USS Buckthorn (1863)

Career (US)
Ordered:	as Signal
Laid down:	date unknown
Launched:	1863
Acquired:	22 December 1863
Commissioned:	7 April 1864
Decommissioned:	1868
Struck:	1868 (est.)
Homeport:	Pensacola Navy Yard
Fate:	sold, 7 September 1869
General characteristics
Displacement:	128 tons
Length:	87 ft (27 m)
Beam:	22 ft (6.7 m)
Depth of hold:	7 ft 7 in (2.31 m)
Propulsion:	steam engine screw-propelled
Speed:	8.5 knots
Complement:	not known
Armament:	one 30-pounder gun two 12-pounder smoothbores

USS Buckthorne (1863) was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a fleet tender in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways.

Commissioned at New York City

Buckthorn, a screw steamer, was built in 1863 at East Haddam, Connecticut, as Signal; purchased by the Navy 22 December 1863; and commissioned at New York City 7 April 1864, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant W. Godfrey in Command.

Assigned to the West Gulf Blockade as a tender

Buckthorn served with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron during the American Civil War and participated in the Battle of Mobile Bay (5 August 1864). She acted as a tender for the fleet and was also used as a dispatch vessel throughout her career.

Post-Civil War service

After the Civil War she served at Pensacola Navy Yard until laid up in 1868.

Decommissioning and sale

Buckthorn was sold at Pensacola, Florida, 7 September 1869.

References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

See also

• United States Navy
• American Civil War

External links

• USS Buckthorn