Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this ship’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Ship Information (from DANFS)¹,²:

Images:

³

Ship Model Available:

Long Face Games Unadilla Class 90 Day Gunboat Ship Models Designs, 1/600 and 1/1200

Captain(s):
Lieutenant Commander George E. Belknap
Captain Image

Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Sicard
Captain Image

Lieutenant Commander Elias K. Owen
Captain Image

First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

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

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Third Offensive Order of Battle (July 1-31, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle (September 1-October 13, 1864):

Recommissioned and assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron (October 3, 1864)⁴

Unsure if present at the Siege of Petersburg. (Source needed.)

• Captain: Lieutenant Commander George E. Belknap (October 3, 1864)⁵
• Crew Strength:
• Armament:

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

Unsure if present at the Siege of Petersburg. (Source needed.)

• Captain:
• Crew Strength:
• Armament:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle (November 1-December 31, 1864):

Away in North Carolina (November 1, 1864)⁶

Norfolk Navy Yard, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (December 5, 1864)⁷

Away in North Carolina (December 15, 1864)⁸

• Captain:
  • Lieutenant Commander George E. Belknap (November 1, 1864)⁹
  • Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Sicard (December 5 & 15, 1864)¹⁰,¹¹
• Crew Strength:
• Armament: 1 x 11″ Dahlgren Smoothbore, 1 x 20-pdr. Parrott rifle, 2 x 24-pdr. howitzers, 1 x 12-pdr. rifle (November ??, 1864)¹²:

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle (January 1-February 28, 1865):

Away in North Carolina at Beaufort (January 1, 1865)¹³

Away in North Carolina off Fort Fisher (January 15, 1865)¹⁴

Away in North Carolina on the Cape Fear River (February 1 & 15, 1865)¹⁵,¹⁶

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (February 25, 1865)¹⁷

• Captain: Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Sicard (January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)¹⁸,¹⁹,²⁰,²¹
• Crew Strength:
• Armament: 5 x “guns” (January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)²²,²³,²⁴,²⁵
• Note: On January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.²⁶,²⁷,²⁸,²⁹

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle (March 1-April 2, 1865):

Hampton Roads, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (March 18, 1865)³⁰

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (April 1, 1865)³¹

Norfolk, Va. (repairing) | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (April 15, 1865)³²

• Captain:
  • Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Sicard (March 18, 1865)³³
  • Lieutenant Commander Elias K. Owen (April 1 & 15, 1865)³⁴,³⁵
• Crew Strength:
• Armament: 5 x “guns” (March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865)³⁶,³⁷,³⁸
• Note: On March 18, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Screw Class” vessel and  a “guard ship.”³⁹
• Note: On April 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Screw Class” vessel.⁴⁰,⁴¹

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

• TBD

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:⁴²

The first Seneca, a wooden-hulled “ninety day gunboat” built at New York City by J. Simonson, was launched on 27 August 1861; and commissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 14 October 1861, Lt. Daniel Ammen in command…She later returned via Port Royal to the New York Navy Yard where she was decommissioned on 15 January 1864.

She was recommissioned on 3 October 1864, [Lieutenant Commander] Comdr. George E. Belknap in command, and was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. On 24 and 25 December 1864, Seneca took part in the abortive attack on Fort Fisher; and, between 13 and 15 January 1865, she participated in the successful second attack which finally captured that Southern coastal stronghold and doomed Wilmington, closing the Confederacy’s last major seaport. On 17 February [1865], she was in the force which attacked Fort Anderson and captured it two days later.

At the end of the war, Seneca returned to Norfolk, Va., where she was decommissioned on 24 June 1865. The ship was sold on 10 September 1868 at Norfolk to Purvis and Company.

Bibliography:

Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

• USS Seneca

Sources:

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this ship’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Ship Information (from DANFS)¹,²:

Images:

³

Ship Model Available:

Long Face Games Passaic Class Monitor Ship Models Designs, 1/600 and 1/1200

Captain(s):
Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Young
Captain Image

Lieutenant Commander Ralph Chandler
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

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

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Third Offensive Order of Battle (July 1-31, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle (September 1-October 13, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.
• Armament: 1 x 15″ Dahlgren Smoothbore, 1 x 11″ Dahlgren Smoothbore, 1 x 12-pdr. rifle, 1 x 12-pdr. Smoothbore (October 1, 1864)⁴

