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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 Wando (1864-1865).
Formerly the blockade runner Wando (originally named Let Her Rip).
Later became the civilian steamship Wando (1865-1872)

Let Her Rip, a 468-ton (burden) iron side-wheel steamship, was built at Glasgow, Scotland, in 1864 for employment running the Federal blockade of the Confederate coast. In July 1864, after her first trip into Wilmington, North Carolina, she was renamed Wando. While outbound from Wilmington on 21 October 1864 she was captured by USS Fort Jackson. The U.S. Navy purchased her in early November, and, following conversion to a gunboat, placed her in commission as USS Wando in December 1864. For the remainder of the Civil War she served with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, operating along the coast of South Carolina. Among her activities during this time was participation in an amphibious operation to capture Bull's Bay, S.C., in February 1865. Wando was sent north in late July 1865 and sold in August. She then became a commercial steamship, with the same name, and lasted until February 1872, when she sank in a storm.

This page features our only views of USS Wando, which was the blockade runner Wando in 1864.

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

Photo #: NH 42049 Steamship Wando (1864-1872) Watercolor by Erik Heyl, painted for use in his "Early American Steamers" series. Built as a blockade runner and captured in October 1864, this steamer served as USS Wando in 1864-1865 and and the merchant vessel Wando after the Civil War. Courtesy of Erik Heyl. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 420 pixels

Photo #: NH 59175 "Landing of General Potter's and Admiral Dahlgren's Troops at Bull's Bay, South Carolina" Line engraving, based on a sketch by John Everding, published in "Harper's Weekly", March 1865, depicting the landings made on 16-17 February 1865. Ships shown include (as identified below the print, from left to right -- all U.S. Navy): State of Georgia, Pawnee, Juniata, Harvest Moon -- flagship, Wando, Winona, Shenandoah and Canandaigua. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 146KB; 740 x 495 pixels

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Page made 5 December 2002