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Photo # NH 75531:  Retouched photograph of USS Spuyten Duyvil, circa 1864.

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

USS Spuyten Duyvil (1864-1880).
Briefly named Stromboli in 1864

USS Spuyten Duyvil, a 207-ton armored torpedo vessel, was built at Mystic, Connecticut. She was completed under the name Stromboli, apparently in October 1864, but was renamed a month later. After her arrival at Hampton Roads, Virginia, in early December 1864, Spuyten Duyvil was sent to operate on the James River. On 23-24 January 1865, she participated in the battle at Trent's Reach, which was precipitated when Confederate ironclads attempted to attack Federal forces on the lower James.

As the Civil War drew to its conclusion in early April 1865, Spuyten Duyvil used her unique torpedo placing mechanism to clear obstructions on the river, thus permitting President Abraham Lincoln to ascend the James on his way to visit Richmond, the former Confederate capital city. She continued the work of clearing the river's obstruction for some time after the fighting ended, and was then sent to the New York Navy Yard, where she was decommissioned and laid up. Subsequently used for experiments, Spuyten Duyvil was sold in 1880.

This page features all the views we have related to USS Spuyten Duyvil, which was originally named Stromboli.


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 75531

USS Spuyten Duyvil
(1864-1880)

Heavily retouched photograph, circa 1864, mounted on a mat containing four sketches and the following inscriptions: (at bottom) "U.S. Iron-clad Torpedo Boat 'Spuyten Duyvil' Designed by Chf. Engr. Wm. W.W. Wood U.S.N. Genl. Inspector &c. for the Navy"; and (at top) "Constructed for the Navy Department 1864.".
The sketches include (at top) two kinds of explosive shells for the ship's spar torpedoes; and (at bottom) the explosions of torpedo warheads during tests in May 1864.

Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Gift of Mrs. Wilmina deB. McGuire, 11 September 1944.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 95112

USS Spuyten Duyvil
(1864-1880)

Engravings from the English magazine "Engineering", 26 October 1866, page 320, providing the ship's outboard profile and an inboard profile of her "torpedo" machinery, which was designed by Chief Engineer William W.W. Wood, USN.
The original article which accompanied these engravings is reproduced in Extended Captioning for Photo #s NH 95112 and NH 95113.

Courtesy of the Navy Department Library, Washington, D.C.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 530 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 95113

USS Spuyten Duyvil
(1864-1880)

Engravings from the English magazine "Engineering", 26 October 1866, page 321, providing the interior plan of the ship's "torpedo" machinery, which was designed by Chief Engineer William W.W. Wood, USN, and her exterior deck plan.
The original article which accompanied these engravings is reproduced in Extended Captioning for Photo #s NH 95112 and NH 95113.

Courtesy of the Navy Department Library, Washington, D.C.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 108KB; 740 x 535 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 28 April 2002