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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 Shamrock (1864-1868)

USS Shamrock, a 974-ton Sassacus class "Double-Ender" side-wheel gunboat, was built at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y. Commissioned in June 1864, she was immediately sent to the North Carolina Sounds, where she remained through the rest of the Civil War. Shamrock served as "mother ship" for Picket Boat Number One at the time of Lieutenant William B. Cushing's successful spar torpedo attack on the the Confederate ironclad Albemarle on 27-28 October 1864, and provided some of Cushing's crew for that daring venture. A few days later, on 31 October 1864, Shamrock was flagship of a force of U.S. Navy gunboats that captured Plymouth, N.C. She continued her operations in the Sounds area until the summer of 1865.

Shamrock was decommissioned in August 1865, but recommissioned the following October and was sent to the West Indies. During 1866-68, she served in European waters. USS Shamrock decommissioned for the last time in August 1868 and was sold the following month.

This page features our only views of USS Shamrock.

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 58943

"Capture of Plymouth, N.C. Oct. 1864"


19th Century photograph of a painting by Acting Second Engineer Alexander C. Stuart, USN, 1864.
It depicts USS Commodore Hull (at left) leading the "Double-Ender" gunboats Tacony, Shamrock, Otsego and Wyalusing in engaging Confederate batteries at Plymouth, North Carolina, on 31 October 1864. Small vessels lashed to the gunboats' unengaged sides include USS Whitehead (beside Tacony), USS Bazely (beside Shamrock) and Belle (beside Otsego).

Collection of Surgeon H.P. Babcock, USN. Donated by his son, George R. Babcock, 1939.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 505 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 59163

"The Capture of Plymouth, North Carolina, October 31, 1864"


Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", December 1864.
It depicts the bombardment of Plymouth by U.S. Navy gunboats, immediately before the capture of the city.
Ships shown include (from center to right): USS Shamrock, USS Otsego, USS Commodore Hull and USS Bazely.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 127KB; 740 x 455 pixels

 


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


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14 November 1999