: Gerald C. Metzler Great Lakes Vessel Database

Description

Identification

Construction and Ownership

Built at:: Bufflo, New York
Vessel Type:: Tug (Towboat)
Additional vessel types:: Schooner
Hull Materials:: Wood
Builder Name:: Bidwell and Banta
Ownership Notes:: Banta, J. W., (1856); Mixer, H. M., (1857); Mork, D. R., (1859); U. S. Government, (1859-1862); Confederate States, (1862-1863); Great Britain (1863-1865);
Master(s):: Miller, Fred, (1859);

Hull Dimensions

Tonnage

Enrollments/Registration

October 14, 1856: Port: Buffalo Number: 199 of 1856
Document Type: Enrollment
Reason: New Vessel
Next document: Buffalo 3-21-1857
View document online
March 21, 1857: Port: Buffalo Number: 20 of 1857
Document Type: Enrollment
Reason: Changed Owner
Next document: Buffalo 9-14-1857
View document online
September 14, 1857: Port: Buffalo Number: 144 of 1857
Document Type: Enrollment
Reason: Changed Owner
Next document: Buffalo 7-13-1859
View document online
July 13, 1859: Port: Buffalo Number: 61 of 1859
Document Type: Registration
Reason: PE Surrendered
Next document: New York 12-31-1859
View document online
December 31, 1859: Port: New York

History

Classification:: a. Steamer (Tug), Uncle Ben (1856-1862);
b. Schooner, Retribution (1862-1863);
c. Schooner, Etta (1863-1865)
Nationality:: American (1856-1862 ); Confederate States (1862-1863); Great Britain (1863-1865);
Chronology:: 1. 4/00/1857, collision, (Steamer, Bay City), repaired, $150 loss;
2. 11/19/1857, off Goderich, ashore and released;
3. 11/00/1857, Port Huron, ashore and released, $3, 600 loss;
4. 7/9/1858, Detroit, collision, (Ferry, Windsor), repaired;
5. 7/27/1859, cleared Detroit, for Boston; 8/10/1859, arrived Quebec from Buffalo;8/29/1859, arrived Boston from Quebec;
8/18/1859, was off River Du Loup in the St. Lawrence River;
6. 3/28/1865, off Cedar Keys, Florida, burned by the crew from the U.S.S. Sagamore, while trying to run a Union blockage;*

Notes

General notes:: She was converted to a Schooner and Privateer, at Wilmington, North Carolina, in 1862); The engine was removed and placed in the Confederate iron clad, North Carolina, at Wilmington, North Carolina, in 1862; She was renamed Retribution and later renamed Etta;
Lytle-Holdcamper says she was lost at Cape Hatteras, 1865;
Sources:: 1. Master Abstracts: Buffalo, New York;
2. Enrollment: Buffalo, New York;
3. John Poole's notes;
4. Chicago Daily Press: 11/00/1857;
5. Buffalo Commercial Advertiser: 1/15/1859;
6. Merchant Steam Vessels of the United States, 1790-1868; (The Lytle-Holdcamper List);
7. Wright's Master Sheet;
8 Detroit Advertiser: 7/26/1859;
9. New York Herald: 8/18/1859, 8/24/1859;

Contact

Wisconsin Maritime Museum

Email:[email protected]
Website:

Agency street/mail address:

75 Maritime Dr.
Manitowoc, WI,54220
920-684-0218