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

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle (November 1-December 31, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.
• Armament:1 x 15″ Dahlgren Smoothbore, 1 x 11″ Dahlgren Smoothbore, 1 x 12-pdr. rifle (December 31, 1864)⁵

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle (January 1-February 28, 1865):

Not present at the Siege of Petersburg, South Atlantic Blockading Squadron (prior to February 27, 1865)⁶

Not present at the Siege of Petersburg, at Cape Fear River, NC (February 27-March 4, 1865)⁷

• Captain:
• Crew Strength:
• Armament:

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle (March 1-April 2, 1865):

Not present at the Siege of Petersburg, at Cape Fear River, NC (March 1-March 4, 1865)⁸,⁹

Reached the James River (March 5, 1865)¹⁰,¹¹

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865)¹²,¹³,¹⁴

• Captain:
  • Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Young (March 18, 1865)¹⁵
  • Lieutenant Commander Ralph Chandler (April 1 & 15, 1865)¹⁶,¹⁷
• Crew Strength:
• Armament:
  • 2 x “guns” (March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865)¹⁸,¹⁹,²⁰
  • 1 x 15″ Dahlgren Smoothbore, 1 x 11″ Dahlgren Smoothbore (April 1, 1865)²¹
• Note: On March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Screw Class” vessel.²²,²³,²⁴

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

• Clearing the James River of Mines (April 3, 1865)

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:²⁵

The first Sangamon, a Passaic-class monitor built by John Ericsson, was laid down under the name Conestoga in the summer of 1862; renamed Sangamon on 9 September 1862; launched on 27 October 1862; and commissioned on 9 February 1863 at Chester, Pa., Comdr. Pierce Crosby in command.

The monitor was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron and soon began efficient but unspectacular operations in Hampton Roads and in the roughly parallel rivers which drain tidewater Virginia and empty into Chesapeake Bay. Sangamon was one of the vital ships of the Navy which guaranteed the Union Army control of the waters which border and penetrate the bitterly contested land which separated Washington and Richmond.

[SOPO Editor’s Note: Although what you will read below has been widely reprinted in all of the usual sources like Wikipedia, I believe the information crossed out below about Sangamon participating in the Siege of Petersburg via operations along the James River at any point in 1864 is incorrect.  Volume 11 of the Official Records of the Navy, which covers operations of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron from October 1864 to February 1, 1865, and by extension the operations on the James River, does not mention the Sangamon one single time. In addition, the orders of battle in the same book for the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron do not list the ship as being present one single time. Volume 12 of the ORN, however, covering events from February 1, 1865 and on, contains multiple references to the Sangamon. By the existing documentation it looks like the monitor was ordered to the James River, specifically Trent’s Reach, on February 27, 1865 or shortly thereafter by Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter.²⁶.  From the same volume of the ORN, it appears the Sangamon reached Fort Monroe at 2:30 p.m. on March 5, 1865, and was sent upriver to the front.²⁷.  I have crossed out the information below which I believe to be incorrect. If someone has more information on the whereabouts of the Sangamon, please use the Contact link at the top of the page. I suspect, without actually going to check, that the Sangamon was with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron for most of 1864 and into early 1865 before heading to Wilmington, NC too late to be of use there, and finally was sent on to the James River as discussed above.]

After repairs at Philadelphia on 21 February 1864, she was towed by Wachusetts to Port Royal, S.C., for duty with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. After blockade duty off Charleston, she returned to Hampton Roads in the summer to support Grant’s drive on Richmond.

Sangamon performed widely varied duties. She conducted reconnaissance expeditions up the river to obtain information, and often dueled Southern forces hidden along the banks. She guarded Union troop concentrations and served as part of the Union naval force which patrolled the upper James to prevent the Confederate flotilla from threatening Union transports.

Early in April 1865, during the final thrust on Richmond, she assisted in clearing the river of Confederate torpedoes so that Union shipping could proceed safely to the Confederate capital.

After the war ended, Sangamon was decommissioned at Philadelphia and placed in reserve. No record has been found of any subsequent active service until she was recommissioned on 13 May 1898 for service during the Spanish-American War. The old monitor was stationed at Fisher’s Island, Long Island. In 1899, she returned to reserve at League Island, Pa., and she remained there until she was sold in 1905.

Bibliography:

Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

• 150 Years Ago Today at Petersburg: March 5, 1865
• USS Sangamon

Sources:

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this ship’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Ship Information (from DANFS)¹,²:

Images:

Image Needed (Does One Exist?)

