USS Cambridge (1861-1865)USS Cambridge , an 858-ton (burden) wooden screw cruiser, was built at Medford, Massachusetts, in 1859-1860 as a civilian steamship. In late July 1861, some months after the beginning of the Civil War, she was purchased by the Navy. Following conversion to a warship she was commissioned in August and soon began duty enforcing the blockade of the Confederacy's Atlantic coast. While operating with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron in 1861-1864, Cambridge took part in the capture or destruction of eleven would-be blockade runners, among them the fast steamers Modern Greece and Dee . On 17 March 1862 she was present when the Confederate cruiser Nashville escaped from Beaufort, N.C., in a successful attempt to reach a friendly port further south. Cambridge spent the Civil War's final months with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, which was responsible for covering the shores of eastern Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Sent north for decommissioning after the conclusion of hostilities, she was sold in June 1865. Depicted during the Civil War. This 19th Century photographic print may be of an artwork, or possibly a model. |
![]() Confederate Ironclad 1861-65 Every aspect of Confederate ironclads is covered: design, construction, armor, armament, life on board, strategy, tactics, and actual combat actions. ![]() Confederate Submarines and Torpedo Vessels 1861-65 Interesting information and many excellent illustrations. It addresses the CSA David class torpedo boats and the Hunley |
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![]() Ironclad Down: USS Merrimack-CSS Virginia from Design to Destruction A treasure trove of detailed information about one of history s most famous vessels. Describing Stephen Russell Mallory, John Mercer Brooke, John Luke Porter, et al.--who conceived, designed and built one of the world's first ironclads |
![]() Year on a Monitor and the Destruction of Fort Sumter Personal view of the Civil War Navy. The monitor saw action in several significant naval assaults by the Union's Squadron. It took part in the failed Federal attack on Sumter in April 1863. The "Nahant" also participated in the capture of the Confederate Ram "Atlanta," and in the assault on Fort Wagner |
![]() Ironclads and Big Guns of the Confederacy : The Journal and Letters of John M. Brooke Information about the Confederate Navy's effort to supply its fledgling forces, the wartime diaries and letters of John M. Brooke tell the neglected story of the Confederate naval ordnance office, its innovations, and its strategic vision. |
![]() Blockaders, Refugees, and Contrabands: Civil War on Florida'S Gulf Coast, 1861-1865 Coastal Florida had a refugee crisis as the war progressed. Escaped slaves ("contrabands") sought out the blockaders. Some joined the U.S. Navy. White men and their families sought to avoid conscription or vengeful neighbors/regulators and eventually sought refuge with the blockaders |
![]() Halls of Honor The U.S. Navy Museum takes you on an informed and entertaining romp through one of North America s oldest and finest military museums. The museum has been in continuous operation at the Washington Navy Yard since the American Civil War |
![]() Raise The Alabama She was known as "the ghost ship." During the Civil War, the CSS Alabama sailed over 75,000 miles and captured more than 60 Union vessels. But her career came to an end in June of 1864 when she was sunk by the USS Kearsarge off the coast of Northern France |
![]() The Civil War - A Film by Ken Burns Here is the saga of celebrated generals and ordinary soldiers, a heroic and transcendent president and a country that had to divide itself in two in order to become one |
![]() Civil War Combat: America's Bloodiest Battles The violent mayhem of the hornet's nest at Shiloh, the valiant charge on the sunken road at Antietam, the carnage in the wheat field at Gettysburg, and the brutal fighting at Cold Harbor |
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