USS Preston (1864)

USS Preston (1864) was a blockade-running steamer captured by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.

History
United States
Ordered: as Annie
Laid down: date unknown
Launched: date unknown
Acquired: December 1864
Commissioned: 6 February 1865
Decommissioned: 8 August 1865
Stricken: 1865 (est.)
Captured:
Fate: sold, 30 August 1865
General characteristics
Displacement: 428 tons
Length: 170'
Beam: 23' 1"
Draught: depth of hold 13' 4"
Propulsion:
Speed: not known
Complement: not known
Armament: not known

She was placed in service on the Gulf of Mexico by the Union Navy as a gunboat during blockade operations against the Confederate States of America.

Captured by the Union Navy

Preston, a twin screw British blockade runner named Annie, was captured off New Inlet, North Carolina, 31 October 1864 by USS Wilderness and USS Niphon; purchased by the Navy from the New York City Prize Court in December 1864; renamed Preston 2 February 1865; and commissioned 6 February 1865, Acting Volunteer Lt. J. R. Wheeler in command.

Civil War service

Assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, Preston departed New York City 16 February and arrived at New Orleans, Louisiana, 9 March.

She operated along the Texas coast into July and on the 25th was ordered to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Decommissioning

Decommissioned in Philadelphia 8 August 1865, she was sent to New York City in November and sold at auction on the 30th.

See also

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

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