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Welcome to the unit web page for the USS
Tahoma. We portray officers and sailors of the US navy during the
American Civil War. Our crew is based in western Washington
and we participate in events in Washington and Oregon.
Role
of the USS Tahoma in the Civil War:
As
an Ensign in the Navy prior to the war, John C. Howell was stationed in
the Northwest Territories. While stationed in the area, Howell, visited
the South end of the sound. While there, he asked a local Salishan
Indian the name of the magnificent mountain that dominates the grand
vista of the Sound. The Native American replied "Tahoma." a
word in Salishan that means, "snow peak." Today we call the
same magnificent mountain Mt. Rainier, the name given the mountain by
the City of Seattle in the 1880.
In 1861, the now Lieutenant Commander John C. Howell, was asked to
suggest a name for a new ship. He thought back to his days on the Puget
Sound and the memory of the mountain. He submitted the name Tahoma to
the Navy department.
For
More History
USS Itasca Class
The Itasca class, also known as the Unadilla class, or 90
day gunboats, were a versatile class, built in under three months,
hence the name 90 day gunboat. They participated in most major
naval actions throughout the war.
Drawing of USS
Tahoma.
Picture of USS
Unadilla, same class of boat.
| Type |
Steam Gunboat |
Draught |
10' 6" |
| Length |
158' 8" |
Speed |
9 knots |
| Beam |
28' (Moulded) |
Crew |
70 - 90 |
| Armour |
None |
| Armament |
Generally fitted with :
1x11" Smoothbore Dahlgren on Semi-pivot
2x24 lb smoothbores fixed
1x20 lb Parrot rifle on forecastle |
The class consisted of 23 vessels;
Aroostook, Cayuga, Chippewa, Chocura, Huron, Itasca, Kanawha, Katahdin,
Kennebec, Kineo, Marblehead, Ottawa, Owasco, Pembina, Penobscot, Pinola,
Sagamore, Sciota, Seneca, Tahoma, Unadilla, Wimona and
Wissahickson. |
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Ships Crew
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Mission Statement.
The USS Tahoma’s gun crew is a Union Naval unit, which will portray a
gun crew from 1863 Naval sea and land force of the Eastern Blockade
Squadron. The Unit will be part of a landing force of Naval Infantry and
Artillery support crews. It will be a ships gun crew placed under the
command of the US Army commander. The unit will emphasize light marching
order, proper clothing and extensive ship drill, as well as gunnery
drill on a ship. Members of the crew are encouraged to take the name of
a sailors or marines from actual ship’s records, and become that
persona The ship is to be placed with the Flotilla Fleet for further
action with The USS Harriet Lane. They are to be ready to man their gun
and take part in actions as directed by the fleet Flag Ship. |
