Captured By Union Navy Forces
On 5 June 1862, on the Mississippi River near Island No. 37, she was fired upon by USS Benton and, as Union tugboat USS Spitfire closed for action, was abandoned by her crew. However, a 16-year old lad who was loyal to the Union remained on board, removed weights from the steamer's safety valves, wetted down her fires, and signaled Spitfire with a white sheet. A prize crew from the Union tug then took possession of the ship.
Sovereign was condemned by the Illinois prize court and formally purchased by the Union Navy on 9 January 1863.
Read more about this topic: USS Sovereign (1855)
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