USS Elk (ex-USS Countess)
The USS Elk (Tinclad No. 47) was a sidewheel steamer purchased 8 December 1863 as the Countess by RADM David D. Porter, renamed Elk 26 January 1864 and commissioned 6 May 1864 after conversion to a gunboat completed.
She served in the West Gulf Blockading Squadron for the remainder of the war until she was decommissioned and sold 24 August 1865 at New Orleans.
Dimensions: Length, 156'; beam, 29'; depth, 3' 10"; tonnage, 162.
Battery: 2 32-pdrs 42 cwt., 4 24-pdrs smooth bore
Complement: 12 officers, 63 enlisted (per muster rolls)
Deaths
| Name | Rate/Rank | Date of Death | Age | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✚ | Robert Allen | Landsman | 17 October 1864 | 22 |
| ø | George Creighton | Landsman | 15 April 1865 | 25 |
| ✚ ⋂ | James Henry | 2nd Class Boy | 7 December 1864 | 18 |
| George Parker | - | 5 July 1865 | ||
| ✚ | James Ryan | Landsman | 28 June 1864 | |
| ✚ ⋂ | Antonio Silva | Landsman | 22 October 1864 |
Key
⚔ killed in action
★ prisoner of war
✚ died of disease or injury
◼died of yellow fever
ø died due to vessel loss
✹ died in ordnance accident
⋂ buried on land in marked grave
〰 buried/lost at sea
🎖 Medal of Honor recipient
✎ transcribed letters of sailor/marine posted