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.
Showing posts with label USS Oneota. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USS Oneota. Show all posts
Monday, October 19, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Monitors Built at Cincinnati, Ohio
While looking for the monitor built by Greenwood's company, I came across two Canonicus class monitors built by the Alexander Swift & Co.
One was the USS Catawba, a harbor and river monitor, launched 13 April 1864 and delivered to the Navy 7 June 1865, too late to see action in the war. It mounted two 15-inch Dahlgren cannons. It was placed in ordinary in Mound City, Illinois, and then sold back to the builder.
It was then sold to the Peruvian Navy, but legal problems kept it from delivery for awhile. Once in the Peruvian navy, it was renamed the Atahualpa and later scuttled in 1881 to prevent capture by Chile.
The other monitor built by Swift & Company shared a similar fate. The USS Oneota, also a Canonicus class monitor arrived too late to be of service in the war. It was at New Orleans until 1869 when it was sold to Peru and renamed the Manco Capoc. It was later scuttled in 1880 to prevent capture by Chile.
The wreck is still intact about two and a half miles offshore in 200 feet of water.
Three other Canonicus monitors participate against Fort Fisher: Canonicus, Saugus, and Mahopac.
Next, Greenwood's Monitor. --Old B-Runner
One was the USS Catawba, a harbor and river monitor, launched 13 April 1864 and delivered to the Navy 7 June 1865, too late to see action in the war. It mounted two 15-inch Dahlgren cannons. It was placed in ordinary in Mound City, Illinois, and then sold back to the builder.
It was then sold to the Peruvian Navy, but legal problems kept it from delivery for awhile. Once in the Peruvian navy, it was renamed the Atahualpa and later scuttled in 1881 to prevent capture by Chile.
The other monitor built by Swift & Company shared a similar fate. The USS Oneota, also a Canonicus class monitor arrived too late to be of service in the war. It was at New Orleans until 1869 when it was sold to Peru and renamed the Manco Capoc. It was later scuttled in 1880 to prevent capture by Chile.
The wreck is still intact about two and a half miles offshore in 200 feet of water.
Three other Canonicus monitors participate against Fort Fisher: Canonicus, Saugus, and Mahopac.
Next, Greenwood's Monitor. --Old B-Runner
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