Louisiana's Military Heritage:

     Vessels named USS TENSAS

USS TENSAS

Only one U.S. Navy vessel has had the honor to bear the name of TENSAS, both a parish (county) and a tributary of the Ouachita River in the northeastern part of the State of Louisiana.

USS TENSAS (c. 1860 ~ August 17, 1865):

USS TENSAS began life as a sidewheel wooden-hulled packet christened TOM SUGG.  She was built in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1860.  With the outbreak of hostilities between the North and South in 1861, the vessel was outfitted with protective cotton-cladding and armament for use as a Confederate gunboat in the White River in Arkansas.  On August 14, 1863, she was steaming in company with CSS KASKASKIA in the Little Red River when they encountered USS CRICKET.  The Union tinclad subsequently captured TOM SUGG in the following engagement and, one month later on September 29, she was purchased from the Illinois Prize Court by the Union Navy for $7,000.

Union Admiral David D. Porter described TOM SUGG as an "excellent vessel" and soon after her purchase, she was converted to a "tinclad" (# 39) and rechristened USS TENSAS.  She served in the Union riverine fleet throughout the remainder of the war.

The Navy sold TENSAS to Mr. E. B. Trinidad of New Iberia, Louisiana, on August 17, 1865.  Captain Trinidad renamed the boat TECHE on October 13, 1865.  She was last owned by Atakapas Mail Transportation Company of New Orleans, Louisiana; Mr. Tristan Tupper, President.  TECHE was wrecked in Bayou Teche in 1868.

Ship's Statistics

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All information on USS TENSAS courtesy of the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

and Way's Packet Directory (1848-1994).
 

**Copyright 1997-2011 by Louisiana Naval War Memorial Commission**