USS New Berne (1862)
| History | |
|---|---|
  United States
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| Ordered: | as United States |
| Laid down: | date unknown |
| Launched: | 1862 |
| Acquired: | 27 June 1863 at New York City |
| Commissioned: | 15 August 1863 at New York City |
| Decommissioned: | 29 March 1868 |
| Fate: | transferred to the U.S. War Department 1 December 1868 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 948 tons |
| Length: | 195’ |
| Beam: | 32’ |
| Draught: |
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| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 13 knots |
| Complement: | 92 |
| Armament: |
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USS New Berne (1862) was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.
She served the Navy primarily as a supply ship but, as a Union ship of the blockade of the waterways of the Confederate States of American, she was also responsible to take on the role of a gunboat when the opportunity presented itself.
Screw steamer, United States, built at New York City in 1862 was purchased by the Navy at New York City 27 June 1863 from Wakeman, Dimon & Co.; and commissioned at New York Navy Yard 15 August 1863, Acting Vol. Lt. Thomas A. Harris in command.
Designated a supply ship, New Berne departed New York 1 September 1863 to join the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. For the remainder of the war, she carried mail, supplies, officers, and seamen from Northern ports to and from the ships and stations of her squadron.
From time to time her performance of this vital but unspectacular duty was enlivened by pursuit of a blockade runner. She departed Newport News, Virginia, before dawn 11 December hunting a “steamer burning soft coal” reportedly attempting to run the blockade near the entrance to Chesapeake Bay.
She did not catch this elusive steamer but had better luck the following spring when she chased steamer Pevensey aground near Beaufort, North Carolina, 9 June 1864. Shortly thereafter the blockade runner, carrying arms, lead, bacon, and uniforms for Robert E. Lee’s army, exploded.
She scored again 16 December 1864 when, with USS Mount Vernon, she captured and burned schooner G. O. Bigelow in ballast at Bear Inlet, North Carolina.
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