Today in History:

Ticonderoga (1863-1887)

USS Ticonderoga, a 2526-ton Lackawanna class screw sloop of war built at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, was commissioned in May 1863. From June into September, she operated in the West Indies, guarding against Confederate raiders, and performed the same role in the northwestern Atlantic during October 1863 to July 1864. She was then directed to search for the Confederate cruiser CSS Florida, work that continued until October. Assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron in the next month, Ticonderoga participated in the December 1864 and January 1865 attacks on Fort Fisher, North Carolina. Her Civil War service ended with a brief tour with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in January-March 1865, after which she was placed out of commission.

Ticonderoga went back into active service in 1866, after modifications to her rig, and was sent to European waters. She operated there, in the Mediterranean and off Africa until 1869, when she returned home for refit. In 1871-73, the ship served along South America's Atlantic coast, then spent much of 1874 with the North Atlantic Squadron. Out of commission from October 1874 until November 1878, Ticonderoga's next mission was an eastbound cruise around the World that lasted until she arrived at New York in August 1882. Decommissioned a month later, USS Ticonderoga had no further active service and was sold in August 1887.

This page features our only views related USS Ticonderoga.

Photo #: NH 45057

USS Ticonderoga (1863-1887)


Heavily retouched photograph by P.F. Cooper, Philadelphia, dated 8 April 1864. The original print is mounted on a Carte de visite.
The view shows Ticonderoga in her original configuration, without the bowsprit fitted in 1865.

Donation of Charle Remey, November 1931.



Photo #: NH 45373

USS Ticonderoga (1863-1887)


Photographed at Venice, Italy, circa 1866-69.

Courtesy of George H. Stegmann.



Photo #: NH 45374

USS Ticonderoga (1863-1887)


Photographed by Svoboda at Smyrna, Turkey, circa 1866-69, with several merchant sailing vessels and small craft in the left foreground. The original print is mounted on a Carte de visite.
The view shows Ticonderoga in her configuration of 1865-69, with a bowsprit and straight bow.

Donation of Frederick G. McKean.



Photo #: NH 45375

USS Ticonderoga (1863-1887)


Photograph by F. Benque, Trieste, of an artwork depicting the ship during her 1866-69 European cruise. The original print is mounted on a Carte de visite.
The view shows Ticonderoga in her configuration of 1865-69, with a bowsprit and straight bow.

Donation of Frederick G. McKean.



Photo #: NH 97294

USS Ticonderoga (1863-1887)


19th Century photograph of an artwork, probably of the ship in Chinese waters during her cruise around the World, circa 1879-80.
She is flying a Commodore's "broad pennant" at her mainmast peak, presumably that of Commodore Robert W. Shufeldt.



Photo #: LC-USZ62-144

"Bombardment of Fort Fisher"

"Jan. 15th 1865"

Lithograph after a drawing by T.F. Laycock, published by Endicott & Co., New York, 1865, depicting the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron bombarding Fort Fisher, North Carolina, in preparation for its capture. The print is dedicated to Commodore S.W. Godon, USN.
Ships present, as named on the original print, are identified in Photo Number LC-USZ62-144 (Complete Caption).

Collections of the Library of Congress.

Photo #: NH 79937

Richard Binder, Sergeant, USMC


Halftone reproduction of a photograph, published in "Deeds of Valor", Volume II, page 81, by the Perrien-Keydel Company, Detroit, 1907.
Sgt. Binder was awarded the Medal of Honor for his performance as Captain of a gun on board USS Ticonderoga during the assaults on Fort Fisher, North Carolina, on 24-25 December 1864 and 13-15 January 1865.



Photo #: NH 79938

"We crawled the entire distance to our posts."


Halftone reproduction of and artwork by Bacon, published in "Deeds of Valor", Volume II, page 81, by the Perrien-Keydel Company, Detroit, 1907.
It depicts a scene described by Sergeant Richard Binder, USMC, of the advance of the Navy sharpshooters' unit under Lieutenant Williams, during the Sailors' and Marines' assault on Fort Fisher, North Carolina, 15 January 1865. Binder and other surviving members of this party were awarded the Medal of Honor.