USS Philadelphia (1861)

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Career
Seized:	21 April 1861
Commissioned:
Decommissioned:	31 August 1865
Fate:	sold, 15 September 1865
Struck:
General characteristics
Displacement:	500 tons
Length:	200 ft
Beam:	30 ft
Draft:	10 ft
Propulsion:	Steam
Speed:
Range:
Depth:
Complement:
Armament:	2 12-pdrs.

The third USS Philadelphia was the flagship of Rear Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee when he commanded the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the American Civil War.

A side-wheel, iron-hulled steamer, Philadelphia was built at Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1859 as the commercial vessel of the same name.

She was operating as a trading vessel between Acquia Creek, Virginia and Washington, D.C. at the outbreak of the Civil War. Seized 21 April 1861, in accordance with a Presidential order, she was ordered to the Washington Navy Yard, where she fitted out for naval service.

Philadelphia, Lt. William N. Jeffers in command, operated on the Potomac River as a patrol vessel. In May she was detailed to transport ordnance stores to Fortress Monroe, to Philadelphia and to New York. Upon return to the Washington Navy Yard, Jeffers reported that the steamer was in no respect suitable for outside service. She continued to operate on the Potomac River until October, 1861, primarily transporting troops downriver to Fort Washington.

Philadelphia was assigned duties with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron in October, and during January and February 1862 served as squadron flagship. Philadelphia took part in the expedition to Hatteras Inlet in January and served as flag-steamer to Flag Officer Louis M. Goldsborough at the battle of Roanoke Island, North Carolina 7 - 8 February. She also took part in the capture of New Berne and later participated in the expedition to the Dismal Swamp Canal 17 - 20 April.

From August 1863 until 1865 Philadelphia was flagship of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. The highlight of her activities during this period was her participation in the operation against Charleston, South Carolina in the fall of 1863.

With the close of hostilities Philadelphia was sent to the Washington Navy Yard where she decommissioned 31 August 1865. She was sold at public auction 15 September to N. L. and G. Griswold. Renamed Ironsides in 1869, she was lost by stranding at Hog Island, Virginia, on 29 August 1873.

This article includes information collected from the public domain sources Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships and Naval Vessel Register.