Captain(s):
Acting Volunteer Lieutenant [Acting Ensign] Henry M. Pishon
Captain Image

Captain 2
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

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

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Third Offensive Order of Battle (July 1-31, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle (September 1-October 13, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

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

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle (November 1-December 31, 1864):

Perth Amboy, NJ (up to her purchase date of December 8, 1864)³

Hampton Roads, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (December 15, 1864)⁴

• Captain: Acting Volunteer Lieutenant [Acting Ensign?] Henry M. Pishon (~December 15, 1864)⁵,⁶
• Crew Strength:
• Armament:
• Note: The Saffron was commissioned within a week after December 8, 1864, her purchase date by the US Navy, and was serving at Hampton Roads by December 15, 1864.⁷
• Note: On December 15, 1864, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.⁸

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle (January 1-February 28, 1865):

Hampton Roads, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (January 1 & 15, 1865)⁹,¹⁰

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (February 1, 15 & 25, 1865)¹¹,¹²,¹³

• Captain: Acting Ensign Henry M. Pishon (January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)¹⁴,¹⁵,¹⁶,¹⁷
• Crew Strength:
• Armament:
• Note: On January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.¹⁸,¹⁹,²⁰,²¹

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle (March 1-April 2, 1865):

Norfolk Navy Yard, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (March 18, 1865)²²

James River, Va. (April 1 & 15, 1865)²³,²⁴

• Captain: Acting Ensign Henry M. Pishon (March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865)²⁵,²⁶,²⁷
• Crew Strength:
• Armament:
• Note: On March 18 and April 1, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Screw Class” vessel.²⁸,²⁹
• Note: On April 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “torpedo boat.”³⁰

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

• Clearing the James River of Mines (April 3, 1865)
• Towing the captured Confederate Ironclad Texas down the James River (April 3-4?, 1865)

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:³¹

John T. Jenkins, a wooden-hulled screw tug built in 1863 at New Brunswick, N.J., was purchased by the Navy on 8 December 1864 at Perth Amboy, N.J.; renamed Saffron; and commissioned within the following week, Act. Vol. Lt. Henry M. Pishon in command.

The tug was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron and was serving at Hampton Roads by 15 December 1864. Saffron operated there and up the James River supporting Army forces during the final months of General Grant’s Richmond campaign.

On 3 April 1865, soon after Union forces learned that General Lee had evacuated Richmond, Saffron joined a group of other Union ships in clearing obstructions and torpedoes from the channel leading to the fallen city. Their rapid and efficient work enabled President Lincoln to proceed safely up stream the next day to the newly-captured Confederate capital. There, throngs of rejoicing former slaves greeted the President as he walked to the Confederate executive mansion.

After clearing the river to Richmond, Saffron helped to tow a captured Confederate ram, Texas, down stream. The tug then continued to operate in the James, clearing torpedoes and obstructions from that important waterway, until late in May.

Her squadron’s report of 1 June [1865] tells that Saffron either had recently sailed or was about to sail north.

No record of her decommissioning has been found, but it is certain that the ship was sold at New York City to a D. Townsend on 25 October 1865. The tug was redocumented as Clifton on 17 February 1866 and remained in merchant service until she was lost under unknown circumstances in 1885.

Bibliography:

Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

• USS Saffron

Sources:

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this ship’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Ship Information (from DANFS)¹,²:

Images:

³

Ship Model Available:

Long Face Games USS Sassacus (and Sassacus Class) Ship Models Designs, 1/600 and 1/1200

Captain(s):
Commander William G. Temple
Captain Image

Captain 2
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Peterbsurg.

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

• Not present at the Siege of Peterbsurg.

Third Offensive Order of Battle (July 1-31, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Peterbsurg.

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Peterbsurg.

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle (September 1-October 13, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Peterbsurg.

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

• Not present at the Siege of Peterbsurg.

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle (November 1-December 31, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Peterbsurg.

