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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive
USS Corypheus
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CSS Corypheus (1862)
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons
Civil War Campaign Medal
Schooner:
Built in 1859 as the yacht Corypheus at Brook Haven, N.Y.
Seized under orders of Gen. M. Lovell, CSA
Fitted out as a gunboat, and operated in Lakes Borgne and Pontchartrain
13 May 1862, a cutter from USS Calhoun proceeded to Bayou Bonfuca and cut out the gunboat
Following appraisal, the prize was purchased that month from the Key West prize court for $14,724, and promptly taken into the Union Navy, commissioned and assigned to the Gulf
Blockading Squadron
During the spring of 1862, Flag Officer David Glasgow Farragut, the squadron commander, reinforced the patrol sector off the coast of Texas between Matagorda and
Corpus Christi where LT. John W. Kittredge in USS Arthur patrolled with the yacht USS Corypheus, the screw gunboat USS Sachem and the lugger General Butler for operations in the shallow
inlets, bays, and bayous found in Arthur's sector
10 July, LT. Kittredge in Corypheus captured the 9-ton sloop Belle Italia. A few days later, she reentered the gulf where Kittredge returned to
USS Arthur
24 August, USS Corypheus, still working under the direction of Kittredge, captured Water Witch of Jamaica as that schooner attempted to
enter Aransas Bay with a cargo including a large quantity of gunpowder.
Corypheus returned to the Gulf arriving at Galveston, Texas, 28 December 1862
She participated in the Battle of Sabine Pass, 1 January 1863, where she fought valiantly and cleared amid a rain of fire from the enemy when the Union force withdrew
Admiral David G. Farragut wrote of her officers and crew that they acted with uncommon coolness and great courage, keeping up their fire for the protection of the soldiers on
shore, and, when ordered to abandon their vessel, preserved and safely extricated their ship although left entirely by themselves except for USS Sachem.
Corypheus's' next assignment was on Lake Pontchartrain where she was stationed to break up the small-craft traffic crossing between New Orleans and coastal waters
She remained on this duty until November 1864 when ordered to Pensacola, FL.
Following repairs, she was stationed around Mobile, AL.
With the end of the war was decommissioned, and sold 15 September 1865
Final Disposition, fate unknown
Specifications:
Displacement 81 tons
Length 72'
Beam 20'
Depth of Hold 6'
Draft unknown
Speed unknown
Complement unknown
Armament unknown
Propulsion sail
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CSS Corypheus / USS Corypheus
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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Last Updated 18 November 2022