USS Monongahela (1862)

USS Monongahela under full sail.
History
United States
Name:	USS Monongahela
Namesake:	Monongahela River
Builder:	Philadelphia Navy Yard
Laid down:	date unknown
Launched:	July 10, 1862
Commissioned:	January 15, 1863
Out of service:	March 17, 1908
Struck:	1908 (est.)
Fate:	destroyed by fire on March 17, 1908
General characteristics
Type:	Sloop-of-war
Displacement:	2,078 long tons (2,111 t)
Length:	227 ft (69 m)
Beam:	38 ft (12 m)
Draft:	17 ft 6 in (5.33 m)
Propulsion:	Steam engine
Sail plan:	Sloop sails
Speed:	8.5 kn (9.8 mph; 15.7 km/h)
Complement:	Unknown
Armament:	1 × 200-pounder Parrott rifle, 2 × 11” guns, 2 × 24-pounder guns, 2 × 12-pounder guns

USS Monongahela (1862) was a barkentine–rigged screw sloop-of-war that served in the Union Navy during the American Civil War. Her task was to participate in the Union blockade of the Confederate States of America. Post-war, she continued serving her country in various roles, such as that of a storeship and schoolship.

Monongahela—the first United States Navy ship to bear that name—was built by the Philadelphia Navy Yard and was launched on July 10, 1862; sponsored by Ms. Emily V. Hoover, daughter of Naval Constructor Hoover who superintended the ship's construction; and commissioned on January 15, 1863, Captain James P. McKinstry in command.

Initially assigned to the North Atlantic Squadron, Monongahela sailed instead to reinforce Rear Admiral David G. Farragut's West Gulf Blockading Squadron off Mobile, Alabama, remaining on duty off that port until ordered to attempt to run past Confederate batteries on the Mississippi River at Port Hudson, Louisiana on the night of March 14–15, 1863.

As Army forces ashore conducted a mortar bombardment, the squadron got underway about 22:00, heavier ships USS Hartford, USS Richmond, and Monongahela screening the smaller USS Albatross, USS Genesee, and USS Kineo from the forts, with steam frigate USS Mississippi bringing up the rear.