USS Commodore Hull

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USS Commodore Hull, a side wheel ferryboat, was built at the New York in 1860 (or 1861 ^{[dubious — see talk page]}) as the civilian ferryboat Nuestra Señora del Regla, intended for use at Havana, Cuba. Purchased by the Union Navy 1862-09-01, she was converted to a gunboat and commissioned on 1862-11-27, Acting Master W. G. Saltonstall in command.

USS Commodore Hull was named in honor of Commodore Isaac Hull (1773-1843), a significant US Naval commander during and after the War of 1812. There were four subsequent USS Hulls, all destroyers.

1 Civil War Service
2 Siege of Plymouth
3 End of service
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Civil War Service

Commodore Hull's ferryboat design made her especially useful for operations in sheltered waters, so she was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron and operated along the coasts and rivers of Virginia and North Carolina. She took part in the siege of Washington, N.C., from 1863-03-30 to 1863-04-16. In Albemarle Sound, she took part in the 1864-05-05 battle with the Confederate ironclad CSS Albemarle. As a picket, Commodore Hull was the first to sight the formidable ram approaching and fired at her from close quarters in the 3-hour engagement.

[edit] Siege of Plymouth

Commodore Hull joined in the attacks on and the capture of Plymouth, N.C. on 1864-10-29. On 1864-10-31, she was heavily damaged by Confederate batteries, losing four killed and three wounded. Crewmember Coxswain Patrick Colbert was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on that date. Colbert's Medal of Honor citation reads: "Served on board the U.S.S. Commodore Hull at the capture of Plymouth, 31 October 1864. Painfully wounded by a shell which killed the man at his side, Colbert, as captain of the forward pivot gun, remained at his post until the end of the action, braving the heavy enemy fire and appearing as cool as if at mere target practice."

[edit] End of service

Commodore Hull was repaired and remained active until the end of the Civil War. She was decommissioned on 1865-06-08 at the New York Navy Yard. Commodore Hull was sold 1865-09-27 at the Yard. She was subsequently renamed to Waccamaw in civilian employment, which lasted until sometime prior to 1885.