From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

The fort on the Cumberland River in Tennessee, which was captured by Union forces on 16 February 1862.

(SwStr: dp. 900; l. 283'; b. 20'; dr. 10'; s. 11 k.; a. 5 12-pdr., 2 30-pdr.)

Fort Donelson, the former iron blockade-runner Robert E. Lee, was captured by Iron Age and James Adger off Wilmington, N.C., on 9 November 1863. She was condemned as a prize at Boston, acquired by the Navy and placed in commission on 29 June 1864, with Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Thomas Pickering in command.

She was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, cruising in blockade of the North Carolina coast through the remainder of 1864 with brief periods of repair at Norfolk. From 13 to 22 February 1865 she aided in the bombardment of Fort Fisher's batteries and landed ammunition supplies for the Union forces. Fort Donelson joined the fleet in attacking Fort Anderson on 17-18 February. During March she cruised in company with Pequot to Bermuda, was present at City Point, Va., when the President arrived on board River Queen on the 20th, and acted as guardship at Fort Fisher. She operated with the South Atlantic Squadron until June when ordered to the West Gulf Squadron, was found to be in such poor condition that she returned to Norfolk. Fort Donelson was decommissioned on 17 August 1865 and later sold.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)