USS Dart (1861)

For other ships of the same name, see USS Dart.

Career (US)
Laid down:	date unknown
Launched:	date unknown
Acquired:	4 July 1861 (by capture)
In service:	1861
Out of service:	1861
Struck:	1861 (est.)
Fate:	scrapped, 1861
General characteristics
Displacement:	94 tons
Length:	not known
Beam:	not known
Draught:	not known
Propulsion:	sail
Speed:	varied
Complement:	not known
Armament:	one 12-pounder howitzer

USS Dart (1861) was a captured Confederate schooner acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was put into service by the Union Navy to serve as a tender for other Union Navy ships. However, she was also able to capture several “prizes” on her own before she was dismantled and scrapped.

Confederate schooner captured and inducted into Union Navy

Dart was a small schooner captured by the screw steamer South Carolina off Galveston, Texas, on 4 July 1861.

Assigned blockade duty along the coast of South Carolina

Though never labeled or purchased by the Navy, she was armed with a 12-pounder howitzer, and cruised as tender to both South Carolina and the screw steamer Huntsville. During her brief service, she captured several small vessels, including schooners Cecilia on 24 September 1861, and Zavala on 1 October.

Taken out of service and dismantled

Dart was taken out of service, and dismantled by men from the screw frigate Niagara off the southwest pass of the Mississippi River, between 19 and 21 October 1861.

References

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