USS Grampus (1863)

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Career
Fate:	sold
General Characteristics
Displacement:	230 tons
Length:	180 feet
Beam:	27 feet
Draft:	5 feet

USS Grampus, a side-wheel steamer, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for two members of the dolphin family (Delphinidae): Grampus griseus, also known as Risso's Dolphin, and Orcinus orca, also known as the Killer Whale. Originally named Ion, she was purchased by Rear Admiral D.D. Porter for the U.S. Navy on 22 July 1863, at Cincinnati, Ohio, for US$9750. She was stationed at Cincinnati, Ohio, and used as a receiving ship for the Mississippi Squadron. By 14 November 1863, with Acting Master Elijah Sells in command, she was recognized as a "nice little receiving vessel in first-rate order," but contained no furnishings or weapons other than ten cutlasses and revolvers.

With Acting Ensign C.W. Litherbury in command, Grampus remained at Cincinnati, Ohio, assisting in stripping of ships for conversion to gunboats, and effecting their delivery to fleet staging points for the Mississippi Squadron, principally Cairo, Illinois, and Mound City, Illinois.

Grampus was sold to D.D. Holliday & Brothers on 1 September 1868 at Mound City, Illinois.

See USS Grampus for other ships of the same name.

References

This article includes information collected from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.