USS Dahlia (1862)

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USS Dahlia 1864.jpg
Moored to the river bank above the falls at Alexandria, Louisiana, during the Red River campaign, circa May 1864. USS Dahlia is at left, and USS Neosho is at right.
Career (USA) Union Navy Jack 100x35px
Namesake: genus of flowers of the aster family.
Ordered: as Firefly
Builder: U.S. Army
Laid down: 1861
Launched: 1862 at St. Louis, Missouri
Acquired: 1 October 1862
Commissioned: circa 24 October 1862
Struck: 1965 (est.)
Fate: sold 17 August 1865 at Mound City, Illinois
Notes: retained in commercial service until about 1872
General characteristics
Displacement: 50 tons
Length: not known
Beam: not known
Draft: 6 ft (1.8 m)
Propulsion: steam engine, paddle-wheel driven
Speed: 10 knots
Complement: not known
Armament: not known

USS Dahlia (1862) was a paddle-wheel tugboat acquired by the Union Navy during the beginning of the American Civil War. Dahlia was assigned to the Mississippi River area to provide tug and other services to Union ships requiring assistance.

Built for the U.S. Army

Firefly was built by the United States Army at St. Louis, Missouri in 1862; turned over to the Navy 1 October 1862; and named Dahlia 24 October 1862.

Civil War service

Assigned to the Mississippi River Squadron under Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter, Dahlia was put into service with Acting Ensign T. Wright in command. She provided tug services in the Mississippi River and its tributaries until 17 August 1865.

Post-war disposition

Dahlia was sold at Mound City, Illinois in August 1865. She retained her name as a civilian ship after the war and passed out of service in about 1872.

References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

See also

External links