Built as a wooden passenger-cargo vessel on the yard of J. Williams at Greenpoint, N.Y.
Launched as the MONTICELLO named for the home of USA President Thomas Jefferson.
Tonnage 655 tons, dim. 55 x 8.8 x 3.91m. (draught)
Powered by a steam engine, 220 nhp., one shaft, speed 11.5 knots.
Barque rigged.
1859 Completed.
May 1861 chartered by the USA Navy. Renamed on 03 May STAR but already on 23 May resumed the name MONTICELLO.
12 September 1861 sold to the USA Navy at New York by H.P. Cromwell & Co, most probably the owner when built.
She was armed then with 1 – 9 inch and 2 – 32 pdr, guns.
Crew?
Seeing immediate action, MONTICELLO relieved BALTIMORE in blockading the James River and preventing communication with the Elizabeth River on 2 May, then relieved QUAKER CITY at Cape Henry on the 8th. She engaged the batteries at Sewell's Point from 10–14 May, then continued blockade duty until steaming up the Rappahannock to Smith's Island on 24 June. Operating with the Army on the James River above Newport News, Virginia on 5 July, she dispersed a body of Confederate cavalry. Often engaging Confederate batteries through the remainder of 1861, she was in the squadron that captured the batteries at Hatteras Inlet on 28–29 August in the first significant Union victory, one which greatly encouraged the North. She drove off Confederates attacking Union soldiers in that area on 5 October.
Departing Baltimore, Maryland on 25 March 1862 for the blockade of Wilmington, North Carolina, MONTICELLO sent a boat party to the expedition up Little River on 26 June that destroyed two schooners. She engaged the batteries at New Inlet on 12 July, and took British schooner REVERE off Wilmington on 21 October. After relieving GENESEE on blockade at Shallow Inlet on 15 November, MONTICELLO destroyed British schooners ARIEL and ANN there the 24th.
MONTICELLO operated around Little River through 1863, taking British schooner SUN on 30 March, and steamer OLD FELLOW on 15 April. She joined the expedition to Murrell's Inlet on 25 April, and shelled a schooner there on 12 May with CONEMAUGH. In November, she destroyed salt works near Little River Inlet.
Returning to the Wilmington blockade in January 1864, she joined in the expedition to Smithville on 29 February, capturing Captain Kelly of General Hobert’s staff. In July, she joined in the chase after CSS FLORIDA, and on 24 August attacked Confederate batteries at Masonboro Inlet.
MONTICELLO participated in the attacks on Fort Fisher on 24–25 December and on 13–14 January 1865. She took the surrender of Fort Casswell on 18–19 January, then participated in the Little River expedition of 4–6 February.
After the war, MONTICELLO decommissioned on 24 July 1865 at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and was sold at public auction at Boston, Massachusetts to W. H. Lincoln on 1 November. Redocumented for merchant service on 25 July 1866.
1869 Is she owed by L. Wilson at Boston. Tonnage given as 526 ton.
The last three years was she used as a sealer off Newfoundland, with a crew of 170 men she sailed in 1870 from Bay Roberts, Newfoundland under command of Captain Ludlow, but landed only 2?50 skins, the crew had killed 10,000 seals but it was not possible to load it on the MONTICELLO due to propeller damage. The seals were lost or taken by other sealers.
1871 She sailed again from Bay Roberts under command of Captain A. Bartlett and killed 22,000 seals, after producing the seals; the oil was sold to Boston and the skins to London. The catch was valued at $90.000.
1872 She sailed from Catalina under command of Captain Murphy captured 3,000 seals where after her stern, sternpost and propeller get damaged in the ice and she had to abandon the voyage. After arrival in Saint John, NF she found the dock capacity not sufficient to take her. She sailed from Saint John to North Sydney, Cape Breton with passengers, but while crossing the Gulf of St Lawrence she foundered on 29 April 1872.
The crew and passengers were taken off by a French fishing schooner and brought to St Pierre at St Pierre et Miquelon.
Mustique Grenadines of St Vincent 2011 $2.75 sg?, scott?
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Monticello_(1859) http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz
http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/g ... -hci.shtml