USS ''J. C. Kuhn'' was a capacious

bark Bark may refer to: * Bark (botany), an outer layer of a woody plant such as a tree or stick * Bark (sound), a vocalization of some animals (which is commonly the dog) Places * Bark, Germany * Bark, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland Arts, ...

acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a stores ship in support of the Union Navy blockade of

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between ...

waterways.

Service history

''J. C. Kuhn'' was a wooden bark of two decks and three masts built at Portland, Connecticut by S. Gildersleeve & Sons, in 1859. She was purchased by the Navy at New York City from J. H. Brower & Co. on 6 July 1861; and commissioned at

New York Navy Yard The Brooklyn Navy Yard (originally known as the New York Navy Yard) is a shipyard and industrial complex located in northwest Brooklyn in New York City, New York (state), New York. The Navy Yard is located on the East River in Wallabout Bay, a ...

on 23 August, Acting Master Robert G. Lee in command. The supply and coal vessel reported to the

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

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 ...

, 11 September bringing a cargo of coal, lumber, and whaleboats. Six days later she delivered coal and provisions to Union vessels off

Fort Pickens, Florida Fort Pickens is a pentagonal historic United States military fort on Santa Rosa Island in the Pensacola, Florida, area. It is named after American Revolutionary War hero Andrew Pickens. The fort was completed in 1834 and was one of the few ...

, to begin her record of dependable service carrying fuel, food, lumber, and water to Union ships in the Gulf of Mexico and the lower Mississippi River. She arrived below Vicksburg, Mississippi, on 27 June 1862 loaded with coal for Flag Officer David Farragut's ships the day before they daringly steamed under the Southern batteries there to join forces with Flag Officer Davis's Mississippi Flotilla, which had been fighting its way south along the river. She remained below Vicksburg supporting Comdr.

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's Mortar Flotilla while Farragut operated above the Confederate stronghold until his ships had again run the gauntlet to rejoin Porter on 15 July. She then sailed down river with Farragut and resumed her duty of transporting supplies from

Pensacola, Florida Pensacola () is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle, and the county seat and only incorporated city of Escambia County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 54,312. Pensacola is the principal ...

, to ships stationed along the

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. In the spring of 1864, ''J. C. Kuhn'' was ordered to Pensacola for service as ordnance and store ship, and she continued this duty until sailing for New York on 20 January 1866. After arriving at New York City on 14 February and discharging her stores, the veteran bark received badly needed repairs. Restored and refurbished, ''J. C. Kuhn'' stood down to the

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on 7 April, and 3 days later was renamed ''Purveyor''. As ''Purveyor'', she supplied the European and South Atlantic Squadrons and served as a store ship before being sold at New York to P. H. Fay on 7 July 1869.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:J. C. Kuhn Ships of the Union Navy Ships built in Portland, Connecticut Barques of the United States Navy American Civil War auxiliary ships of the United States 1859 ships Stores ships of the United States Navy