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USS Charles Phelps

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Ship Information (from DANFS)1,2:

Name: USS Charles Phelps Type: Coal Supply Hulk Tonnage: 363
Length: 110’ Beam: 27’4” Draught: Loaded: 17’, Light: 9’
Speed: Complement: 23 men Class:
Armament: February 2, 1864: No battery.
Namesake: Merchant name retained.

Images:

Image Needed (Does One Exist?)

 

Captain(s):
Acting Ensign William Ottiwell
Captain Image

Captain 2
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

 

First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864): Newport News, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (June 17, 1864)3

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Note: The Charles Phelps served as a coal supply hulk for the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the entire Siege of Petersburg. She was stationed at Craney Island, Va. throughout this time period.4,5

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

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Note: The Charles Phelps served as a coal supply hulk for the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the entire Siege of Petersburg. She was stationed at Craney Island, Va. throughout this time period.6

Third Offensive Order of Battle (July 1-31, 1864): Fourth Division (James River) | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (July 31, 1864)7

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Notes:
    • On July 31, 1864, this ship is noted as at “coal depot, Craney Island, in charge of colliers.”8
    • The Charles Phelps served as a coal supply hulk for the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the entire Siege of Petersburg. She was stationed at Craney Island, Va. throughout this time period.9

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864): Fourth Division (James River) | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (August 17, 1864)10

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Note: The Charles Phelps served as a coal supply hulk for the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the entire Siege of Petersburg. She was stationed at Craney Island, Va. throughout this time period. 11,12

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)13,14,15

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Note: The Charles Phelps served as a coal supply hulk for the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the entire Siege of Petersburg. She was stationed at Craney Island, Va. throughout this time period.16,17,18,19

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

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Note: The Charles Phelps served as a coal supply hulk for the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the entire Siege of Petersburg. She was stationed at Craney Island, Va. throughout this time period.20

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle (November 1-December 31, 1864): Craney Island, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (November 1 and December 15, 1864)21,22

  • Captain: Acting Ensign William Ottiwell (November 1 and December 15, 1864)23,24
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Notes:
    • On December 15, 1864, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.25
    • The Charles Phelps served as a coal supply hulk for the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the entire Siege of Petersburg. She was stationed at Craney Island, Va. throughout this time period.26

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle (January 1-February 28, 1865): Craney Island, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)27,28,29,30

  • Captain: Acting Ensign William Ottiwell (January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)31,32,33,34
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Notes:
    • On January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel and a “hulk.”35,36,37,38
    • The Charles Phelps served as a coal supply hulk for the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the entire Siege of Petersburg. She was stationed at Craney Island, Va. throughout this time period.39

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle (March 1-April 2, 1865): Craney Island, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865)4041,42

  • Captain: Acting Ensign William Ottiwell (March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865)43,44,45
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Note: The Charles Phelps served as a coal supply hulk for the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the entire Siege of Petersburg. She was stationed at Craney Island, Va. throughout this time period.46,47,48,49

 

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

  • None

 

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:50

Charles Phelps was built in 1848 at New London, Conn., as a whaler; purchased at New Bedford, Mass., 24 June 1861; and commissioned later in the year, Acting Master W. F. North in command.

Assigned as a coal supply ship for the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Charles Phelps served in Hampton Roads, Va., throughout the Civil War. Her support of the Squadron’s steamers was as critical a contribution to their mission of cutting the Confederacy off from overseas supply as a modern-day oiler’s logistic support is to the operations of the fleet. She was sold at New York 25 October 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. 54 ↩
    3. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 157–158 ↩
    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, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 54 ↩
    6. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 54 ↩
    7. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 324–325 ↩
    8. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 324–325 ↩
    9. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 54 ↩
    10. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 370–371 ↩
    11. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 370–371 ↩
    12. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 54 ↩
    13. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 410–412 ↩
    14. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 462–463 ↩
    15. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 514–515 ↩
    16. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 410–412 ↩
    17. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 462–463 ↩
    18. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 514–515 ↩
    19. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 54 ↩
    20. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 54 ↩
    21. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 39–40 ↩
    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. 39–40 ↩
    24. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
    25. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
    26. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 54 ↩
    27. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
    28. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
    29. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
    30. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
    31. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
    32. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
    33. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
    34. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
    35. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
    36. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
    37. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
    38. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
    39. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 54 ↩
    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: This one indicates the Charles Phelps was at “Norfolk”, but I’m fairly certain she was still serving as a coal hulk at Craney Island, given she was there on both March 18 and April 15. ↩
    42. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116–118 ↩
    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. 93–94 ↩
    45. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116–118 ↩
    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. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116–118 ↩
    49. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 54 ↩
    50. “Charles Phelps.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/charles-phelps.html. ↩

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