CSS Wasp

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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’s Mate J. W. Matherson
Captain Image

Captain 2
Captain Image

Captain 3
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First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864):

• Not Yet a Warship

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

• Not Yet a Warship

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

• Not Yet a Warship

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

• Not Yet a Warship

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

• Not Yet a Warship

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

• Not Yet a Warship

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

• Not Yet a Warship

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

• Captain:
  • Master’s Mate J. W. Matherson (January 1865) (at least January 23-24, 1865)⁵
  • Not Listed. (February 1865)⁶,⁷
• Crew Strength:
• Armament:
• Note: This ship is noted as a “torpedo boat.”⁸

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle (March 1-April 2, 1865): James River Naval Squadron | Confederate Navy⁹

• Captain: Not Listed. (March & April 1865)¹⁰
• Crew Strength:
• Armament:
• Note: This ship is noted as a “torpedo boat.”¹¹

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

• Battle of Trent’s Reach (January 23-25, 1865)¹²

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:¹³

Wasp, a torpedo boat commanded by Master’s Mate J. W. Matherson, CSN, was attached to the James River Squadron in 1865. She was employed in the vain attempt to remove the obstructions in Trent’s Reach on 23-24 January. Accompanying Richmond down the river, she neared “Battery Semmes” where she assisted in refloating Hornet. She also made an unsuccessful attempt to tow Scorpion off the shore and grounded herself. Later she retired to “Battery Dantzler” where she was used as a picket boat assigned to Virginia, until the evacuation of Richmond, 3 April 1865.

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 Commander Kell, C. S. Navy, commanding C. S. S. Richmond, on the Battle of Trent’s Reach, Jan. 23-25, 1865

Sources: