Navy, 17 December 1862
  • Converted to a light-draft gunboat, commissioned USS Curlew, 16 February 1863, Acting Master G. Hentig in command
  • The next day Curlew joined Admiral D. Porter's fleet for patrol and convoy duty in the Mississippi River and its tributaries
  • Curlew participated in engagement of Confederate troops at Islands No. 67 and 68, from 12 to 20 July 1863
  • Curlew joined other vessels for an expedition into the Red, Black, Tensas, and Ouachita rivers during which they captured steamer Louisville, steamer Elmira
  • Curlew served in the Ohio and Tennessee rivers from 23 December 1863 until 14 January 1864
  • During an engagement, 24 May 1864 with a 12-gun battery at Gaines Landing, Ark., Curlew was struck several times
  • Curlew stood down the Mississippi, 30 June 1864 and cruised between Natchez and Vicksburg, Miss., having several encounters with enemy land forces
  • 24 October 1864, found Curlew sailing up river to patrol the Ohio and Tennessee
  • Curlew's final duties consisted of conducting surveys in the Mississippi around Cairo and Mound City from February to 17 June 1865
  • Decommissioned 5 July 1865 at Mound City, IL.
  • Sold at Mound City IL., 17 August 1865 to James Polakin in 1865
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 196 t.
    Length 159'
    Beam 32' 1"
    Draft 4'
    Speed 4 kts
    Complement unknown
    Armament
    eight 24-pdr howitzers
    Propulsion
    steam
    stern-wheel
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Curlew
    098650201    		 48k USS Curlew (I) underway near Baton Rouge, LA.
    University of Wisconsin-Madison Digital Library.    		 John Spivey
    USS Curlew (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 2 June 2021