Atlantic (1849 ship)

Atlantic as originally constructed
United States
Name	Atlantic
Namesake	Atlantic Ocean
Owner	Collins Line
Builder	William H Brown, New York
Launched	February 1, 1849
Maiden voyage	April 27, 1850
Out of service	1871
Identification	Signal Letters: H. B. V. D. Official number: 802
Fate	Broken up in 1871
General characteristics
Displacement	2,668 tons
Length	284 ft (87 m)
Beam	45 ft 11 in (14.00 m)
Depth of hold	22 ft 11.5 in (6.998 m)
Propulsion	sail and steam engine
Sail plan	3-masted bark
Speed	12 knots
Capacity	Passengers: 200 1st class, 80 2nd class

Atlantic was a wooden-hulled, side-wheel steamship launched in 1849. She was conceived as a part of an American fleet which would break the monopoly that European steamers, notably the Cunard Line, had on trans-Atlantic trade. She was the most successful of the Collins Line ships, and one of the most luxurious vessels of her day, but the company went bankrupt in 1858.

She was chartered by the Quartermaster Corps of the United States Army for much of the American Civl War. She supported the army's logistical requirements during major assaults, ran routine supply missions, and evacuated casualties, among other missions.

After the war, Atlantic was primarily used to bring German immigrants to the United States.

Over the course of her career, Atlantic completed sixty-six trans-Atlantic roundtrips, more than any other American side-wheel steamship.^[1]