USS Gem of the Sea (1861)

History
United States
Acquired	3 August 1861
Commissioned	15 October 1861
Decommissioned	24 February 1865
Stricken	1865 (est.)
Fate	sold, May 1865
General characteristics
Tonnage	371
Length	116 ft (35 m)
Beam	26 ft 3 in (8.00 m)
Depth of hold	13 ft 5 in (4.09 m)
Propulsion	sail
Complement	65
Armament	six 32-pounder guns

USS Gem of the Sea (1861) was a bark acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries.

Gem of the Sea was purchased at New York City from Galway & Teller 3 August 1861; and commissioned 15 October, Acting Volunteer Lt. Irvin B. Baxter in command.

Assigned to the South Atlantic Blockade[]

She departed New York 20 October 1861 to serve the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron off the coast of South Carolina. She ran British blockade runner Prince of Wales aground off Georgetown 24 December. She captured blockade runner Fair Play 12 March 1862, schooner Dixie 15 April 1862, and schooner Mary Stewart 3 June. Nine days later she took schooner Seabrook off Alligator Creek. On 1 July she took possession of four rice-laden lighters up the Waccamaw River.

Returning to Boston, she was reassigned to the East Gulf Blockade[]

Gem of the Sea returned to the Boston Navy Yard 18 October 1862 for repairs. Ordered to the East Gulf Coast Blockading Squadron, she arrived at Key West, Florida, 18 December 1862 to guard the coast.

A very busy bark, capturing numerous prizes[]

She captured sloop Ann off Jupiter Inlet 30 December 1862, a small, unidentified schooner 12 January 1863, a small boat 28 January, and schooner Charm in the Indian River Inlet 23 February. In the same vicinity, she captured sloop Peter, and British blockade runners Maggie Fulton and Inez. British schooner George was taken in the Sanibal River 29 July; and sloop Richard fell into her hands in Peace Creek 31 August. In an expedition up the same creek 5 September, she destroyed the buildings and four boats of noted blockade runner Johnson. Thereafter she captured British schooner Director 30 September and sloop Matilda 21 October. From 24 to 30 December 1863, she was part of an expedition up the , transporting refugee rangers from Useppa Island to the mainland.

End-of-war activity and decommissioning post-war[]

Gem of the Sea spent her remaining career patrolling off Charlotte Harbor, Florida. She joined her tender Rosalie in capturing steamer Emma off nearby Malco Inlet 11 June 1864. She departed Charlotte Harbor 2 February 1865 and entered the Philadelphia Navy Yard the 22d. She decommissioned 24 February and was sold 6 May 1865 to A. C. Purvis & Sons, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

References[]

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