USS Buckthorn (1863)

Buckthorn, was a wooden hull, screw steamer, 87 feet in length and outfitted with one mast. She was built in 1863 at East Haddam, Connecticut, as Signal; purchased by Rear Admiral Gregory for the Navy from George W. Jewett for the sum of $26,500 on December 22, 1863; and commissioned at New York City April 7, 1864, acting Volunteer Lieutenant W. Godfrey in Command.[1] Buckthorn was a strongly built vessel and was well adapted for service as a tug.[1] Buckthorn served with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron during the American Civil War and participated in the Battle of Mobile Bay (August 5, 1864). She acted as a tender for the fleet and was also used as a dispatch vessel throughout her career.[2]

After the Civil War she served at Pensacola Navy Yard until laid up in 1868.[1] After a brief service at Pensacola Buckthorn was sold for $3,000 at Pensacola, Florida, September 7, 1869.[1]

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• Marsh, Captain C.C. (1921). Official records of the Union and Confederate navies in the war of the rebellion. Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy. p. 252. Url
• Wyllie, Arthur (2007). The Union Navy. Lulu.com. p. 668. ISBN 978-1-4303-2117-0. Url1

• Union Navy