CSS Archer
{{Short description|Fishing schooner captured during the American Civil War}}
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{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = | Ship caption = CSS Archer at anchor. }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship country = Confederate States | Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Confederate States of America|naval}} | Ship name = Archer | Ship namesake = | Ship owner = | Ship operator = | Ship registry = | Ship route = | Ship ordered = | Ship awarded = | Ship builder = | Ship original cost = | Ship yard number = | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = | Ship launched = | Ship sponsor = | Ship christened = | Ship completed = | Ship acquired = | Ship commissioned = | Ship recommissioned = | Ship decommissioned = | Ship maiden voyage = | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = | Ship renamed = | Ship reclassified = | Ship refit = | Ship struck = | Ship reinstated = | Ship homeport = | Ship identification = | Ship motto = | Ship nickname = | Ship honours = | Ship honors = | Ship captured = *June 25, 1863 by the CSS Tacony and converted to CSN service
| Ship fate = Unknown | Ship notes = | Ship badge = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = | Ship type = | Ship tonnage = | Ship displacement = | Ship tons burthen = | Ship length = | Ship beam = | Ship height = | Ship draught = | Ship draft = | Ship depth = | Ship hold depth = | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = | Ship sail plan = | Ship speed = | Ship range = | Ship endurance = | Ship test depth = | Ship boats = | Ship capacity = | Ship troops = | Ship complement = 4 officers, 17 men | Ship crew = | Ship time to activate = | Ship sensors = | Ship EW = | Ship armament = 1 6-pounder boat howitzer | Ship armour = | Ship armor = | Ship aircraft = | Ship aircraft facilities = | Ship notes = }} |
CSS Archer was originally a fishing schooner captured by the Confederate cruiser CSS Tacony during the American Civil War and converted into a Confederate cruiser for commerce raiding.
The CSS Tacony, commanded by Lt. Charles W. Read, captured the Archer on June 25, 1863 off the coast of Portland, Maine. Knowing that the Union was on a hunt for his ship, he transferred the crew and armaments to it and destroyed the Tacony.
Read decided to try to capture the revenue cutter Caleb Cushing on his way down the coast of New England. On June 27, 1863, the Archer sailed into the harbor of Portland, Maine and docked, disguising itself as a schooner. At night, the Cushing was boarded and the crew placed below decks. The Archer and the Caleb Cushing then sailed out of the harbor in the dawn. When the disappearance of the Cushing was noticed, ships were sent in pursuit, and due to the failing wind, were able to catch up and capture the Archer, but not before Read had set the magazine on board the Cushing on fire, which resulted in the Cushing's destruction.
Officers and crew
- Lt. Charles W. Read, commander
- Billups, Matthewson, and Pride, master's mates
- Brown, engineer
- 16 men
See also
{{Portal|American Civil War}}
- Ships captured in the American Civil War
- Bibliography of American Civil War naval history
- Union Navy
- Confederate States Navy
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Notes and references
- {{cite book | title=History of the Confederate States Navy: From the Organization to the Surrender of Its Last Vessel|publisher=Gramercy Books | location=New York, NY | year=1996 | author=J. Thomas Scharf | isbn=0-517-18336-6}}
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{{CSN cruisers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Archer}}