| History | |
|---|---|
.svg)  United States | |
| Name | USSRelease |
| Acquired | by purchase, 3 April 1855 |
| Commissioned | 3 April 1855 |
| Decommissioned | 6 October 1865 |
| Fate | Sold, 25 October 1865 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Barque |
| Tonnage | 327 |
| Length | 113 ft (34 m) |
| Beam | 27 ft 2 in (8.28 m) |
| Draft | 11 ft 9 in (3.58 m) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Armament | 2 × 32-pounder guns |
USSRelease was abark-rigged sailing vessel in theUnited States Navy during theAmerican Civil War.
Release, formerlyEringol, was purchased 3 April 1855 atBoston, Massachusetts, and commissioned on that date for use as a storeship. In June 1855, she sailed as part of an Arctic expedition to search for Dr.Elisha Kane and his missing party of explorers.Release sailed November 1856 toDemerara,British Guiana, to pick up sugar cane cuttings for theDepartment of the Interior. In 1857, she carried supplies toAspinwall (now Colón),Panama for thePacific Squadron; in 1859 she carried stores to theMediterranean Squadron. Later in 1859 she served as supply ship for theParaguay expedition sent toAsunción to demand indemnity and apology from theParaguayan Government for the firing onWater Witch in 1858.
On 5 April 1861,Release sailed toFort Pickens,Pensacola, Florida, to act as supply ship for theGulf Blockading Squadron. After returning toNew York for more stores, she sailed forHampton Roads, for similar duty withAtlantic Blockading Squadron. She was sent toGibraltar on 30 September 1862 to meetUSS Kearsarge and then directed toAlgeciras,Morocco to watch theConfederate raiderSumter. During this period,Release unknowingly passed within 20 miles of another raider,Alabama.
From August 1863 to the end of hostilities,Release served as an ordnance storeship, based atBeaufort, North Carolina, for ships blockading the southern coast fromWilmington, North Carolina, toNorfolk, Virginia, either at sea delivering stores to the blockaders at their stations or at Beaufort tied up as a stores hulk.
Release was placed out of commission 6 October 1865 atPort Royal, South Carolina, and sold atpublic auction at New York 25 October 1865.
As of 2005, no other ships have borne this name.
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.
