Captain Henry S. Stellwagen replaced Commodore Thatcher on July 18, 1863. After another year patrolling the Mediterranean, Constellation was ordered to report to Admiral Farragut for blockading squadron duty in July 1864.
"We were to cruise about the West Indies trying to capture Rebel
privateers and cruisers and blockade runners. The process of reasoning ... seems
to be that our ship is supposed to be in European waters, and there is no United
States warship resembling her cruising about here, and consequently she might
approach closely to a Rebel vessel or blockade runner without exciting suspicion..."
Yeoman Safford - November 12, 1864 (off St. Thomas).
With the terms of enlistment of most of the crew expiring, Admiral Farragut ordered Constellation to Hampton Roads on November 27, 1864. After pursuing a blockade-runner along the coast, Constellation arrived off Fortress Monroe on Christmas Day.
"I discovered coming out of a dense fog what appeared to be
a Blockade Runner, standing to the windward... I immediately made all sail and
gave chase. As soon as prudent I fired one blank cartridge. She continued her
course and in a few moments commenced firing at her. Fired seven shots from
the Forward pivot Parrott Rifle and two from the Forward thirty-two, all of
which fell short but in good range."
Captain Stellwagen - December 19, 1864 (at sea - 32 (degrees) Lat., 38 (degrees)
Long.)
"[A] typical blockade runner - painted white and very sharply
built... appeared to be waiting with fires banked for assurance from the shore
that the coast was clear to run in. When, however, our ship headed in her direction,
smoke began to come out of her funnel and she made off to windward at good speed...
we kept after her with all our sail and fired a gun for her to heave to. She
did not accept the invitation or heed the warning."
Yeoman Safford - December 19, 1864 (at sea).
In January 1865, the men whose enlistments had expired were "paid off" and discharged, the remainder of the crew was transferred to USS St. Lawrence, and the officers were sent on leave to await orders. Constellation finished the war as a Receiving Ship at Norfolk, a duty she performed there and at Philadelphia until 1869. |
1865 Photo of Sailor David Gady |
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