Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

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

Photo # NH 66399:  USS Crusader in a harbor, during the Civil War

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

USS Crusader (1858-1865).
Originally named Southern Star

USS Crusader, a 545-ton (burden) wooden screw gunboat, was built at Murfreesboro, North Carolina, in 1858 as the civilian steamship Southern Star. She was chartered by the Navy in October of that year to take part in a punitive expedition to Paraguay. Commissioned as USS Southern Star, she operated in South American waters during the first three months of 1859, then returned to the United States. The Navy purchased the steamer at about that time and changed her name to Crusader. During the next two years she served in the West Indies on anti-slaving patrol, and, as the secession crisis deepened in early 1861, took part in efforts to reinforce Federal positions along the Gulf coast.

In March-August 1861, as the Civil War began and intensified, Crusader served in the Gulf of Mexico, where she captured three sailing vessels. After an overhaul, in January 1862 the steamer began duty along the coast of South Carolina. Her activities in that area included participation in raids up the South Edisto River in April and the Wadmelaw River in June. Crusader joined the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron in September 1862 and thereafter operated in Chesapeake Bay and its associated rivers. She took part in the capture or destruction of several schooners during this time, as well as protecting areas held by Federal forces and raiding those controlled by the enemy. The Navy's need for Crusader's services ended with the conclusion of the war, and she was decommissioned at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C. in June 1861. Sold the following month, she was renamed Kalorama and remained in commercial service until wrecked on 25 February 1876.

This page features all the views we have related to USS Crusader (1858-1865).


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 66399

USS Crusader
(1858-1865)

In a harbor, during the Civil War era.

Donation of Mrs. George W.S. Musgrave, 1968.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 121KB; 740 x 595 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 73755

"Arrival of the Steamship Joseph Whitney and Tender, with Troops, Ordnance and Military Stores, at Fort Jefferson, Tortugas, under Commission from the Government of the United States, convoyed by the U.S. Steamer Crusader, on the 23rd of January, 1861"


Line engraving, based on "a sketch by a correspondent", published in "Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper", 1861. It depicts one of the measures taken by the Federal Government to reinforce positions in the Gulf of Mexico as the secession crisis deepened. The SS Joseph Whitney is shown in the center, with USS Crusader at right.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 137KB; 740 x 520 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 59121

"The United States Fleet off Fort Pickens, Florida"


Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", 1861, depicting U.S. Navy ships off Pensacola, Florida, in April 1861. Federal troops were landed at Fort Pickens on 12 April.
Ships identified in the title line are (left to right): USS Wyandotte (partially visible); USS Supply (in the distance); USS Sabine; USS Brooklyn and USS Crusader (partially visible).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 137KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 


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


Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

Page made 31 August 2003