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Photo #  NH 63854:  Steamship Somerset, which was USS Nereus during the Civil War.  Artwork by Erik Heyl.


Online Library of Selected Images:
-- CIVILIAN SHIPS --

Somerset (American Steamship, 1864-1887).
Served as USS Nereus in 1864-1865

USS Nereus was a 1244-ton screw steamship purchased by the Navy October 1863, while she was under construction at New York City. Commissioned in April 1864 and assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, she operated off Wilmington, North Carolina, until August. In September 1864 she escorted a commercial steamship to Panama, then underwent repairs at the New York Navy Yard. Later in the year Nereus assisted monitors on their voyages to southern waters and, in December, took part in the initial, abortive attempt to capture Fort Fisher, North Carolina, which protected the main water route to Wilmington.

After the Fort Fisher was finally captured in mid-January, thus closing Wilmington to the blockade running trade, Nereus towed a monitor to Charleston, South Carolina. Soon afterwards she went to the Bahamas and the Caribbean to guard against the threat represented by the Confederate raider Shenandoah, whose actual presence in the Pacific area was then unknown to Federal authorities. Nereus returned to New York in early May and was decommissioned. Sold in mid-July 1865, she entered commercial service under the name Somerset. She was broken up in 1887.

This page features our only view of the steamship Somerset, which served as USS Nereus in 1864-1865.


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 63854

Steamship Somerset
(1864-1887)

Watercolor by Erik Heyl, painted for use in his book "Early American Steamers", Volume I.
This steamship served as USS Nereus during 1864-1865 and had a long commercial career after the Civil War.

Courtesy of Erik Heyl.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 395 pixels

 


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


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Page made 14 December 2002