USS Mail (1862)

USS Mail (1862) was a schooner captured by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.

After litigation by the U.S. Treasury Department in which Mail was awarded to the Union Navy, she was eventually used by the Union Navy as a tender for divers working in the water on submerged ships and other obstacles.

Captured twice by the Union Navy
Mail was a sutler’s schooner captured by Freeborn while unloading cargo about 6 miles up the Coan River, 1 August 1862. However, 6 days later she was released upon the request of Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase.

She was again seized by the guard vessel at Alexandria, Virginia, after having cleared that port under a false manifest which listed 428 cans of strong drink as milk.

Assigned by the Union Navy to the South Atlantic Blockade
This time intercession of the U.S. Treasury Department was unavailing and the schooner was assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and placed in service as a divers’ tender.

Post-war lay up and sale
At the end of the Civil War she was laid up at Port Royal, South Carolina, until sold there 20 October 1865.