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USS Dawn

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Ship Information (from DANFS)1,2:

Name: USS Dawn Type: Screw Steamer Tonnage: 399
Length: 154’ Beam: 28’10” Draught: Loaded: 12’, Light: 10’
Speed: Max: 11 knots, Avg.: 8 knots Complement: 60 men Class: N/A
Armament: March 22, 1863: 1 100-pdr. Parrott rifle, 1 20-pdr. Parrott rifle, 1 12-pdr. Dahlgren
Namesake: Daybreak or early morning.

Images:

NH 66961 Steamship Dawn3

 

Captain(s):
Acting Volunteer Lieutenant John W. Simmons
Captain Image

Acting Master Joseph A. Jackaway
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

 

First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864): James River | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (June 17, 1864)4

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Note: On June 17, 1864, this ship is noted as “at Wilson’s Wharf” and “above Newport News” in the James River.5

Second Offensive Order of Battle (June 19-30, 1864):

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:

Third Offensive Order of Battle (July 1-31, 1864): Fourth Division (James River) | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (July 31, 1864)6

  • Captain: Acting Volunteer Lieutenant John W. Simmons (July 16, 1864)7
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864): Fourth Division (James River) | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (August 1 & 17, 1864)8,9

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle (September 1-October 13, 1864): Second Division (Hampton Roads and James River) | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (September 1 & 16 and October 1, 1864)10,11,12

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Note: On October 1, 1864, this ship is noted as in “James River.”13

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle (October 14-31, 1864):

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle (November 1-December 31, 1864): James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (November 1 and December 5 & 15, 1864)14,15,16

  • Captain: Acting Master Joseph A. Jackaway (November 1 and December 5 & 15, 1864)17,18,19
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 3  x “guns” (December 15, 1864)20
  • Notes:
    • On November 12, 1864, this ship was located in the James River at “Harrison’s Landing” and was classified as a “propeller” driven vessel.21
    • On December 15, 1864, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.22

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle (January 1-February 28, 1865): James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (January 1 & 15 and February 1, 15, & 25, 1865)23,24,25,26,27

  • Captain: Acting Master Joseph A. Jackaway (January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)28,29,30,31
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 3 x “guns” (January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)32,33,34,35
  • Note: On January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.36,37,38,39

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle (March 1-April 2, 1865): James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (March 18, 1865) (Left for the Sounds of North Carolina prior to April 1, 1865, probably on March 25, 1865)40,41,42

  • Captain: Acting Master J. A. Jackaway (March 18, 1865)43
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 3 x “guns” (March 18 & April 1, 1865)44,45
  • Note: On March 18 and April 1, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Screw Class” vessel.46,47

 

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

 

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:50

The first Dawn, a screw steamer, was built in 1857 by Samuel Sneden, New York; chartered 26 April 1861 and purchased 12 October 1861; outfitted at New York Navy Yard; and commissioned 9 May 1861, Commander W. Chandler in command.

Out of commission at New York from 9 July to 2 December 1863 for repairs, Dawn departed 10 December to join the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron and cruised in the James River from 14 December 1863 to 25 March 1865, performing picket duty and assisting in keeping the river banks free from enemy batteries. Dawn was placed out of commission 17 June 1865 at Portsmouth Navy Yard and later taken to Boston Navy Yard and sold 1 November 1865.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. “DANFS.” Naval History and Heritage Command, www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html. ↩
    2. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 72 ↩
    3. Heyl, Erik. “NH 66961 Steamship Dawn.” Naval History and Heritage Command, www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-66000/NH-66961.html. (1856) Watercolor by Erik Heyl, for use in his book Early American Steamers, Volume III. This vessel served as USS Dawn in 1861-1865 and was later the civilian steamer Eutaw. Courtesy of Erik Heyl. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. ↩
    4. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 157–158 ↩
    5. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 157–158 ↩
    6. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 324–325 ↩
    7. “Rebel Batteries on the James.” Philadelphia Inquirer. July 18, 1864, p. 1 col. 3: “The gun-boat Dawn, Captain Simmons, went up to shell this battery from its position…” ↩
    8. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 370–371 ↩
    9. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, p. 326 ↩
    10. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 410–412 ↩
    11. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 462–463 ↩
    12. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 514–515 ↩
    13. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 514–515 ↩
    14. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 39–40 ↩
    15. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 140–142 ↩
    16. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
    17. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 39–40 ↩
    18. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 140–142 ↩
    19. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
    20. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
    21. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, p. 61 ↩
    22. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
    23. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
    24. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
    25. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
    26. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
    27. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 54–55 ↩
    28. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
    29. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
    30. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
    31. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
    32. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
    33. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
    34. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
    35. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
    36. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
    37. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
    38. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
    39. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
    40. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
    41. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
    42. “Dawn I (Screw Steamer).” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/dawn-i.html. ↩
    43. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
    44. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
    45. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
    46. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
    47. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
    48. “The War News.” Richmond Examiner. July 18, 1864, p. 1 col. 1-2 ↩
    49. “Rebel Batteries on the James.” Philadelphia Inquirer. July 18, 1864, p. 1 col. 3 ↩
    50. “Dawn I (Screw Steamer).” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/dawn-i.html. ↩

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