USS Eolus, an 368-ton (burden) side wheel steamship, was built at Newburgh, New York, for civilian employment, but was purchased by the Navy upon completion. Outfitted as a gunboat, she was commissioned in August 1864 and, following a brief search off the Atlantic Coast for the Confederate raider Tallahassee, joined the blockading forces off North Carolina. During October 1864 she captured the blockade runner Hope and assisted in the capture of the Lady Sterling. Late in the year and in mid-January 1865 Eolus took part in the attacks that captured Fort Fisher, thus closing the port of Wilmington to blockade runners. She continued operations in North Carolina waters from then until after the Civil War's end, and in June went north to Boston, Massachusetts, for decommissioning. USS Eolus was sold at the beginning of August 1865 and soon began a long career as a commercial steamer. She was broken up in 1894.

This page features the only views we have related to USS Eolus (1864-1865) and to the civilian steamer of that name.

Photo #: NH 63709 USS Eolus (1864-1865) Watercolor by Erik Heyl, painted for use in his book "Early American Steamers", Volume IV. Courtesy of Erik Heyl.
Photo #: NH 2041 USS Eolus (1864-1865) Capturing the blockade runner Lady Sterling off Wilmington, North Carolina, 28 October 1864. Phototype by F. Gutekunst, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, published circa the later 1800s.
Photo #: NH 59170 "Second Attack upon Fort Fisher, showing the positions of the vessels, and the lines of fire", 13-15 January 1865 Chart by Walter A. Lane, published in "The Soldier in our Civil War", Volume II. The positions of 58 ships are represented on the chart. Online Image: 216KB; 825 x 1225 pixels
Photo #: NH 63710 Eolus (American Coastal Steamship, 1864) Watercolor by Erik Heyl, 1956, painted for use in his book "Early American Steamers", Volume IV. Built in 1864, this steamship served as USS Eolus in 1864-1865. She is depicted here during her post-Civil War commercial service. Courtesy of Erik Heyl.
Photo #: NH 93836 Eolus (American Coastal Steamship, 1864) Underway during the later 1800s. Built in 1864, this steamship served as USS Eolus in 1864-1865. Courtesy of the Steamship Historical Society of America. Collection of W.K. Covell.