USS Fort Morgan

History
United States
Laid down	date unknown
Launched	1863
Acquired	8 January 1864
Commissioned	5 February 1864
Decommissioned	22 August 1865
Stricken	1865 (est.)
Fate	Sold, 5 September 1865
General characteristics
Displacement	1,249 tons
Length	220 ft (67 m)
Beam	34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
Draught	10 ft 2 in (3.10 m)
Propulsion	steam engine screw-propelled
Speed	not known
Complement	not known
Armament	one 30-pounder rifle two 12-pounder rifles two 24-pounder howitzers

USS Fort Morgan was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Navy as a storeship and in other minor roles.

Fort Morgan, a screw steamer, was built in 1863 by S. H. Pook, Fair Haven, Connecticut, as Admiral; purchased 8 January 1864; and commissioned as Admiral 5 February 1864, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant W. B. Eaton in command. She was renamed Fort Morgan 1 September 1864.

Assigned as storeship to the Gulf Blockade

As storeship for the ships of the Gulf Blockading Squadrons, the steamer sailed from New York City and other east coast ports with provisions, munitions, passengers, and general stores for ships on station between Key West, Florida, and Galveston, Texas.

Catching blockade runners on her own

Several times while making passage from one port to another on this duty she gave chase to blockade runners, capturing steamer Ysabel out of Havana, Cuba, 28 May 1864, and two small schooners in November.

Post-war decommissioning and sale

She was decommissioned at New York City 22 August 1865, and sold 5 September 1865.

References

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