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USS Daylight

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Ship Information (from DANFS)1,2:

Name: USS Daylight Type: Screw Steamer Tonnage: 682
Length: 170’ Beam: 30’6” Draught: Loaded” 13’, Light: 11’
Speed: Avg.: 5 knots Complement: 57 men Class: Not Listed.
Armament: April 1, 1864: 6 32-pdr. 57 cwt., 1 30-pdr. Parrott rifle, 1 12-pdr. rifle
Namesake: Light from the sun.

Images:

20331v: U.S. Gun Boat "Daylight". 3

 

Captain(s):
Acting Master Henry A. Phelon
Captain Image

Captain 2
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

 

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

  • Not Present (at Baltimore, MD)4

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)5

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:

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

  • Not Present (away in NC)6
  • Note: Under “Remarks,” it is noted that the Daylight was “always repairing or complaining.”  I’m sure that’s an interesting story!7

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

Norfolk, Va. (repairing) | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (September 1 & 16, 1864)8,9

Not Present (away in NC) (October 1, 1864)10

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:

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

Not Present (October 14-21, 1864)11

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (October 22-31, 1864)12

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Note: … until October 13, 1864. Two days later she arrived at Fort Monroe and on October 22, 1864 stood up the James River for guard and picket duty which continued until 6 May 1865.13

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle (November 1-December 31, 1864): James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (November 1 & 12 and December 5 & 15, 1864)14,15,16,17

  • Captain: Acting Master Henry A. Phelon (November 1 and December 5 & 15, 1864)14,15,16
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 8 x “guns” (December 15, 1864)21
  • Notes:
    • On November 12, 1864, this ship was located in the James River at “upper Turkey Bend” and was classified as a “propeller” driven ship.22
    • Note: On December 15, 1864, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.23

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)24,25,26,27,28

  • Captain: Acting Master Henry A. Phelon (January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)29,30,31,32
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 8 x “guns” (January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)33,34,35,36
  • Note: On January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.37,34,39,40

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)41,42,43

  • Captain:
    • Acting Master Henry A. Phelon (March 18, 1865)44
    • Acting Master H. W. Wells (April 1 & 15, 1865)45,46
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 8 x “guns” (March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865)47,48,49
  • Note: On March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Screw Class” vessel.50,51,52

 

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

  • TBD

 

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:53

Daylight a screw steamer, was built in 1859 by Samuel Sneden of New York; chartered by the Navy 10 May 1861; purchased 12 October 1861; outfitted at New York Navy Yard; and commissioned 7 June 1861, Commander S. Lockwood in command…

Repairs completed, Daylight sailed from Hampton Roads 7 September 1863 to serve with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron until 13 October 1864. Two days later she arrived at Fort Monroe and on the 22d [of October 1864] stood up the James River for guard and picket duty which continued until 6 May 1865. On 7 May [1865] she put into Norfolk and 5 days later got underway for New York Navy Yard. She was placed out of commission there 24 May 1865 and sold 25 October of the same year.

 

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. Waud, Alfred R. , Artist. U.S. Gun Boat “Daylight”. (Between 1860 and 1865) Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2004660617/>. ↩
      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. 324–325 ↩
      6. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 370–371 ↩
      7. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 370–371 ↩
      8. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 410–412 ↩
      9. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 462–463 ↩
      10. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 514–515 ↩
      11. “Daylight.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/daylight.html. ↩
      12. “Daylight.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/daylight.html. ↩
      13. “Daylight.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/daylight.html. ↩
      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, p. 61 ↩
      18. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 39–40 ↩
      19. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 140–142 ↩
      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, pp. 192–194 ↩
      22. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, p. 61 ↩
      23. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
      24. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
      25. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
      26. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
      27. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
      28. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 54–55 ↩
      29. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
      30. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
      31. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
      32. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
      33. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
      34. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
      35. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
      36. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
      37. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
      38. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
      39. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
      40. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
      41. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
      42. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
      43. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116–118 ↩
      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. 116–118 ↩
      47. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
      48. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
      49. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116–118 ↩
      50. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
      51. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
      52. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116–118 ↩
      53. “Daylight.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/daylight.html. ↩

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