USS Crocus (1862)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Crocus.

USS Crocus was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.

History
United States
Ordered	as Solomon Thomas
Launched	1862 at New York City
Acquired	31 July 1863
Commissioned	31 July 1863
Fate	Wrecked 17 August 1863
General characteristics
Displacement	122 tons
Length	79 ft (24 m)
Beam	18 ft 6 in (5.64 m)
Draft	9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Propulsion	steam engine screw-propelled
Speed	8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph)
Armament	2 guns

Crocus was planned to be used by the Union Navy as a gunboat, to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries.

Service history

Crocus, a screw steamer, was built in 1862 at New York City as Solomon Thomas. She was purchased 31 July 1863 from C. W. Copeland and renamed Crocus. Her career was one of the shortest in the Navy. Clearing New York City 14 August 1863 under the command of Acting Ensign J. L. Winton, Crocus ran aground on Bodie's Island, North Carolina, 17 August and was totally wrecked. All of her crew were saved.

References

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