Steam paddle cutter Harriet Lane

[Paulrjordan]

Here's some more "famous paddler" trivia I dug up while looking up
something totally unrelated to paddlewheelers.

"HARRIET LANE"

Harriet Lane is famous (in the Coast Guard anyways) as the the ship
that fired the first shot at sea during the US Civil War, when she
put a round across the bows of the steamer Nashville, as it tried to
enter Charleston Harbor on the day Ft Sumter was bombarded.

Harriet Lane was a steam paddle cutter from 1858. She was named for
President Buchanan's niece, a very attractive 17 year old when he
took office in 1856. Buchanan was not married, so Harriet filled in as
"First Lady". She was a major celebrity in her day. She was
reportedly fond of the vessel, and reportedly referred to it as "my
ship".

The ship was considered to be a good sailer, and served with the US
Navy at times even before the Civil War broke out. In 1861, she
sailed with a fleet to the Hatteras Inlet and along with a combined
force of army, navy, marine and cutter personnel, took part in the
force that assaulted the confederate forts therein. She also took an
active part in the shelling that resulted in the surrender of those
forts.

After this action, she served under the US Navy as the USS Harriet
Lane, until her capture by a Confederate boarding party in Galveston
Bay. Thereafter, she flew the rebel flag until the end of the war,
refitted as a blockade runner. After the war, she ended up as a
lumber ship, and possibly lost in a storm in the 1870s.

On a modeling note, apparently her hull was very attractively painted
with a white boot topping, green hull up to the paddle wheel sponson
and white hull up to the rail.

Click the following URL for a photo and more information.
http://members.nbci.com/edwardlea/harrlane.htm

PJ

[Paulrjordan]

Further to this post a month or so ago, I found there has been a
plastic kit which was once issued originally by Pyro in 1/96 as the
"Harriett Lane" and then issued "Civil War Revenue Cutter"
Apparently, in the last 20 years, the Harriet Lane model has been sold
by 3 different companies: Pyro, Life-Like, and Lindberg (the most
recent owner of the mold.)

Has anyone ever built this model or knows where a kit is available?
Here's a picture of the box cover art as it appeared in the first PYRO
version.

http://www.tiac.net/users/billkaja/kitlist/PYROharrietb.jpg
PJ

[rjhviscount]

Dear PJ< I have built the Harriet Lane kit 5 times in the last 35
years- first as a Heller kit called "Le Sphinx" then as the "Civil
War Blockade Runner" by Pyro and later by Lindberg. This year I found
an original Pyro Harriet Lane on a site called Gasoline Alley and
bought it. This kit is about 40 years old and in mint condition. It
arrived safely by airmail (I'm in Australia) and hopefully it will
soon be built. I still have a Pyro example I built in 1973 and it's a
bit worn from collecting dust but otherwise looks OK. Robert

[Paulrjordan]

Robert..you HOUND!!! I am positively green with envy that you've been
able to get this kit...so many times! I have been scouring the net
and only recently "succeeded" in missing a BARGAIN "Pyro" Harriett
Lane on Ebay!

Item # 1664510804 "Pyro harriet lane paddel wheeler/sailing ship"

Started at $9.99 and three hours later the buyer used "buy it now" and
snagged it at $12.00 while I was asleep at the wheel!!!!!! ESPECIALLY
AS THE LAST ONE I TRIED TO GET 4 DAYS AGO ENDED UP AT $96.00 on Ebay!

Item # 1664607523 50'S PYRO HARRIET LANE STEAM CUTTER *MIB*.
(In any case, the seller sent me an extremely snotty email saying he
would NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES ship to Canada!)

I am going to add the information you provided to my "Plastic Paddler"
database as I'm now building up a pretty good list of models (with
boxart) past and present.

I would love to see a finished model of the "Harriett Lane" as she is
historically important. She seems to have been painted in very
attractive colours. (white and green!) and I also like the way she
came by her name! Any way you can take pics of your "Harriett's" and
send them to me?

While we're on the subject of "Civil War" vessels on Ebay. There's a
36" Revell kit of "Kearsage" up for sale and closing in 3 days!
Item #1666999014 "BIG 1961 REVELL KEARSARGE CIVIL WAR SHIP/MIB
It started at $9.99 but soon shot up to $100.00 where it is now.

There is also on Ebay some activity on exhorbitantly high priced
Revell "Great Eastern" kits (which I own ONE thank goodness!) but I'll
try to post that info later.

Any one else has ANY info on "Harriett"...please post. thanks again,
Robert, for sharing the info on your "Harriett fleet"...no matter how
depressed it makes me feel!

PJ

[rjhviscount]

Dear PJ, I also have a Revell Kearsarge that I built in 1972, and am
about to start my third Alabama. My particular interest is in early
steamships whether paddle or screw driven. The Kearsarge I have has
survived very well except the white painted bulwarks look a bit
yellow, but the rigging still looks ok. Once I work out how to post
pictures on the net (I'm new to all this) I shall do so. Robert