"USS Ironclads"? What?

[AndyHall]

Someone has passed along to me a hospital transfer ticket for a U.S. Navy sailor, dated 30 August 1865 at (we think) New York City, that lists his originating unit as "USS IRONCLADS." Does anyone recognize this reference? This was during the rapid demobilization of the Navy; might this be a temporary facility for personnel being discharged or reassigned?

It's not a mistake for NEW IRONSIDES, that was decommissioned and laid up at Philadelphia months before.

Thanks, y'all.

 

[Story]

Bureaucratic "when in doubt, make it up"

 

[Dilandu]

Well, the most probable explanation is that bureaucrat who wrote this ticket simply forgot from what ship the sailor was, and for some reason was unable to make inquires (for example, he was late with paperwork - typical "this should be done yesterday!" ) and just put "ironclads" here.

 

[Dilandu]

P.S. Also, wikipedia's list of "I"-named ships have something called "USS Ironsides Junior", from 1863. I was unable to find any references, but "Ironsides" and "Ironclads" are close enough for someone to make a mistake.

 

[Seduzal]

Thanks for sharing this interesting article. If it wasn't for mistakes we wouldn't have nothing to talk about.

 

[1stMS-Arty]

What's the name of the sailor?

 

[AndyHall]

What's the name of the sailor?

I don't have permission to share that, sorry. I've been able to find his enlistment record and his pension file, but nothing else from his term of actual service.

 

[UCVRelics]

Interesting!! The name of his ship was not in his records?

 

[AndyHall]

Interesting!! The name of his ship was not in his records?

Not that I could find. Complete records for most US Navy sailors are not available online.