U.S.S. General Lyon
Item
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Title
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U.S.S. General Lyon
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Alternate name
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USS General Lyon
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Allegiance
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United States of America
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Description
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The ship was named for General Nathaniel Lyon who served in the Seminole War, the Mexican War and the Civil War. He was killed during the battle that saved Missouri for the Union.
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General Lyon was built at New Albany, Ind., in 1860, and operated out of New Orleans, La., as De Soto. Taken into service by the Confederacy as a gunboat in 1861 (see vol II, Confederate Appendix), she was captured at Island No. 10 on 7 April 1862. The ship was taken into the Union Army as transport De Soto. Transferred to the Navy 30 September 1862, she was renamed General Lyon on 24 October 1862, Master John R. Neeld in command.
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After undergoing extensive repairs at Cairo, Ill., General Lyon saw duty as ordnance, stores, and dispatch ship for the Mississippi Squadron. Leaving Cairo 2 February 1863, she operated for the next two and a half years on the western waters. In April 1863 she was briefly flagship of Rear Admiral D. D. Porter. General Lyon returned to Mound City, Ill., 17 February 1865, decommissioned 3 August, and was sold to H. L. Lee 17 August 1865. She redocumented as Alabama, and was destroyed by fire at Grand View, La., 1 April 1867. --From Naval History and Heritage Command website, U.S. Navy
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Began
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1860
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Ended
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1 Apr 1867
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Years duration
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1860-1867