From: DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL FIGHTING SHIPS, V.3, 1968, pp. 297-298.
A Dutch spelling of Henry Hudson, English explorer and navigator.
(ScStr: t. 460; l. 171'; b. 29'11"; dph. 9'6"; s. 11 k.; a. 4 8", 2 20-pdr.)
Hendrick Hudson, a schooner-rigged screw steamer, was built as Florida in 1859 at Greenpoint,
N.Y., and captured by Pursuit while attempting to run the blockade at St. Andrew's Bay, Florida, 6 April
1862. Taken to Philadelphia for adjudication, she was condemned and purchased by the Navy Department from the Prize
Court 20 September 1862. Renamed Hendrick Hudson, she commissioned 30 December 1862 at Philadelphia, Acting
Master John E. Giddings commanding.
Assigned to the East Gulf Blockading Squadron, Hendrick Hudson sailed to Hampton Roads, arriving 3 January
1863, and from there proceeded to her blockading station off East Pass, St. George's Sound, Florida. On station
1 February, Hendrick Hudson began her long months of arduous blockade duty, working to shut off commerce
through the multitude of small inlets and passes of the Florida coast. She remained off St. George's Sound until
late August 1863, capturing schooner Margaret 1 February and schooner Teresa 16 April. She then retired
to Boston for repairs and refitting, returning to a new station off the mouth of the Suwanee River 28 December.
Resuming her blockading duties, Hendrick Hudson encountered a small schooner off Key West 21 March 1864
and stood toward her. The blockade runner, Wild Pigeon, suddenly turned across Hendrick Hudson's
bow, however, and was inadvertently rammed and sunk. None of her assorted cargo could be recovered. The steamer
continued her blockading duties through 1864, spending much of her time in busy Tampa Bay and St. Mark's, Florida.
A group of her men went ashore on an expedition 12 November and engaged some Confederate soldiers briefly, in one
of the many forays ashore by personnel of the East Gulf Squadron.
Hendrick Hudson participated 27 February to 7 March 1865 in an expedition with Army units in the vicinity
of St. Mark's, Florida. The steamer helped blockade the river and some of her crew went ashore with the Army in
an attempt to capture Confederate positions. Following the end of the war, Hendrick Hudson was not retained
in the squadron, and was ordered north 15 July 1865. She decommissioned 8 August 1865 at Philadelphia and was sold
12 September. The ship was subsequently redocumented Hendrick Hudson and operated in commercial service
until she was lost in 1867.
Transcribed by Richard H. Bouchard.