| USS Mendota (1863) | |
|---|---|
 USS Mendota | |
| Career (US) |  |
| Laid down: | date unknown |
| Launched: | 13 January 1863 |
| Acquired: | 1 February 1864 |
| Commissioned: | 2 May 1864 |
| Decommissioned: | 12 May 1865 |
| Struck: | 1865 (est.) |
| Fate: | sold, 7 December 1867 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 974 tons |
| Length: | 205 ft (62 m) |
| Beam: | 35 ft (11 m) |
| Draught: | 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m) |
| Propulsion: |
steam engine side wheel-propelled |
| Speed: | 11 knots |
| Complement: | not known |
| Armament: |
two 100-pounder guns four 9-inch smoothbore guns two 24-pounder guns two 20-pounder guns |
USS Mendota (1863) was a steamer built for the Union Navy during the American Civil War. With her heavy guns, she was planned by the Union Navy for use as a bombardment gunboat, but also as a gunboat stationed off Confederate waterways to prevent their trading with foreign countries.
Mendota, a sidewheel gunboat, was launched 13 January 1863 by F. Z. Tucker, Brooklyn, New York; acquired by the Navy 1 February 1864; and commissioned 2 May 1864, Comdr. E. T. Nichols in command.
Assigned to the North Atlantic Blockade on the James River[]
From the day of her commissioning in 1864, Mendota was assigned to the James River Division, North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. The first 10 months she served as a picket ship near Four Mile Creek. Her guns were used to prevent the establishment of Confederate batteries or entrenchments which would threaten river communications or imperil a small Union Army base camp.
Action on 28 July was particularly intense. During her last 2 months of service she directed ship movements at Hampton Roads, Virginia, and also at the mouth of the Delaware River.
Post-war decommissioning and disposal[]
After the war Mendota decommissioned 12 May 1865 and was laid up at League Island, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, until sold 7 December 1867.
See also[]
References[]
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
External links[]
- Photo gallery at Naval Historical Center
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The original article can be found at USS Mendota (1863) and the edit history here.