French corvette Prony

Prony was a French Navy corvette during the American Civil War that ran aground and was lost off Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina. It proved impossible to refloat the vessel, and efforts at assistance were hampered by both the weather and the fact that she had run aground in an area where Union and Confederate forces were opposing each other.

History
France
Name:	Prony
Owner:	French Navy
Fate:	Wrecked 5 November 1861
General characteristics
Class and type:	Corvette
Tons burthen:	c.700
Installed power:	320 hp (240 kW)
Propulsion:	Sails, Steam engine
Sail plan:	Full-rigged ship
Complement:	140
Armament:	6 × 30-pounder cannons

Loss

Prony had left New York harbor on 20 October with the intention of observing as a neutral the activity of the Union Navy blockading the port of Charleston. She arrived off Charleston on 30 October, staying there for two days before heading north, intending to return to New York. She was caught in a storm on 4 November off Ocracoke Inlet. Despite some efforts being made to save her, it proved impossible. No loss of life occurred.

At the time of her loss, Prony was under the command of Capitaine de corvette De Fontanges with a crew of 140 and 6 30-pound guns. She was of roughly 700 tons burthen and her engines were of 320 horsepower (240 kW).

References

• Rawson, Edward K.; Woods, Robert H., eds. (1897). Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. Series I. Volume 6: Atlantic Blockading Squadron (July 16, 1861 - October 29, 1861); North Atlantic Blockading Squadron (October 29, 1861 - March 8, 1862). Washington: Government Printing Office. pp. 397–400.
• "The Wreck of the French Corvette Prony.; Arrival of the Shipwrecked Seamen--Statement of Capt. De Fontanges-Full Particulars, &c". The New York Times. November 14, 1861.