Paper image mounted on heavy cream colored stock which meas. approx. 6.00 x 4.25 inches. Stock corners are clipped which was probably done for decoration. The paper image meas. 5.00 x 3.50 inches and shows a two masted steam ship with smoke stack located just off center and a pilothouse or bridge just forward of the stack. Lifeboats can also be seen stored in davits just above the main deck. Stern has US flag.

Image is light due to fading but details are visible. Paper image and mount have moderate to heavy foxing while edges have some moderate water or coffee stains. Bottom of mount is hand marked “U.S.S. NEWBERN” in black ink which does not appear to be as old as the photo.

Reverse has a pencil inscription that reads “USS ‘NEWBERN’ ON WHICH I WAS CAPTAINS CLERK FROM APRIL 1865 TO NOV. 1866.”

A short history of the ship found on the internet reads:

The “USS NEW BERNE” served the Navy primarily as a supply ship but, as a Union ship of the blockade of the waterways of the Confederate States of American, she was also responsible to take on the role of a gunship when the opportunity presented itself.

She was a screw steamer, built at New York City in 1862 and was purchased by the Navy at New York City 27 June 1863 from Wakeman, Dimon & Co.; and commissioned at New York Navy Yard 15 August 1863, Acting Vol. Lt. Thomas A. Harris in command

Designated a supply ship, New Berne departed New York 1 September 1863 to join the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. For the remainder of the war, she carried mail, supplies, officers, and seamen from Northern ports to and from the ships and stations of her squadron.

From time to time her performance of this vital but unspectacular duty was enlivened by pursuit of a blockade runner. She departed Newport News, Virginia, before dawn 11 December 1863 hunting a “steamer burning soft coal” reportedly attempting to run the blockade near the entrance to Chesapeake Bay.

She did not catch this elusive steamer but had better luck the following spring when she chased steamer “PEVENSEY” aground near Beaufort, North Carolina, 9 June 1864. Shortly thereafter the blockade runner, carrying arms, lead, bacon, and uniforms for Robert E. Lee’s army, exploded.

“New Berne” scored again 16 December 1864 when, with “USS MOUNT VERNON,” she captured and burned schooner “G. O. BIGELOW” in ballast at Bear Inlet, North Carolina.

After the war, “NEW BERNE” continued service as a supply ship, but for two periods in ordinary, 5 December 1866 to 8 February 1867 and 5 April to 26 November 1867, until decommissioning 29 March 1868. She was transferred to the U.S. War Department at Washington, D.C. 1 December 1868.    [ad]

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