**DEFINITION:**
USS Ariel (1862) was a schooner acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War, primarily used as a gunboat to enforce the naval blockade of Confederate ports.
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# USS Ariel (1862)
The USS Ariel was a schooner commissioned by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. Acquired in 1862, the vessel served as a gunboat tasked with patrolling Confederate waterways and enforcing the Union blockade, a critical component of the Anaconda Plan aimed at suffocating the Confederacy’s trade and supply lines.
## Construction and Acquisition
The USS Ariel was originally built as a civilian schooner before being purchased by the Union Navy in 1862. Details about her original construction, including the shipyard and exact launch date, remain limited. However, like many vessels acquired during the war, Ariel was repurposed to meet the urgent demands of naval warfare, particularly for blockade duty along the Confederate coastline.
## Design and Specifications
As a schooner, USS Ariel was a relatively small, two-masted sailing vessel characterized by fore-and-aft rigging. This design allowed for greater maneuverability and speed, especially in coastal and shallow waters, making her well-suited for blockade enforcement and reconnaissance missions. Specific dimensions, armament, and crew complement of Ariel are not extensively documented, but typical schooners of the period carried a modest number of cannons and a crew sufficient to manage both sailing and combat operations.
## Role in the Union Navy
### Blockade Enforcement
The primary mission of USS Ariel was to serve as a gunboat enforcing the Union blockade of Confederate ports. The blockade was a strategic effort to prevent the export of cotton and the import of war supplies, thereby crippling the Confederate war effort. Ariel’s sailing capabilities enabled her to patrol coastal waters, intercept blockade runners, and gather intelligence on enemy movements.
### Patrol and Reconnaissance
In addition to blockade duty, Ariel conducted patrols along rivers and inlets, areas where larger ships could not easily navigate. These patrols were essential for monitoring Confederate activity, protecting Union supply lines, and supporting amphibious operations. The schooner’s shallow draft allowed her to operate effectively in these environments.
## Operational History
### Early Service
After her acquisition in 1862, USS Ariel was assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, which was responsible for the blockade of the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and eastern Florida. The squadron played a vital role in controlling key ports such as Charleston and Savannah.
### Engagements and Missions
While specific engagements involving USS Ariel are not extensively recorded, schooners like Ariel were often involved in intercepting blockade runners attempting to slip through Union lines. These vessels also supported landing parties and reconnaissance missions, providing valuable intelligence and fire support.
### Support of Amphibious Operations
USS Ariel occasionally supported amphibious assaults by transporting troops, delivering supplies, and providing naval gunfire support. Such operations were crucial in capturing strategic points along the Confederate coast and rivers.
## Crew and Command
The crew of USS Ariel consisted of sailors trained in both seamanship and naval combat. Commanding officers were typically naval lieutenants or commanders experienced in coastal operations. The crew’s duties included sailing the vessel, manning the guns, conducting boarding actions, and maintaining the ship.
## Decommissioning and Fate
Following the conclusion of the Civil War in 1865, many vessels like USS Ariel were decommissioned as the Navy reduced its wartime fleet. Records indicate that Ariel was likely sold or returned to civilian service shortly after the war, though precise details of her fate remain unclear.
## Legacy
USS Ariel represents the numerous small, versatile vessels that played a critical but often understated role in the Union’s naval strategy. Schooners like Ariel were instrumental in maintaining the blockade that significantly contributed to the eventual Union victory by restricting Confederate trade and resupply.
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## See Also
– Union Navy
– American Civil War naval operations
– South Atlantic Blockading Squadron
– Blockade runners
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## References
*Note: This article is based on historical naval records and secondary sources documenting Union naval operations during the American Civil War.*
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**META_DESCRIPTION:**
USS Ariel (1862) was a Union Navy schooner used during the American Civil War to enforce the naval blockade of Confederate ports. The vessel played a key role in coastal patrols and reconnaissance missions.