CSS Hornet

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Ship Information (from DANFS)¹,²:

Images:

Image Needed

Ship Model Available:

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

Captain(s):
Master Samuel P. Blanc
Captain Image

Master’s Mate James W. Billups
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

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

• Not Present as a Warship

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

• Not Present as a Warship

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

• Not Present as a Warship

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

• Not Present as a Warship

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

• Not Present as a Warship

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

• Not Present as a Warship

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

• Not Present as a Warship

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle (January 1-February 28, 1865): James River Naval Squadron | Confederate Navy³,⁴

• Captain:
  • Master’s Mate James W. Billups (January 23, 1865)⁵
  • Master Samuel P. Blanc (at least January 23-24, 1865) (January 25, 1865 on)⁶,⁷
  • Not Listed. (February 1865)⁸
• Crew Strength:
• Armament:
• Note: This ship is noted as a “torpedo boat.” The ship was sunk “sometime during February 1865. She sank 2 days after colliding with the flag-of-truce steamer Allison.” More research is needed as to the exact date.⁹,¹⁰

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

• No longer afloat

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

• Battle of Trent’s Reach (January 23-25, 1865)¹¹

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:¹²

CSS Hornet was a steam launch fitted out as a torpedo boat on the James River late in 1864. Under Master Samuel P. Blanc, CSN, she took an active part in the attempted passage through the obstruction at Trent’s Reach on 23 and 24 January 1865. She sank 2 days after colliding with the flag-of-truce steamer Allison.

Bibliography:

Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

• ORN XI: Detailed Report of Flag-Officer Mitchell, C. S. Navy, commanding James River Squadron, on the Battle of Trent’s Reach, Jan. 23-25, 1865
• ORN XI: Report of Lieutenant Shepperd, C. S. Navy, commanding C. S. S. Fredericksburg, on the Battle of Trent’s Reach, Jan. 23-25, 1865

Sources: