The USS Oneota, a Canonicus class monitor, was built by Alexander Swift in Cincinnati. It was launched May 21, 1864, but not completed until the war was over, June 10, 1865. The Oneota was 2,100 tons, 223 feet long, 43.4 feet beam, 85 crew, and mounted 2 X 15 in. Dahlgrens in a single turret. Evidently, it was never commissioned before being sold back to its builder
On April 13, 1868, it was illegally sold, along with its sister ship, the USS Catawba, to Peru which violated a treaty the United States had signed with Peru.
The sale was allowed to proceed, but Swift & Co. were made to pay fines equal to one-third of the sale.
It served in the Peruvian Navy as the Manco Capac. In 1879, a war broke our between Bolivia and Chile and the ship was sunk to prevent capture.
The wreck still exists and was discovered in 2007, two and a half miles offshore of Arica in 100 feet of water.
The Fate of a Monitor. --Old B-R
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