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle (January 1-February 28, 1865):

Away in North Carolina off Fort Fisher (January 15, 1865)⁴

Away in North Carolina on the Cape Fear River (February 1 & 15, 1865)⁵,⁶

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (February 25, 1865)⁷

• Captain: Lieutenant Commander William G. Temple (January 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)⁸,⁹,¹⁰
• Crew Strength:
• Armament: 12 x “guns” (January 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)¹¹,¹²,¹³
• Note: On January 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Class 3” vessel.¹⁴,¹⁵,¹⁶

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle (March 1-April 2, 1865):

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (March 18 and April 1, 1865)¹⁷,¹⁸

Hampton Roads, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (April 15, 1865)¹⁹

• Captain: Lieutenant Commander (Commander on April 1]) W. G. Temple (March 18 and April 1, 1865)²⁰,²¹,²²
• Crew Strength:
• Armament:
  • 12 x “guns” (March 18 and April 1, 1865)²³,²⁴
  • 1 x 100-pdr. Parrott rifle, 1 x 11” Dahlgren Smoothbore, 4 x 9” Dahlgren Smoothbores, 2 x 20-pdr. Parrott rifles, 2 x 24-pdr. howitzers, 1 x 12-pdr. rifle, 1 x heavy 12-pdr. Smoothbore (April 1, 1865)²⁵
  • 10 x “guns” (April 15, 1865)²⁶
• Note: On March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Paddle Class” vessel.²⁷,²⁸,²⁹

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

• TBD

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:³⁰

Pontoosuc, a side wheel gunboat, built under contract with G. W. Lawrence and the Portland Locomotive Co., Portland, Maine, was commissioned at Portland, 10 May 1864, Lt. Comdr. George A. Stevens in command. Ordered to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron 9 June 1864, she soon returned north and on 12 August departed New York in pursuit of the Confederate Raider Tallahassee. Arriving at Halifax soon after 0600 on the 20th [August], she discovered her quarry had sailed. Underway immediately Pontoosuc continued her search to the north among the fishing fleets in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence. Tallahassee, however, had turned south enroute back to Wilmington.

Pontoosuc returned to New York on the 30th [August] and took up escort duty. By mid December, she had resumed blockade duties, off Wilmington. On the 24th and 25th [December] she participated in the assault on Fort Fisher, returning to shell the Fort again in the successful mid-January 1865 attack.

In February she moved up the Cape Fear River for operations against Fort Anderson. After the fall of Wilmington she resumed cruising off the coast. After the war, she returned to Boston where she decommissioned 5 July 1865 and was sold 3 October 1866.

Bibliography:

Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

• USS Pontoosuc

Sources:

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this ship’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Ship Information (from DANFS)¹,²:

Images:

Image Needed (Does One Exist?)

Ship Model Available:

Long Face Games Union and Confederate Torpedo Boats Ship Models Designs, 1/600 and 1/1200

Captain(s):
Acting Ensign Calvin S. Wilcox
Captain Image

Captain 2
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

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

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Third Offensive Order of Battle (July 1-31, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle (September 1-October 13, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

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

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle (November 1-December 31, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.
• Armament: 1 x 12-pdr. howitzer (November ??, 1864)³

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle (January 1-February 28, 1865):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle (March 1-April 2, 1865):

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (March 18, 1865)⁴

Norfolk, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (April 1, 1865)⁵

Ordered to Potomac Flotilla (on or before April 15, 1865)⁶

• Captain: Acting Ensign Calvin S. Wilcox (March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865)⁷,⁸,⁹
• Crew Strength:
• Armament: 1 x “gun” (March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865)¹⁰,¹¹,¹²
• Note: On March 18 and April 1, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Screw Class” vessel.¹³,¹⁴,¹⁵

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

• TBD

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:

SOPO Editor’s Note: I could not find an entry for this ship in the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

Bibliography:

Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

• USS Picket Launch No. 6

Sources:

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this ship’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Ship Information (from DANFS)¹,²:

Images:

Image Needed (Does One Exist?)

Ship Model Available:

Long Face Games Union and Confederate Torpedo Boats Ship Models Designs, 1/600 and 1/1200

Captain(s):
Acting Ensign [????]
Captain Image

Captain 2
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

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

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Third Offensive Order of Battle (July 1-31, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle (September 1-October 13, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

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

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle (November 1-December 31, 1864): James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (December 15, 1864)³

• Captain: Not Listed. (December 15, 1864)⁴
• Crew Strength:
• Armament:1 x 12-pdr. howitzer and torpedo attachment (November ??, 1864)⁵

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle (January 1-February 28, 1865): James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (January 1 & 15, 1865)⁶,⁷

• Captain:
  • Not Listed. (January 1, 1865)⁸
  • Acting Ensign [????] (January 15, 1865)⁹
• Crew Strength:
• Armament: 1 x “guns” (January 15, 1865)¹⁰
• Note: On January 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.¹¹

