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Photo # NH 46617:  USS Malvern at the Norfolk Navy Yard, circa 1865

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

USS Malvern (1863-1865).
Briefly named Ella and Annie in 1863

USS Malvern, a 1477-ton (burden) iron side-wheel gunboat, was built in 1860 as the commercial steamship William G. Hewes. She later became a Confederate blockade runner, was renamed Ella and Annie and on 9 November 1863 was captured by USS Niphon while attempting to enter the port of Wilmington, North Carolina.

Soon purchased by the U.S. Navy, she was briefly commissioned under the name Ella and Annie in December 1863 to search for the captured steamship Chesapeake. After finding and seizing that vessel in Nova Scotia waters, Ella and Annie returned to the Boston Navy Yard to complete her conversion to a warship. Commissioned in February 1864 as USS Malvern, she was employed for much of the remainder of the Civil War as flagship of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. As such, she was present during the capture of Fort Fisher, North Carolina, in January 1865 and received credit for the subsequent capture of the blockade running steamers Charlotte and Stag. During the next month Malvern took part in operations on the Cape Fear River, N.C., and was active in the James River area of Virginia as the Civil War neared its end. Following the fall of Richmond, Va., in early April 1865, she transported President Abraham Lincoln up the James to visit that city, the former capital of the Confederacy.

In October 1865, some six months after the war's conclusion, USS Malvern was sold at auction. She soon regained her original name, William G. Hewes, and in early 1866 began what was to be nearly three more decades of commercial employment. On 20 February 1895 the old steamship was wrecked during a storm off the Cuban coast.

This page features all the views we have related to USS Malvern (1863-1865).

For pictorial coverage of this ship prior to her U.S. Navy service, see:

  • Ella and Annie (Blockade Running Steamer, 1860).


    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 46617

    USS Malvern
    (1863-1865)

    At the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, circa 1865, while serving as flagship of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
    Note the ruined buildings in the background.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 545 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 63855

    USS Malvern
    (1863-1865)

    Watercolor by Erik Heyl, 1952, painted for use in his book "Early American Steamers", Volume I.
    Originally built in 1860 as the steamship William G. Hewes, this steamer was the blockade runner Ella and Annie when captured in November 1863 and served for the rest of the Civil War as USS Malvern. After sale to civilian owners late in 1865 she again was named William G. Hewes and kept that name until wrecked in 1895.

    Courtesy of Erik Heyl.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 365 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 1753

    Shipping at City Point, Virginia, circa 1864-1865


    Most of the vessels near shore appear to be schooners, though some are barges and other small craft. Several steamships are in the distance, including a large former blockade runner in the center. Beyond her is USS Malvern, flagship of the commander of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 125KB; 695 x 675 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 61924

    Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter, USN
    ,
    Commanding, North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. (center)

    With members of his staff, on board his flagship USS Malvern in Hampton Roads, Virginia, December 1864.
    The officer standing at far left is Lieutenant Commander William B. Cushing, USN.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 122KB; 740 x 595 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 47392

    Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter, USN
    ,
    Commander, North Atlantic Blockading Squadron

    Line engraving, after a photograph by Alexander Gardner of Washington, D.C., published in "Harper's Weekly", 21 January 1865.
    It depicts RAdm. Porter on the deck of his flagship, USS Malvern. It is accompanied by an article presenting an account of the abortive attempt to capture Fort Fisher, North Carolina, on 24-25 December 1864.
    This print is based on Photo # NH 91416, with the addition of several officers standing nearby.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 177KB; 700 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 91416

    Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter, USN,

    Commander, North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

    On the main deck of his flagship, USS Malvern, circa late 1864, leaning on a heavy 12-pounder Dahlgren smooth-bore howitzer that is mounted on a slide carriage.
    Photographed by Alexander Gardner.
    The original is an albumen silver print.
    This photograph was used as the basis for an engraving published in Harper's Weekly, 21 January 1865. See Photo # NH 47392.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 100KB; 565 x 200 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42241

    Fort Fisher operation, December 1864 -- January 1865


    Lithograph by Endicott & Company, New York, circa 1865, entitled "Monitor Iron-Clads and the New Ironsides, Forming part of the Fleet of Rear Admiral D.D. Porter, U.S.N. riding out a Gale of Wind, at Anchor off Fort Fisher, Coast of North Carolina, December 21, 1864." The print is dedicated by the publisher to Assistant Secretary of the Navy Gustavus V. Fox.
    Monitors in the foreground and middle distance are (from left to right) Monadnock (twin-turret), Canonicus, Mahopac and Saugus. Ships in the distance (from left to left-center) are: Brooklyn, New Ironsides, Juniata, Tacony and Malvern.

    Collection of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, April 1936.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 470 pixels

     
    Photo #: LC-USZ62-144

    "Bombardment of Fort Fisher"

    "Jan. 15th 1865"

    Lithograph after a drawing by T.F. Laycock, published by Endicott & Co., New York, 1865, depicting the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron bombarding Fort Fisher, North Carolina, in preparation for its capture. The print is dedicated to Commodore S.W. Godon, USN.
    Ships present, as named on the original print, are identified in Photo Number LC-USZ62-144 (Complete Caption).

    Collections of the Library of Congress.

    Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 525 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 50468-KN (Color)

    Capture of Fort Fisher, North Carolina, 15 January 1865

    Watercolor by eyewitness Ensign John W. Grattan, of Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter's staff, depicting Porter's fleet bombarding the fort prior to the ground assault. Side-wheel steamer in the right foreground is Porter's flagship, USS Malvern. USS New Ironsides and USS Monadnock are in the right distance.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Grattan Collection.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 510 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 50467-KN (Color)

    Capture of Fort Fisher, North Carolina, 15 January 1865

    Watercolor by eyewitness Ensign John W. Grattan, of Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter's staff, depicting the storming of the fort, as the bombarding fleet stands offshore. Side-wheel steamer in the center, flying signal flags, is Porter's flagship, USS Malvern. USS New Ironsides is at right.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Grattan Collection.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 505 pixels

     

    For pictorial coverage of this ship prior to her U.S. Navy service, see:

  • Ella and Annie (Blockade Running Steamer, 1860).


    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 7 July 2002
    Link added 9 November 2003