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USS Governor Buckingham (1863)

History
Namesake: William Alfred Buckingham
Builder: Messrs Maxon Fish & Co.
Launched: 1863
Commissioned: 13 November 1863
Decommissioned: 27 March 1865
Fate: sold 1865
General characteristics
Displacement: 886 tons
Length: 177 ft 6 in (54.10 m)
Beam: 32 ft 2 in (9.80 m)
Draft: 12 ft (3.7 m)
Depth of hold: 17 ft (5.2 m)
Speed: 8 knots
Armament: 1100-pdr., 120-pdr., 4 x 30-pdrs

The USS Governor Buckingham was a hermaphrodite brig in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. The ship was built under contract by Messrs Maxon Fish & Co., Mystic, Conn., and was offered for sale to the Navy while on the ways; purchased at Stonington, Connecticut, 29 July 1863 by Isaac Henderson for $110,000; delivered at New York Navy Yard 30 September 1863; and commissioned 13 November 1863, Acting Volunteer Lt. W. G. Saltonstall in command. She was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, with instructions to report at Hampton Roads to Acting Rear Admiral S. P. Lee. The ship was probably named for the Governor of Connecticut, William Alfred Buckingham.

On 20 November 1863 she stood out to sea, arriving off Fortress Monroe on the 23d, thence to Norfolk Navy Yard. She departed Hampton Roads 5 December to join the Fleet off Wilmington, North Carolina, for active blockading duty.

The crew of the Governor Buckingham rapidly gained experience with the problem of tracking blockade runners. On 20 December with the assistance of Aries she captured the notorious blockade runner Antonica of Nassau, which ran ashore. Antonica's captain and crew attempted to get away in two small boats; but when fired upon they gave themselves up, and the 26 men were taken aboard as prisoners. After boarding and taking possession of the prize in early morning of 21 December, Aries and the tug Violet sent out boats to assist, without success, as the tide had left her fast.


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