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Later Classes of Monitors:
USS Saugus
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Ship's plans, USS Saugus
From the Collections of The Mariners' Museum
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A single-turreted monitor that was built
by Harlan & Hollingsworth & Co. Wilmington, Delaware and launched
December 16, 1863. The Saugus was assigned to the North
Atlantic Blockading Squadron at Fort Monroe, Virginia. She was
to protect army transports heading up the James River in an
attack on Richmond. The river was laced with Submarine torpedoes,
Confederate batteries and a Confederate Flotilla of ironclad
ships.
On June 21, 1864 the Saugus was
struck by a 10-inch round shot from a Confederate battery at
Dutch Gap. The turret and deck plates were damaged. The Saugus
remained upriver during the summer assigned with challenging
southern ironclads if they come down river and supporting troop
transports. Late in the summer of 1864, the Saugus was
put in at Gosport Navy Yard for repairs. In September the Saugus,
Canonicus, Glaucus, and Janiata were ordered
to Port Royal, South Carolina to influence Confederate intelligence
to think an attack would be on Charleston, South Carolina, instead
of Wilmington, NC. When Admiral Farragut declined an appoint
to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron plans were scrapped
for attacking Wilmington and the Saugus was reassigned
to the James River.
In one engagement on the James the turret
was damaged and the Saugus went back to Norfolk for repairs.
She was then towed to New Inlet, NC by the Nereus and
arrived at Fort Fisher December 24, 1864. The Saugus
participated in the attack , but General Bulter withdrew. January
13, 1865, the Saugus and the other ironclads once again
opened fire on Fort Fisher. At 5:00pm one of Saugus'
guns burst injuring one seaman, in addition there was damage
to the turret, pilot house and armor. On January 23, 1865 she
was sent to the Washington Navy Yard for repairs. She never
made it, orders came to turn around and head for the upper James
River were fighting had exsullated. When the Saugus arrived
the battles were over as the Confederate Flotilla had lost too
many ships to continue. She then headed for the Washington Navy
Yard, while in port, the eight conspirators from Lincoln's assassination
were incarcerated on the Saugus and the Montuck
below decks under heavy guard. They were transferred on April
30, 1865 to the Arsenal Penitentiary.
The Saugus was decommissioned
on June 13, 1865 and sat at the Washington Navy Yard. April
30, 1869 she was recommissioned and sent to the West Indies
during the Cuba revolt. December 31, 1869 she was decommissioned
at Key West, Florida. During this time she was renamed the Centaur
on June 15, 1869 but reassumed the name Saugus on August
10, 1869.
The Saugus was towed to Philadelphia
for repairs and then recommissioned November 9, 1872 and was
based at Key West until transferred to Port Royal, South Carolina
in 1876. On October 8, 1877 she was decommissioned at Washington
and was condemned in 1886. The Saugus was sold May 25,
1891.
Displacement: 1,034 tons
Length: 235 feet
Beam: 43 feet 8 inches
Draft: 11 feet 6 inches
Go to Main Category:
Historic Legacy of the Monitor
Go to other documents in this category:
Introduction: Later Classes of
Monitors
Timeline of Later Monitors
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