Harriet Lane 32"

USRC Harriet Lane Enters the Navy:

       Prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, the USRC Harriet Lane was built by the Treasury Department and launched in November of 1857 as a cutter for the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service. Designed by the noted naval architect Samuel Pook, the Harriet Lane began her service with only light armaments and a crew of 95 sailors. As part of a U.S. Navy expedition to Paraguay between 1858 and 1859, the Harriet Lane served as a support force as American ambassadors discussed an unprovoked attack by Paraguayan forces, on American ships, in 1855. Leading up to the war the Harriet Lane resumed duties as a cutter, and less than a month after the outbreak of the Civil War, on March 30, 1861 she was transferred to naval command and sent on mission to Charleston, South Carolina.

Harriet Lane Civil War Service:

       It was in Charleston that the Harriet Lane fired the very first naval shots of the Civil War. Two weeks later Fort Sumter fell to Confederate forces and the Harriet Lane withdrew with the fleet before being redirected to Fort Clark and Fort Hatteras.  On August 26 the Harriet Lane, as part of a large fleet, attacked from Hampton Roads, Virginia giving the North a massive victory and securing a prime Southern base for the Union Navy. Three days after the victory the Harriet Lane was run aground attempting to enter Pamlico Sound and, after repairs at Hampton Roads , was rearmed with three 32-pound rifles and four 24-pound howitzers. On March 4, 1862 the fleet began bombarding Confederate forts in New Orleans, and in June of that year Harriet Lane was sent to attack the batteries in Vicksburg. Protected by heavy Confederate troops and firepower, the fleet was repelled and Harriet Lane did not see action again until September. On October 4 the fleet participated in the First Battle of Galveston Harbor, quickly taking the fort for the Union.

Harriet Lane Becomes Elliott Ritchie, Sinks:

       The victory would be short lived, however, as on the morning of January 1, 1863, Confederate forces moved on the fort and recaptured it. Though the majority of the fleet was able to escape, the Harriet Lane was forced to surrender to Confederate officers. By March 10 the Harriet Lane was legally under Confederate control, resuming her duties as a cutter and supply vessel. Dispatched to Cuba, in an attempt to beat the Union blockade, she ran to port carrying a cargo of desirable Southern cotton. Union officers noticed the fast cutter and sent a warship in pursuit, causing the Confederate captain to destroy his cargo and attempt to flee before surrendering the ship back to Union forces. Following yet another round of repairs the ship returned to sea, though deemed unfit for naval service she was refitted as a transport ship and renamed the Elliott Ritchie. Over her final years the Elliott Ritchie transported coal and merchandise from Philadelphia, eventually catching fire at sea and sinking in 1881.