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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

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

USS Ottawa (1861-1865)

USS Ottawa, a 691-ton Unadilla class screw steam gunboat, was built at New York City. Commissioned in October 1861, she spent her entire Civil War service operating off the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida, enforcing the blockade and attacking Confederate positions ashore. Ottawa's initial assignment was as part of the force that captured Port Royal, South Carolina, in November 1861. In 1862, she helped take Fernandina, Florida, and islands along the Georgia coast. The gunboat bombarded fortifications in Charleston harbor, South Carolina, during mid-1863, and supported assaults on Jacksonville, Florida, and Bulls Bay, S.C., in 1864-65. She also helped capture or destroy three blockade runners during the War. Sent north after the end of the conflict, Ottawa was decommissioned in August 1865 and sold the following October.

This page features all the views we have related to USS Ottawa (1861-1865).

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

Photo #: NH 42927 USS Ottawa (1861-1865) Lithograph by Shearman & Hart, New York, 1861. The original lithograph was issued with different titles to represent many, if not all, of the Civil War "90-day gunboats". See Photo # NH 2016. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 500 pixels
Photo #: NH 59367 "Our New Gun-boats" Engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", July-December 1861 volume. It depicts ten of the "90-Day Gunboats" constructed for the U.S. Navy in 1861-62. Ships, as identified below the image bottom, are (from left, all USS): Chippewa, Sciota, Itasca, Winona, Huron, Ottawa, Pembina, Seneca, Unadilla and Sagamore. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 310 pixels
Photo #: NH 59316 "Portion of the Naval Expedition, as it appeared on the night of October 16, sailing to Hampton Roads. -- Sketched by an Officer on Board." 1861 Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", July-December 1861 volume, pages 712. It depicts Flag Officer DuPont's squadron en route to capture Port Royal, South Carolina. Ships, all U.S. Navy, as identified below the image bottom, are (from left): Wabash, Florida, Augusta, Alabama, Ottawa, Seneca and Pembina. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 167KB; 740 x 575 pixels
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 1099 Bombardment and Capture of Port Royal, South Carolina, 7 November 1861 Engraving by W. Ridgway after a drawing by C. Parsons, published by Virtue & Co., New York. It depicts Federal warships, under Flag Officer Samuel F. DuPont, USN, bombarding Fort Beauregard (at left) and Fort Walker (at right). Troop transports are standing by in the distance. U.S. Navy ships present and identified include (from left): Mohican, Susquehanna, Augusta, Wabash (Flagship), Unadilla, Pawnee, Bienville, Ottawa, Curlew and Seneca. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 570 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
Photo #: NH 59309 "Reconnoissance of Vernon River, Ossabaw Sound, Georgia, Discovery of a Rebel Battery and Camp.", 11 December 1861 Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", January 1862. It depicts Federal warships engaging the Confederate battery, shown in the far left distance. Ships, as identified below the image bottom, are (from left): USS Seneca, USS Pembina, USS Ottawa and Steamer Mary Andrew. For the original sketch from which this engraving was made, see Photo # NH 59310. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 410 pixels
Photo #: NH 59310 "Discovery of a Rebel Battery and Camp on Vernon River, Ga.", 11 December 1861 Sketch by William Crane, artist for Harper's Weekly, presented by the artist to Lieutenant Thomas H. Stevens, Commanding Officer of USS Ottawa. It depicts the U.S. Navy gunboats Seneca, Pembina, Ottawa and steamer Mary Andrew, "at the time of Rebel Battery opening fire". The Federal ships were under the command of Commander C.R.P. Rodgers of USS Wabash. This sketch apparently served as the basis for the engraving seen in Photo # NH 59309. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 565 pixels
Photo #: NH 59368 "90-Day" Gunboats under construction at New York City, 1861 Engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", July-December 1861 volume. It depicts USS Unadilla on the stocks at the John Englis shipyard (top left), USS Winona at the C. & R. Poillon shipyard (top right), and USS Ottawa at the Jacob A. Westervelt shipyard (bottom). These ships were launched (respectively) on 17 August, 14 September and 22 August 1861. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 130KB; 740 x 450 pixels

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Page made 28 March 2001