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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Mahaska (1862-1868)

USS Mahaska, a 1070-ton Sebago class "double-ender" steam gunboat built at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, was commissioned in May 1862. During 1862 and into 1863, she was active in support of Federal operations against the Confederates along the Virginia rivers and Chesapeake Bay. Sent to join the blockade off Charleston, South Carolina, Mahaska participated in attacks on that port's defending fortifications during August 1863. In February-August 1864 she served along the east coast of Florida, taking part in expeditions against Jacksonville and Saint Marks.

Overhauled at Boston, Massachusetts, in the last part of 1864, Mahaska was active off Florida to the end of the Civil War and continued to operate in Southern waters for another three years. She was placed out of commission in September 1868 and was sold in November of that year. Thereafter, she was briefly employed as the merchant vessel Jeannette.

This page features all the views we have related to USS Mahaska (1862-1868).


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 59206

"Rendezvous of Our Fleet in James River, off City Point, -- Drawn on the Spot, May 29, 1862"


Line engraving, published in "Harper's Weekly", Volume of January-June 1862, page 390.
It depicts the U.S. Navy ships (listed as shown, from left to right) Maratanza, Wachusett, Aroostook, Monitor, Mahaska and Galena operating on the James River, Virginia, in support of General McClellan's army.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 300 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 42918

Scene off City Point, James River, Virginia
,
shortly after the action of 15 May 1862

Sketch, possibly by Edward H. Schmidt (a crewman on USS Mahaska). Items identified by numbers include:
1. USS Mahaska; 2. Schooner N.C. Claver; 3. tug Dragon; 4. USS Monitor; 5. USS Wachusett; 6. chartered steamer; 7. a schooner; 8. a gunboat; 9. USS Galena, disabled; 10. City Point, James River, abandoned.

Sketch was received from Mrs. W.L. Smith, of Savannah, Georgia, with her letter dated 26 August 1933.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 430 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 59198

"The Gun-boats 'Galena' and 'Mahaska' shelling the Rebels at Harrison's Landing, July 1, 1862"


Line engraving, based on a sketch "by an officer of the Navy", published in "Harper's Weekly", Volume 6, July-December 1862, page 470.
USS Galena is at left and USS Mahaska is at right.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 285 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 59337

"The United States Infantry burning the House of the Rebel Ruffin under the Guns of the United States Gun-boat 'Mahaska'"


Line engraving, based on a sketch "by an officer of the 'Mahaska'", published in "Harper's Weekly", Volume 6, July-December 1862, page 540.
USS Mahaska is in the left foreground.
Edmund Ruffin of Virginia, a leading figure of the seccession movement, was credited with firing the first shot of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, the opening gun of the Civil War.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 167KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 24 February 2001