USS Ella (1859)

The first USS Ella was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a picket and patrol vessel, as well as a dispatch boat, on Confederate waterways.

History
United States
NameUSS Ella
NamesakeMiss Ella Knapp
BuilderThomas Collyer (New York)
Completed1859
Acquired(by USN): 30 July 1862
Commissioned10 August 1862
Decommissioned4 August 1865
Stricken1865 (est.)
FateSold, 15 September 1865
General characteristics
Tons burthen230
Length150 ft (46 m)
Beam23 ft (7.0 m)
Depth of hold8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Installed power
PropulsionSidewheels
Speed8 knots
Complement39
Armamenttwo 24-pounder howitzers

Construction and design

Ella, a wooden-hulled sidewheel steamboat, was built in New York in 1859 by Thomas Collyer for the Stamford Line of Stamford, Connecticut.[1][2][3] She was 150 feet (46 m) in length, with a beam of 23 feet (7.0 m) and hold depth of 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 m).[4] Ella was powered by a single-cylinder steam engine of unknown type, with a bore of 36 inches (91 cm) and stroke of 8 feet (2.4 m), built by Henry Esler & Co. of New York.[3]

Service history

Merchant service

Ella made her maiden voyage on 5 July 1859. She thereafter operated in daily service between New York City and Stamford, departing the latter at 7 am in the mornings and clearing New York at 3 pm the same day.[2]

Ella was purchased at New York City 30 July 1862; outfitted at New York Navy Yard; and commissioned 10 August 1862, Acting Master S. C. Gray in command.[4]

Ella sailed 12 August 1862 for duty with the Potomac Flotilla, and arrived at Fortress Monroe 2 days later. She performed her entire service in Virginia waters as a picket, patrol and dispatch boat, based on the navy yard at Washington, D.C.[4]

After a useful career, she returned to her base for the last time 30 July 1865. She was decommissioned there 4 August and sold 15 September 1865.[4]

Later history

Redocumented as a merchant steamer on October 19, 1865, Ella's later history is unknown. She was last documented about 1875.[1]

References

  1. Lytle, Holdcamper 1975. p. 62.
  2. "Stamford Steamboat Line" (PDF). New-York Daily Tribune. 1859-06-06. p. 7.
  3. "Henry Esler & Co, South Brooklyn". The New York Herald. 1859-10-10. p. 2.
  4. "Ella I (Side Wheel Steamer)". Naval History and Heritage Command. United States Navy. 2015-07-07.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

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