USS Marblehead (1861)

USS ''Marblehead'' was a built for the United States Navy during the American Civil War.

''Marblehead'' was launched by George W. Jackman Jr., Newburyport, Massachusetts, 16 October 1861; and commissioned on 8 March 1862; Lieutenant Commander Somerville Nicholson in command.

Service history

First assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, ''Marblehead'' took part in operations along the York and Pamunkey Rivers in Virginia. On 1 May 1862, she participated in the shelling of Confederate positions at Yorktown, supporting General George McClellan's drive up the Peninsula toward Richmond.

In an unusual engagement, the ''Marblehead'' was docked in Pamunkey River, Confederate cavalry commander J.E.B. Stuart ordered a detachment of southerners to attack the docked ship, but were discovered by Union sailors and marines, who opened fire - Confederate horse artillery, under Major John Pelham unlimbered his guns and fired on ''Marblehead'' - as the ship got under way and the bluecoats called back onto the ship, Pelham's guns raced the ship, firing at it as long as the horse can keep up with it.

The ''Marblehead'' escaped, and was reassigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and commenced patrols off the southern east coast in search of Confederate vessels. With monitor in early February 1863, she reconnoitered the Wilmington River, located in Georgia, in an unsuccessful attempt to locate the ironclad ram CSS ''Atlanta'' (ex-''Fingal''). Later in the month, on the 23rd, she took possession of the prize ''Glide'' and her cargo of cotton which had been captured by the United States Coast Survey schooners ''Caswell'' and ''Arago'' at the entrance of Tybee Creek, in Georgia, while en route to Nassau.

During her patrols of the coastal rivers, ''Marblehead'' periodically engaged in operations on the Stono River, South Carolina, in support of the Union defenders of James Island. On 16 July 1863, during an assault by Confederate forces on that position, the gunboat came under fire from Southern batteries at Grimball's Landing. Forced further down river, she continued to provide fire support and prevented Confederate reinforcements from reaching the main body of their attack force. She then joined in the bombardment of forts in Charleston, South Carolina harbor before heading north for repairs.

Back on the Stono River with by November, she provided cover for Army troops as they sank piles as obstructions in the river above Legareville, South Carolina, on the 24th. The following month, on Christmas Day, Confederate batteries fired on the two gunboats in an effort to dislodge the assistance provided by Marblehead and Pawnee. Despite taking 20 hits, Marblehead was still able to take two of the enemy's 8-inch seacoast howitzers before heading back up north for repairs and reassignment. Four of her sailors were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during this engagement: Contraband Robert Blake (Medal of Honor), Robert Blake, Boatswain's Mate William Farley (Medal of Honor), William Farley, Quartermaster James Miller (Medal of Honor), James Miller, and Landsman Charles Moore (Medal of Honor, 1863), Charles Moore.

On 2 June 1864, she was ordered to serve as a practice ship for United States Naval Academy, Naval Academy midshipman, midshipmen at Newport, Rhode Island. A month later this service was interrupted as she resumed coastal patrol duties for five months. She then returned to Newport to serve as a practice ship. After completion of this duty, ''Marblehead'' arrived at the Washington Navy Yard where she decommissioned 19 September 1866. Recommissioned the following month and assigned to the North Atlantic Squadron, she operated in the Caribbean for the next two years.

On 18 August 1868, she returned to the New York Navy Yard, decommissioned 4 September, and was sold on 30 September.

References

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External links

Photo gallery
at Naval Historical Center

Journal of a Cruise on board the U.S. Practice Ship ''Marblehead'', 1865, MS 20
held by Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library at the United States Naval Academy

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marblehead (1861)
Ships of the Union Navy
Ships built in Newburyport, Massachusetts
Steamships of the United States Navy
Unadilla-class gunboats
American Civil War patrol vessels of the United States
Massachusetts in the American Civil War
1861 ships
Marblehead, Massachusetts