Tag: side-wheeler Arago

Wikipedia says: …a 295 ft (90 m) paddle wheel steamer of the New York and Havre Steam Navigation Co. that was chartered to the War Department for a time during the American Civil War.

Gibson and Gibson, Dictionary of Transports and Combatant Vessels Steam and Sail Employed by the Union Army, 1861-1868 says: ARAGO; sidewheel steamer,armed; 2240 tons; 2290 tons. Initially chartered, apparently by the Navy, as a merchant ship in Mar 1862 to help in destroying CSS VIRGINIA (ex USS MERRIMAC). Upon sighting CSS VIRGINIA, she was to ram. Civilian master and crew, when first queried, indicated willingness to serve. Civilian manned merchant ships chartered in 1862 (ARAGO, ERICCSON, C, VANDERBILT, and ILLINOIS) were to be used as combatant ships (rams) with civilian and Navy as mixed crew. ARAGO crew, excepting her master and officers, quit ship at Hampton Roads in Apr 1862; master busily engaged in attempt to have new crew sent from New York. Master and officers all gave their assurance to Flag Officer Goldsborough that they would serve on the ship in attempt to ram the CSS VIRGINIA. On May 12, 1862, the ARAGO, ERICCSON, AND ILLINOIS were to be discharged from charter due to the information that the Confederates had scuttled the CSS VIRGINIA by explosion; however, direct orders President Lincoln, who was then on an inspection trip in the area, were that these ships were to remain in service to the Navy. On May 13, orders were cut to discharge all three vessels. Mention of ARAGO as being used as a troopship near Boydles Hole, Virginia, May 26, 1862. Apparently she was then in employ of Army without benefit of a formal charter. Chartered May 29-Sept 25, 1862. Reported as being at Mosquito Inlet, Florida, in June of 1862. At Port Royal, South Carolina, in Aug 1862. Chartered Oct 29, 1862-Apr 18, 1863; reported at Port Royal, South Carolina, in Jan of 1863. In Feb of 1863, was one of the Army transports engaged between northern ports and Port Royal, South Carolina. Correspondence at that time to the Secretary of the Navy from Rear Admiral S. F. Dupont complains of inefficiencies of chartered Navy transports while singling out the ARAGO (an Army chartered vessel) as being fast and efficient. Chartered Apr 19,1863-July 25, 1865; mentioned as being in service between Port Royal and northern ports June 29, 1863. Correspondence dated July 26, 1863, from master of Army transport steamer ARAGO reports his capture of the Confederate blockade runner EMMA off Charleston. Authorization given on Aug 5, 1863, for arming ARAGO with naval cannon. Complaint was lodged by Navy to Army against ARAGO for not picking up mail for transport north from naval force blockading Charleston, this dated Oct 12, 1863. Complaint remedied by order of quartermaster at New York. Order was issued to all Army transports that henceforth they were to pick up mail from all naval blockading vessels before proceeding North.