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 57839:  USS Hetzel.  Artwork by Clary Ray after a drawing made in March 1862

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

USS Hetzel (1861-1865)

USS Hetzel, a 301-ton (burden) side-wheel steam gunboat, was originally built at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1845 as a commercial vessel. She was acquired by the U.S. Coast Survey in 1849 and, after the beginning of the Civil War in 1861, was transferred to the Navy. Placed in commission in August 1861, Hetzel's first combat action took place in Hampton Roads, Virginia, on 2 December, when she took part in an engagement with CSS Patrick Henry. In February and March 1862 she participated in the campaign that captured Roanoke Island, Elizabeth City and New Bern, thus bringing much of the North Carolina Sounds area under Federal control.

Hetzel was active in that region for the rest of the Civil War. During November 1862 she supported operations against Plymouth, Hamilton, and Williamston, N.C., and on 13-14 March 1863 helped to defend Fort Anderson, near New Bern, against a Confederate attack. Her other activities included serving as Union Navy flagship in the Sounds area and sharing in the capture of several vessels that attempted to violate the blockade. Under repair from November 1864, Hetzel returned to the North Carolina Sounds in late May 1865, after the end of the conflict, and remained there until October of that year, when she was returned to the Coast Survey.

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


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 57839

USS Hetzel
(1861-1865)

Wash drawing by Clary Ray, August 1897, after a drawing made on 14 March 1862, during the New Bern, North Carolina, operation.

Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, DC.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 445 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 95121

"The Battle at Newbern -- Repulse of the Rebels, March 14, 1863"


Line engraving, published in "Harper's Weekly", 11 April 1863, depicting the action at Fort Anderson, Neuse River, North Carolina. U.S. Navy gunboats Hunchback, Hetzel, Ceres and Shawsheen are firing from the river at Confederate forces, as Union artillery and infantry move into position on the near shore.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 132KB; 740 x 525 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 30 March 2003