USS Nipsic (1863)
The Nipsic-class vessel, as a receiving ship, at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in 1904
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| Name: | USS Nipsic |
| Laid down: | 24 December 1862 |
| Launched: | 15 June 1863 |
| Commissioned: | 2 September 1863 |
| Decommissioned: | 1873 |
| Refit: | Broken up and rebuilt between 1873-1879 |
| Recommissioned: | 11 October 1879 |
| Decommissioned: | 2 October 1890 |
| Refit: | Rebuilt and extended, 1889-1890 |
| Fate: | Burned for salvage, late 1915. |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Gunboat |
| Displacement: | 592 long tons (601 t) |
| Length: | 179 ft 6 in (54.71 m) |
| Beam: | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Draft: | 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m) |
| Speed: | 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) |
| Armament: |
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USS Nipsic was a gunboat in the Union Navy. The ship was laid down on 24 December 1862 by Portsmouth Navy Yard; launched on 15 June 1863; sponsored by Miss Rebecca Scott; and commissioned on 2 September 1863, Lieutenant Commander George Bacon in command.
In 1874 she was rebuilt as a new, and substantially larger, Adams/Enterprise-class gunboat. The Navy rebuilt some ships to new, when they could not get budget authorization for a new ship, but had significant funding for repairs. She would also be completely rebuilt in 1890 her length and beam extended and her tonnage increased.
Nipsic arrived off Morris Island, South Carolina, on 5 November 1863 to join in the blockade of Charleston, where she served until the end of the American Civil War. On 27 June 1864, she took schooner Julia as the blockade-runner attempted to enter port.
On 26 June 1865, three sailors deserted from the Nipsic. They were Henry May, Ordinary Seaman; Julius Bergan, Seaman; and John Partington, Seaman. The three had served together on three vessels: Allegheny, Mahaska, Nipsic.
Nipsic served primarily with the South Atlantic Squadron off the coast of Brazil, and in the West Indies, protecting American commerce and interests until 1873 when she was decommissioned and subsequently broken up.
Rebuilt as a new, and substantially larger, Adams/Enterprise-class gunboat, Nipsic recommissioned on 11 October 1879. She served again in the West Indies until March 1880 when she sailed for the European Station.
After three years service in the Mediterranean and along the north and west coasts of Africa, Nipsic returned to the South Atlantic Squadron in June 1883. She served there until March 1886 when she sailed to the Washington Navy Yard for overhaul. In January 1888 she sailed for Cape Horn and Callao, Peru, whence she departed on 23 September for duty as station ship in Apia Harbor, Samoa.
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