Ordered as Signal Acquired December 22, 1863 Decommissioned 1868 Launched 1863 Weight 130.1 tons | Laid down date unknown Commissioned April 7, 1864 Struck 1868 (est.) Length 26 m | |
USS Buckthorne (1863) was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used as a fleet tender and dispatch vessel in support of the Union Navy blockade along Confederate coastal waters.
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Service in the Navy
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. Buckthorn was a strongly built vessel and was well adapted for service as a tug. 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.
Post-Civil War service
After the Civil War she served at Pensacola Navy Yard until laid up in 1868. After a brief service at Pensacola Buckthorn was sold for $3,000 at Pensacola, Florida, September 7, 1869.