USS ''Hornet'' was the fifth

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

ship to bear the name Hornet. She was originally CSS ''Lady Stirling'', a

blockade runner 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 ...

built by James Ash at Cubitt Town,

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

in 1864 for the Confederate States Navy. She was badly damaged and captured by the United States Navy on 28 October 1864 off

Wilmington, North Carolina Wilmington is a port city in and the county seat of New Hanover County in coastal southeastern North Carolina, United States. With a population of 115,451 at the 2020 census, it is the eighth most populous city in the state. Wilmington is the ...

History

Following condemnation by a prize court, ''Lady Sterling'' was bought by the U.S. Navy, repaired, armed, and commissioned as USS ''Lady Sterling'' and later renamed USS ''Hornet'' on 25 April 1865. In navy service she mainly operated in the

Chesapeake Bay The Chesapeake Bay ( ) is the largest estuary in the United States. The Bay is located in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region and is primarily separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Delmarva Peninsula (including the parts: the ...

squadron. In October 1865, ''Hornet'' escorted the Confederate ironclad from

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

to the United States. ''Hornet'' was decommissioned on 15 December 1865 and sold into private ownership in 1869. After the war ''Hornet'' was involved in several filibustering expeditions to Cuba under the names ''Hornet'' and ''Cuba'', including an unsuccessful mission in January 1871 to deliver weapons and ammunition to Cuban rebels during the

Ten Years' War The Ten Years' War ( es, Guerra de los Diez Años; 1868–1878), also known as the Great War () and the War of '68, was part of Cuba's fight for independence from Spain. The uprising was led by Cuban-born planters and other wealthy natives. O ...

. New York Times, 26 January 1871 p. 124

References

Bibliography

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* * Lady Stirling Ships of the Union Navy Steamships of the United States Navy Ships built in Cubitt Town Ships captured by the United States Navy from the Confederate States Navy 1864 ships Blockade runners of the American Civil War {{AmericanCivilWar-stub

History

See also

References

Bibliography