USS Ella (1859)

The first USS Ella was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a picket and patrol vessel, as well as a dispatch boat, on Confederate waterways.

Construction and design
Ella, a wooden-hulled sidewheel steamboat, was built in New York in 1859 by Thomas Collyer for the Stamford Line of Stamford, Connecticut. She was 150 ft in length, with a beam of 23 ft and hold depth of 8 ft. Ella was powered by a single-cylinder steam engine of unknown type, with a bore of 36 in and stroke of 8 ft, built by Henry Esler & Co. of New York.

Merchant service
Ella made her maiden voyage on 5 July 1859. She thereafter operated in daily service between New York City and Stamford, departing the latter at 7 am and clearing New York at 3 pm the same day.

Naval service
Ella was purchased at New York City 30 July 1862; outfitted at New York Navy Yard; and commissioned 10 August 1862, Acting Master S. C. Gray in command.

Ella sailed 12 August 1862 for duty with the Potomac Flotilla, and arrived at Fortress Monroe 2 days later. She performed her entire service in Virginia waters as a picket, patrol and dispatch boat, based on the navy yard at Washington, D.C.

After a useful career, she returned to her base for the last time 30 July 1865. She was decommissioned there 4 August and sold 15 September 1865.

Later history
Redocumented as a merchant steamer on October 19, 1865, Ella later history is unknown. She was last documented about 1875.