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USS Gemsbok (I)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal
Bark
  • Purchased, 7 August 1861, at Boston, MA.
  • Commissioned, USS Gemsbok, 30 August 1861, at the Boston Navy Yard, Acting Volunteer LT. Lewis Drake Voorhees in command.
  • Assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Gemsbok departed Boston, 6 September 1861, for duty off Wilmington, N.C.
  • 19 September she captured schooner Harmony off Hatteras
  • 22 September Gemsbok took schooner Mary E. Pindar off Federal Point, N.C.
  • 3 October schooner Beverlyas taken by Gemsbok outside Frying Pan Shoals
  • 18 October Gemsbok captured English brig Ariel, laden with a cargo of salt off Wilmington
  • Gemsbok was reassigned in November to blockade duty at Beaufort, N.C.
  • 16 January 1862 her crew, with that of Albatross boarded and burned York, grounded near Bogue Inlet, N.C.
  • 25 April Gemsbok in company with other warships bombarded Fort Macon, N.C., having much of her rigging shot away during the battle
  • Gemsbok convoyed two English prizes taken at Fort Macon, Alliance and Gondar to the Chesapeake capes, from whence they sailed to New York while Gemsbok put in at Hampton Roads, 10 May
  • She was ordered to Boston, 27 August 1862, to fill up her complement and then to report for duty with RADM. Samuel F. DuPont at Port Royal, S.C.
  • From Port Royal Gemsbok sailed to Turtle Harbor, FL. to protect colliers supplying the West Indies squadron
  • 10 December Army transport Memnonium Sanford grounded on a reef south of Key West, Gemsbok sent a launch and crew to kedge her off, taking on board many officers and men later debarked at Key West
  • In February 1863 Gemsbok was employed as one of the West Indies Squadrons coal and store ships
  • Gemsbok arrived at New York 19 July 1863 and decommissioned
  • Recommissioned, 23 December 1864, Gemsbok was ordered to Port Royal, reaching that port 8 January 1965
  • Gemsbok served on blockade duty in waters off Georgia and South Carolina and as a guard and store ship
  • She returned to the New York Navy Yard 17 June 1865
  • Decommissioned, 11 July 1865 and sold at at auction to Smith & Co. at New York.
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 622 t.
    Length 141'7"
    Beam 31'
    Depth of Hull unknown
    Draft 17'
    Speed unknown
    Complement unknown
    Armament
    four 8" guns
    two 32-pdrs
    Propulsion sail
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Gemsbok (I)
    Gemsbok
    098687701    		 194k Currier & Ives lithograph "The Blockade on the 'Connecticut Plan'"
    Library of Congress Catalog: http://lccn.loc.gov/90711961     		Robert Hurst
    Gemsbok (I)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    Last Updated 9 July 2021