USS A. Houghton (1852)

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Career
Ordered:
Laid down:
Launched:	1852
Commissioned:	19 February 1862
Decommissioned:	9 June 1865
Fate:	Sold at public auction
General Characteristics
Displacement:	326 tons
Length:	113 ft (34 m)
Beam:	25 ft (8 m)
Draft:
Speed:	13 knots (24 km/h)
Complement:	27
Armament:	2 32-pounder smooth-bore cannon

The USS A. Houghton was a bark originally built in 1852 and purchased by the United States Navy on 12 October 1861 for service in the American Civil War. She was commissioned on 19 February 1862.

Houghton was assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron to provide covering fire for Admiral David Farragut's campaign against New Orleans. Taking position in the Mississippi Delta in April 1862, Houghton supplied ammunition to the bombarding ships as they shelled the forts guarding the city in preparation for Farragut's successful capture of New Orleans.

Later that year, Houghton provided support on the Mississippi River for Farragut's assault in the Battle of Vicksburg.

On 6 July 1862, Houghton was fired upon by Confederate batteries in Mississippi. Two sailors were wounded, but Houghton returned fire, destroying one of the Confederate guns and inflicting much greater casualties than she sustained.

Because of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's success in the Seven Days Campaign, Houghton was called to protect Union General George McClellan and his army at Harrison's Landing on the James River.

Houghton was decommissioned for repairs on 12 October 1862 and returned to service 3 December of that year. She then returned to the gulf by early 1863 to provide support for Farragut's squadron. In March, Houghton was reassigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron to serve as an ammunition ship. She was again decommissioned for repairs on 30 August, and when recommissioned on 1 October was assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Houghton remained at Port Royal, South Carolina for the remainder of the war.

The ship was decommissioned for the final time on 9 June 1865 and sold at public auction two months later.

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This article includes information collected from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.