USS Hornet

[JPK Huson 1863]

Here's a confusing ship to track down, as to actions. She had the dubious honor of 3 different names, poor thing and apparently ' Hornet ' was shared by 4 other craft. From 'Wiki'.

We've seen photos of CSS Stonewall, after capture, at least can know as this ship was an escort when the Stonewall was brought to the US.

The USS Hornet (1865) was the fifth United States Navy ship to bear the name Hornet. She was originally the CSS Lady Stirlinga blockade runner built by James Ash at Cubitt Town, London in 1864 for the Confederate States Navy. She was badly damaged and captured by the United States Navy on 28 October 1864 off Wilmington, North Carolina.

Following condemnation by a prize court, Lady Sterling was bought by the U.S. Navy, repaired, armed, and commissioned as USS Lady Sterling and later renamed USS Hornet on 25 April 1865 In navy service she mainly operated in the Chesapeake Bay squadron. In October 1865, Hornet escorted the Confederate ironclad CSS Stonewall from Cuba to the United States.
Hornet was decommissioned on 15 December 1865 and sold into private ownership in 1869. After the war Hornet was involved in several filibustering expeditions to Cuba under the names Hornet and Cuba, including an unsuccessful mission in January 1871 to deliver weapons and ammunition to Cuban rebels during the Ten Years' War.

 

[reading48]

Interesting articles....

 

[AndyHall]

Wise has different data, showing her built by Scott Russell, who had earlier constructed Great Eastern, for a private venture, the Albion Trading Co. She was captured on the outbound leg of her first run. Reportedly was seized again in 1869 by the USN, running guns into Cuba. Old habits die hard.