From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships, Vol. III, 1968, Navy  
Department, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Naval History  
Division, Washington, D.C. 
 
HUNTRESS (two ships in this file) 
 
StwStr: 
dp. 211; 
l. 131' 8"; 
b. 31' 3"; 
dph. 4' 2"; 
s. 5 k.; 
a. 2 30-pdr. P. r., 4 24-pdr. how. 
 
HUNTRESS, a stern-wheel steamer, was built in 1862 in New Albany, Ind. 
She was purchased by the Navy at Louisville, Ky., in May 1864, taken to 
Cincinnati, Ohio, for outfitting and reported ,to the 8th District, 
Mississippi Squadron for duty 10 June 1864, Acting Master J. S. Dennis 
in command. 
 
Assigned to the area of the river between Memphis, Tenn., and Columbus, 
Ky., HUNTRESS engaged in the key role of keeping the vital river lines 
of supply open, stopping illegal trade in cotton along the riverbank and 
suppressing bands of guerrillas who attacked transports and gunboats. 
After repairs at Mound City, Ill., November 1864, she returned to active 
patrolling on the stretch of river between Mound City and Memphis. 
HUNTRESS remained on that duty between March and July 1865, maintaining 
Union control of the Mississippi during the waning moments of the Civil 
War. In July, she returned to Mound City and, after brief service 
transporting ordnance at the Naval Base, decommissioned 10 August 1865. 
She was sold 7 days later to Samuel Black. Redocumented HUNTRESS 2 
October, she resumed her career as a river steamer but was lost after 
stranding near Alexandria, La., 30 December 1865. 
 
Sch: 
dp. 82; 
l. 97' wl.; 
b. 16'; 
dr. 7' 3"; 
s. 14 k.; 
cpl. 20 
 
The second HUNTRESS, a steam yacht with schooner rig was built in 1895 
at Nyack on Hudson, N.Y., by Charles L. Seabury  Co. and was purchased 
for the Navy from F. C. Fowler in June 1898. She commissioned 1 July 
1898 after outfitting at New York Navy Yard, Lt. Felton Parker in 
command. 
 
Used as an auxiliary gunboat, HUNTRESS departed New York for patrol 
duties off Staten Island, and from 29 July to 12 August cruised in Long 
Island Sound. She then operated briefly around New York before 
decommissioning in August or September. HUNTRESS departed New York Navy 
Yard 30 December 1898 for duty with the New Jersey Naval Militia. 
 
The yacht remained with the New Jersey Naval Militia helping to train 
officers and men until 1907, when she was loaned to Missouri for Naval 
Militia training. HUNTRESS was sold 3 December 1917.