USS Granite City (1863)

USS Granite City (1863) was a steamer captured by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways until she, in turn, was captured by Confederate forces and destroyed in grounding.

Blockade runner Granite City captured
Granite City was originally a Confederate blockade runner, and was captured in the Bahama Islands 22 March 1863 by USS Tioga (1862). She was bought by the United States from the New York City prize court for $55,000 and delivered to the Navy at New York City 16 April 1863, Acting Master Charles W. Lamson in command.

Assigned to the Western Gulf Blockade
Assigned to the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron, Granite City arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana, for duty 27 August 1863.

Participating in the ill-fated Sabine Pass expedition
She was detained for a time in quarantine because of sickness on board, but departed 4 September to take part in the ill-fated Sabine Pass Expedition, which was intended to provide a Union lodgment in Texas and prevent possible French moves into that State from Mexico.

Expedition fails and Granite City escapes the Confederate guns
Granite City was ideally suited to help support the troop landings because her shallow draft allowed her to cross the bar and lie close to shore. She crossed the bar in company with USS Sachem (1861), USS Clifton (1862), and USS Arizona (1858) on 8 September, but the withering fire of Confederate batteries forced the gunboats and their transports to withdraw. Sachem and Clifton were disabled and captured in the action, though Granite City suffered no damage.

Patrolling the Texas coast
For the next 8 months, Granite City, though often in need of repairs to her weak machinery, actively participated in the blockade of the Texas coast. She captured schooner Anita 27 October 1863, schooner Amelia Ann 16 November, and bark Teresita 17 November.

In addition, the steamer supported two landings of troops on the Texas coast. With USS Sciota (1861), she shelled Confederate cavalry off Pass Cavallo  31 December 1863, allowing Union reconnaissance forces to land successfully. Again on 19 January 1864, the two ships covered the landing of several hundred troops near Smiths Landing, Texas, and defended them by shelling shore positions.

Under attack, recaptured by Confederates
After 3 more months of grueling blockade duty, Granite City was dispatched with steamer USS Wave (1863) to Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana, to receive refugees. While engaged in this duty, 28 April 1864, the ships were attacked by Confederate troops and shore batteries. After an hour's sharp engagement, both ships surrendered, placing Granite City in Confederate hands for the second time.

Granite City, converted into a blockade runner, runs aground, breaks up
Fitted out as a Confederate blockade runner, her original occupation, Granite City was loaded at Galveston, Texas, and ran out of Velasco, Texas, 20 January 1865. The night was foggy and she succeeded in eluding the blockading squadron for a time, but the next day she was chased ashore by steamer USS Penguin (1861), and soon broke up on the beach.