Hope Sch

Hope

The first Hope retained a former name. The second Hope was given a name descriptive of her duty.

(Sch: t. 134; 1. 85'; b. 20'9"; dr. 9'; s. 10 k.; a. 1 20-pdr.)

The first Hope, a wooden schooner, was purchased by the Navy 29 November 1861 from T. P. Ives, and commissioned at New York 14 December 1861, Acting Master M. S. Chase in command.

Hope spent the war with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron based at Port Royal. She acted as a dispatch vessel supply boat for ships to the southward. In 1862 she took part in the blockade off Fernandina and the adjacent coast of Florida. While patrolling off Charleston 27 January 1863, Hope captured schooner Elmma Tuttle with a cargo of saltpeter for the Confederates. In June, the ship returned north for repairs at Philadelphia and in July resumed blockade station off Charleston.

Throughout most of 1864, Hope remained off Charleston as a blockader, helping to tighten the noose which did so much to choke the rebellion. She also performed limited dispatch and supply boat duty. Hope captured sloop Racer, her second prize, off Bull's Bay 1 August.

Shortly afterward the ship was fitted for diving duty and in October began salvage operations in the Savannah River, raising hulks and other obstacles. After the fall of Savannah in December, Hope worked on the salvage of C.S.S. Savannah, and in the spring moved to Charleston to carry out similar duties in the Charleston harbor.

Hope returned north and decommissioned at New York 6 September 1865. She was sold 25 October to T. Morley.