The began the war as a Confederate

privateer A privateer is a private person or ship that engages in maritime warfare under a commission of war. Since robbery under arms was a common aspect of seaborne trade, until the early 19th century all merchant ships carried arms. A sovereign or deleg ...

. The Union Navy acquired the schooner from the prize court and outfitted the vessel for blockade duty.

Privateer

As one method to counter Union naval power, the Confederacy issued letters of marque to facilitate the use of privateers against northern shipping. A group headed by A. F. W. Abrams of Charleston, S.C. acquired the schooner ''Priscilla C. Ferguson'' to arm her as a privateer. They renamed her vessel ''Beauregard'' and fitted out with a single 24–pounder rifled gun and accommodations for a 40-man crew. The privateer ''Beauregard'' was commissioned in Charleston, S.C. on October 14, 1861. The ship's preparations did not go unreported. By October 24, 1861, a northern ship master had notified Secretary of the Navy Welles that both ''Beauregard'' and ''Dixie'' were at Charleston preparing for service as privateers. Captain Gilbert Hay, with two lieutenants, one purser, and 23 crewmen, succeeded in running the blockade unobserved on November 5, 1861. During the ''Beauregard''s time as an active privateer, no captures were reported. On November 12, 1861 Lt. William C. Rogers commanding the spotted ''Beauregard'' in the

Bahama Channel The Old Bahama Channel ( es, Canal Viejo de Bahama) is a strait of the Caribbean region, between Cuba and the Bahamas. Geography The strait/channel is located off the Atlantic coast of north-central and northeastern mainland and the Sabana-Camagü ...

. Even though ''Beauregard'' sailed with fewer men than originally planned, the "many men on her decks" attracted Lt. Rogers’ attention to the schooner when only 4 miles off." After a 2-hour chase, ''Anderson'' was able to capture the vessel. When Captain Hay finally surrendered, he presented his letter of marque from Jefferson Davis to his captors. After taking control of ''Beauregard'' and putting a prize crew on board, Lt. Rogers proceeded to take the prisoners and the prize to Key West for adjudication. ''Anderson'' and its prize arrived in Florida on November 19, 1861. The prize court condemned the schooner with gross proceeds of $2,146.67 and $1,854.92 for distribution after costs and expenses.

U. S. Navy

The U.S. Navy purchased the ''Beauregard'' from the prize court for $1,810 on February 24, 1862 and began fitting the schooner for service with the blockading squadrons. To replace the 24 pound rifled gun that the privateer's crew had spiked, the navy armed the ''Beauregard'' with a single 30 pound rifle and two 12 pound howitzers. The ship was allocated to the

East Gulf Blockading Squadron The Union blockade in the American Civil War was a naval strategy by the United States to prevent the Confederate States of America, Confederacy from trading. The blockade was proclaimed by President Abraham Lincoln in April 1861, and required ...

, then commanded by Flag Officer

William McKean William Wister McKean (19 September 1800 – 22 April 1865) was an admiral in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He was noted for his service in the Union blockade that effectively closed Confederate seaports in the Gulf of Mex ...

. Flag Officer McKean assigned Acting Master David Stearns to command the ''Beauregard''ORN I, v. 17, p.193 and the ship was commissioned on March 28, 1862. During the ''Beauregard''s service with the Eastern Gulf squadron, she patrolled the coasts of Florida and was credited with capturing 11

blockade runners A blockade runner is a merchant vessel used for evading a naval blockade of a port or strait. It is usually light and fast, using stealth and speed rather than confronting the blockaders in order to break the blockade. Blockade runners usuall ...

. Like other ships assigned to blockade duty, the ''Beauregard'' was also called upon to participate in attacks against coastal locations. On April 2, 1863, she supported an attack against

Tampa, Florida Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and ...

, and on July 28, 1863, she was in action at

New Smyrna, Florida New Smyrna Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, United States, located on the central east coast of the state, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Its population is 30,142 in 2020 by the United States Census Bureau. The downtown section o ...

.Silverstone, ''Warships'', p. 145

Prizes and adjudication

, ''Beauregard'' , - , , SloopPorter, ''Naval History'', p. 841. , ''Racer'' , $6,350.38 , $741.13 , $5609.25 , Key West , , ''Beauregard'' , - , , SloopPorter, ''Naval History'', p. 838. , ''Hannah'' , $339.50 , $123.00 , $216.59 , Key West , , ''Beauregard'' , - , , SchoonerPorter, ''Naval History'', p. 839. , ''Linda'' , $1,237.65 , $171.50 , $1,066.15 , Key West , , ''Beauregard'', , - , , Schooner , ''Spunky'' , $5,396.81 , $484.02 , $4,912.79 , St. Augustine , , ''Beauregard'' , - , , Schooner , ''Oramoneta'' , $856.20 , $249.96 , $606.24 , St. Augustine , , ''Beauregard'' , - , , Sloop , ''Resolute'' , $563.25 , $122.53 , $440.79 , Key West , , ''Beauregard'' , -

Post-war record

The schooner was sold at

Key West, Florida Key West ( es, Cayo Hueso) is an island in the Straits of Florida, within the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Sigsbee Park, Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Isla ...

, June 28, 1865.

References

* ''Official records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion.'' Series I: 27 volumes. Series II: 3 volumes. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1894–1922. * Porter, David D. ''The Naval History of the Civil War'' Castle, Secaucus, NJ, 1984, . * Silverstone, Paul H. ''Warships of the Civil War Navies'' Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MD, 1989, . {{DEFAULTSORT:Beauregard, USS Ships of the Union Navy Gunboats of the United States Navy Schooners of the United States Navy