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle (March 1-April 2, 1865):

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (March 18, 1865)¹²,¹³

Ordered to Potomac Flotilla (on or before April 15, 1865)¹⁴

• Captain:
  • Not Listed. (March 18, 1865)¹⁵
  • Not Listed. (April 1, 1865)¹⁶
  • Not Listed. (April 15, 1865)¹⁷
• Crew Strength:
• Armament: 1 x “gun” (March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865)¹⁸,¹⁹,²⁰
• Note: On March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Screw Class” vessel.²¹,²²,²³

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

• TBD

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:

SOPO Editor’s Note: I could not find an entry for this ship in the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

Bibliography:

Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

• USS Picket Launch No. 4

Sources:

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this ship’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Ship Information (from DANFS)¹,²:

Images:

Image Needed (Does One Exist?)

Ship Model Available:

Long Face Games Union and Confederate Torpedo Boats Ship Models Designs, 1/600 and 1/1200

Captain(s):
Captain 1
Captain Image

Captain 2
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

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

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Third Offensive Order of Battle (July 1-31, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle (September 1-October 13, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

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

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle (November 1-December 31, 1864):

• Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle (January 1-February 28, 1865):

Norfolk, VA (January 7, 1865)³

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (February 1, 1865)⁴

Away in North Carolina at the mouth of the Cape Fear River (February 19, 1865)³

• Captain: Not Listed. (February 1, 1865)⁶
• Crew Strength:
• Armament: 1 x “guns” (February 1, 1865)⁷
• Note: On February 1, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.⁸

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle (March 1-April 2, 1865):

• Captain:
• Crew Strength:
• Armament:

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

• TBD

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:

SOPO Editor’s Note: I could not find an entry for this vessel in the Dictionary of American Fighting Ships.

Bibliography:

Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

• USS Picket Launch No. 3

Sources:

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this ship’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Ship Information (from DANFS)¹,²:

Images:

Image Needed (Does One Exist?)

Captain(s):
Acting Ensign Douglas F. O’Brien
Captain Image

Captain 2
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864):

• Not Yet Commissioned³

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

• Not Yet Commissioned⁴

Third Offensive Order of Battle (July 1-31, 1864):

• Not Yet Commissioned⁵

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864):

• Not Yet Commissioned⁶
• Note: The ship was a wooden side wheel steamer built at Boston, Mass. in 1864 as F. W. Lincoln. The US Navy purchased the ship from McKay & Aldus on August 2, 1864.⁷

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle (September 1-October 13, 1864):

Boston, MA (September 1-“late September”, 1864)

Second Division (Hampton Roads and James River) (October 1, 1864)⁸

• Captain: Acting Ensign Douglas F. O’Brien (September 14, 1864)⁹
• Crew Strength:
• Armament:
• Note: The ship apparently arrived at some unidentified date in “late September.” More research is needed to find the exact date. ¹⁰
• Note: On October 1, 1864, this ship is noted as in “James River; reported to Captain Smith.”¹¹

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. (November 1 and December 5 & 15, 1864) | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy¹²,¹³,¹⁴

• Captain:
  • Acting Ensign Douglas F. O’Brien (November 1 and December 5, 1864)¹⁵,¹⁶
  • Not Listed. (December 15, 1864)¹⁷
• Crew Strength:
• Armament:
• Note: On December 15, 1864, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.¹⁸

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)¹⁹,²⁰,²¹,²²,²³

• Captain:
  • Not Listed. (January 1, 1865)²⁴
  • Acting Ensign Douglas F. O’Brien (January 15, 1865)²⁵
  • Not Listed. (February 1, 1865)²⁶
  • Not Listed. (February 15, 1865)²⁷
• Crew Strength:
• Armament:
• Note: On January 1 & 15 and February 1, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.²⁸,²⁹,³⁰,³¹

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle (March 1-April 2, 1865):

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (March 18, 1865)³²

Commodore Radford’s Flagship [Where?] | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (April 1, 1865)³³

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (April 15, 1865)³⁴

• Captain:
  • Acting Ensign Douglas F. O’Brien (March 18 and April 1, 1865)³⁵,³⁶
  • Not Listed (April 15, 1865)³⁷
• Crew Strength:
• Armament:
• Note: On March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Paddle Class” vessel.³⁸,³⁹,⁴⁰

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

• TBD

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:⁴¹

Phlox, a wooden side wheel steamer built at Boston, Mass. in 1864 as F. W. Lincoln, was purchased by the Navy from McKay & Aldus 2 August 1864; renamed Phlox the same day; and commissioned at Boston Navy Yard 14 September 1864, Act. Ens. Douglas F. O’Brien in command.

Assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Phlox steamed south late in September and operated in the James River helping maintain communications among the Union ships, supporting General Grant’s operations against Richmond. In January 1865 she steamed to Wilmington to support the joint Army-Navy attack on Ft. Fisher, N. C. which doomed Wilmington. After Ft. Fisher fell, Phlox returned to the James River where she served through the end of the war, decommissioning at the Washington Navy Yard 28 July 1865. Later that year Phlox was moved to Annapolis and subsequently served in a non-commissioned status as practice ship for midshipmen at the Naval Academy until 1873.

Bibliography:

Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

• USS Phlox

Sources:

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this ship’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Ship Information (from DANFS)¹,²:

Images:

Image Needed (Does One Exist?)

Ship Model Available:

Long Face Games USS Sassacus (and Sassacus Class) Ship Models Designs, 1/600 and 1/1200

Captain(s):
Commander James H. Spotts
Captain Image

Captain 2
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864):

• Not Yet Commissioned³

Second

• Not Yet Commissioned⁴

Third Offensive Order of Battle (July 1-31, 1864):

• Not Yet Commissioned⁵

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864):

Not Yet Commissioned (August 1-25, 1864)⁶,⁷

Commissioned on August 26, 1864⁸

• Captain: Commander James H. Spotts (August 26, 1864)⁹
• Crew Strength:
• Armament:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle (September 1-October 13, 1864):

Not Present (September 1 & 16 and October 1, 1864)¹⁰,¹¹,¹²

• Captain:
• Crew Strength:
• Armament: 2 x 100-pdr. Parrott rifles, 4 x 9″ Dahlgren Smoothbores; 2 x 20 pdr. Parrott rifles, 2 x 24-pdr howitzers (October 13, 1864)¹³

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

Not Present (North Carolina)¹⁴

• Captain:
• Crew Strength:
• Armament:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle (November 1-December 31, 1864):

Not Present (North Carolina) (November 1 and December 5 & 15, 1864)¹⁵,¹⁶,¹⁷

• Captain: Commander James H. Spotts (November 1 and December 5 & 15, 1864)¹⁸,¹⁹,²⁰
• Crew Strength:
• Armament: 10 x “guns” (December 15, 1864)²¹
• Note: On December 15, 1864, this ship is noted as a “Class 3” vessel.²²

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle (January 1-February 28, 1865):

Not Present (North Carolina) (January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)²³,²⁴,²⁵,²⁶

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (February 25, 1865)²⁷

• Captain: Commander James H. Spotts (January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)²⁸,²⁹,³⁰,³¹
• Crew Strength:
• Armament: 10 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 3” 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 and April 1 & 15, 1865)⁴⁰,⁴¹,⁴²

• Captain: Commander James H. Spotts (March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865)⁴³,⁴⁴,⁴⁵
• Crew Strength:
• Armament: 10 x “guns”⁴⁶,⁴⁷,⁴⁸
• Note: On March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Paddle Class” vessel.⁴⁹,⁵⁰,⁵¹

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

• TBD

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:⁵²

Pawtuxet, a side wheel steamer, was launched by the Portsmouth N.H., Navy Yard 19 March 1864; delivered to the Navy at New York 18 May 1864 and commissioned 26 August 1864, Comdr. J. H. Spotts in command.

Following commissioning Pawtuxet was ordered to the Grand Banks to join the quest for the Confederate raider Tallahassee, but before she could get underway Tallahassee had returned safely to Wilmington. Powtuxet was then ordered south to join the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Joining the 3rd Division in October [1864] she was ordered to cruise off the Carolina coast, primarily between Capes Lookout and Fear. At the end of December [1864] she bombarded the defenses at Wilmington in support of the first assault against Fort Fisher. Returning 13 January [1865], she again turned her guns on that fort; sent men and boats to participate in the successful assault on the 15th; then resumed blockade duties. Shifted to the Virginia coast in April, she decommissioned at New York 15 June 1865 and was sold 15 October 1867.

Bibliography:

Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

• USS Pawtuxet

Sources: