USN Ships--USS Isaac Smith (1861-1863)

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Photo # NH 59319: Federal warships off Port Royal, S.C., 5 November 1861, with USS Isaac Smith at far right

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Isaac Smith (1861-1863)

USS Isaac Smith, a 453-ton (burden) screw steam gunboat, was built at Nyack, New Jersey, in 1851 as a commercial steamer of the same name. She was purchased by the U.S. Navy in September 1861 and placed in commission in October. Isaac Smith's first operation was the capture of Port Royal, South Carolina, in November 1861, during which she engaged Confederate warships and shore batteries. In January 1862 she took part in an expedition in Wassaw Sound, Georgia, and beginning in March was active in the waters of northeastern Florida. Her boats captured a blockade runner there in April.

Isaac Smith went north for repairs in August 1862, but returned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in October. She was then assigned to operate in the Stono River, South Carolina. While making a reconnaissance in that river on 30 January 1863, she was caught by enemy shore batteries and badly battered. With eight of her crew killed and many more wounded, USS Isaac Smith was forced to surrender. Taken into Confederate Navy service under the name Stono, she was wrecked near Fort Moultrie, S.C., while attempting to run the blockade of Charleston on 5 June 1863.

This page features, and provides links to, the only views we related to USS Isaac Smith.

For a picture of a Sailor who was awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery aboard USS Isaac Smith, see:

Landsman Richard Stout, USN.

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 59319

"Army & Navy Reconnoissance. Tuesday Morning Nov. 5" 1861

Line engraving published in "The Soldier in Our Civil War", Volume I, page 189, depicting Federal ships investigating Port Royal Sound, South Carolina, prior to their successful attack on Confederate fortifications there.
Ships and other items identified across the bottom of the print include (from left to right): USS Mercury, with Generals Sherman and Stevens & staff on board; USS Penguin, with Hilton Head Battery beyond; USS Pawnee; Broad River (in distance); CSS Huntress (distance); USS Seneca; steamer Screamer (distance); USS Ottawa with Capt. Rogers & General Wright on board; steamer Everglades (distance, beyond Ottawa; USS Pembina; CSS Lady Davis (distance); Beaufort River (distance); Bay Point Battery (distance); USS Curlew; Confederate camp (distance); USS Isaac Smith.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 280 pixels

Photo #: NH 59256

Bombardment and Capture of Port Royal, South Carolina, 7 November 1861

Engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", July-December 1861 volume, pages 760-761.
It depicts Federal warships, under Flag Officer Samuel F. DuPont, USN, bombarding Fort Beauregard (at right) and Fort Walker (at left). The Confederate squadron commanded by Commodore Josiah Tattnall is in the left center distance.
Subjects identified below the image bottom are (from left): tug Mercury, Fort Walker, USS Wabash (DuPont's flagship), Screamer (?), USS Susquehanna, CSS Huntsville, Commo. Tattnall, USS Bienville, USS Pembina, USS Seneca, USS Ottawa, USS Unadilla, USS Pawnee, USS Mohican, USS Isaac Smith, USS Curlew, USS Vandalia, USS Penguin, USS Pocahontas, USS Seminole, Fort Beauregard, USS R.B. Forbes and "Rebel Camp".

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 300 pixels