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USS Dumbarton

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Ship Information (from DANFS)1,2:

Name: USS Dumbarton Type: Sidewheel Steamer Tonnage: 636 (700)
Length: 204’ Beam: 29’ Draught: Loaded: 10’, Light: 7’6”
Speed: Max: 12 knots, Avg.: 10 knots Complement: Not Listed. Class: Not Listed.
Armament: November 9, 1864: 2 32-pdr. 33 cwt., 2 12-pdr. howitzers

March 31, 1865: 2 32-pdr. 33 cwt., 2 12-pdr. rifles, 1 20-pdr. Parrott rifle
Namesake: A county and city in Scotland.

Images:

NH 66414: Steamship City of Quebec (aka Dumbarton)3

 

Captain(s):
Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Henry Brown
Captain Image

Captain 2
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

 

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

  • Not Present (recently captured blockade runner Thistle)4
  • Note: Thistle, a side wheel steamer, was captured by Fort Jackson 4 June 1864 while running the blockade off the coast of North Carolina…5

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

  • Not Present (recently captured blockade runner Thistle)6
  • Note: Thistle, a side wheel steamer, was captured by Fort Jackson 4 June 1864 while running the blockade off the coast of North Carolina…7

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

  • Not Present (at prize court in Boston, MA)8
  • Note: Thistle, a side wheel steamer, was captured by Fort Jackson 4 June 1864 while running the blockade off the coast of North Carolina; sent to Boston for condemnation; purchased from the prize court 20 July 1864…9

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

Not Present10

  • Captain: Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Henry Brown (August 13, 1864)11
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Note: Thistle, a side wheel steamer, was captured by Fort Jackson 4 June 1864 while running the blockade off the coast of North Carolina; sent to Boston for condemnation; purchased from the prize court 20 July 1864; renamed Dumbarton; and commissioned 13 August 1864, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Henry Brown in command.12

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

  • Not Present (away in NC)13,14,15

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

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:

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

Not Present (away in NC) (November 1 and December 1, 1864)16,17

Norfolk Navy Yard, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (December 15, 1864)18

  • Captain: Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Henry Brown (November 1 and December 5 & 15, 1864)19,20,21
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
    • 2 x 32-pdr. 33 cwt., 2 x 12-pdr. howitzers (November 9, 1864)22
    • 4 x “guns” (December 15, 1864)23
  • Note: On December 15, 1864, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.24

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle (January 1-February 28, 1865): Norfolk, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (January 1 & 15 and February 1, 15 & 25, 1865)25,26,27,28,29

  • Captain: Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Henry Brown (January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)30,31,32,33
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 4 x “guns” (January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)34,35,36,37
  • Notes:
    • On January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.38,39,40,41
    • Dumbarton served as flagship of Rear Admiral W. Radford in the James River, Va., from February 17 to March 27, 1865.42

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

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (March 18, 1865)43

Not Present (where did Dumbarton go, presumably on March 27, 1865?)(April 1 & 15, 1865)44,45

  • Captain: Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Henry Brown (March 18, 1865)46
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
    • 4 x “guns” (March 18, 1865)47
    • 2 x 32-pdr. 33 cwt., 2 x 12-pdr. rifles, 1 x 20-pdr. Parrott rifle (March 31, 1865)48
  • Notes:
    • On March 18, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Paddle Class” vessel.49
    • Dumbarton served as flagship of Rear Admiral W. Radford in the James River, Va., from February 17 to March 27, 1865. She seems to have left the area around the latter date.  More research is needed.50

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

  • TBD

 

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:51

Thistle, a side wheel steamer, was captured by Fort Jackson 4 June 1864 while running the blockade off the coast of North Carolina; sent to Boston for condemnation; purchased from the prize court 20 July 1864; renamed Dumbarton; and commissioned 13 August 1864, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant H. Brown in command.

Dumbarton’s first assignment was to search for raider CSS Tallahassee along the Atlantic coast. She then joined the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron at Beaufort, N.C., and served on the blockade of Wilmington, N.C., until 6 December 1864.

After being at Norfolk Navy Yard Dumbarton served as flagship of Rear Admiral W. Radford in the James River, Va., from 17 February to 27 March 1865. She was out of commission at Washington Navy Yard until 11 November 1865 when she was taken to New York Navy Yard and placed in ordinary. She was sold there 15 October 1867.

 

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. 75–76 ↩
      3. “NH 66414 Steamship City of Quebec.” Naval History and Heritage Command, www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-66000/NH-66414.html. (1863-1870) Artwork by Erik Heyl, 1957, for use in his book Early American Steamers, Volume III. It depicts the ship as she appeared in merchant service after 1868. Built in Scotland in 1863, this steamer was the blockade runner Thistle in 1863-1864. She served as USS Dumbarton in 1864-1867 and was the merchantman Dumbarton in 1867-1868. Rerigged and fitted with new engines in 1868, she operated under the British flag as the SS City of Quebec until sunk in a collision on 1 May 1870. Courtesy of Erik Heyl. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Catalog #: NH 66414 ↩
      4. “Dumbarton.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/dumbarton.html. ↩
      5. “Dumbarton.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/dumbarton.html. ↩
      6. “Dumbarton.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/dumbarton.html. ↩
      7. “Dumbarton.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/dumbarton.html. ↩
      8. “Dumbarton.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/dumbarton.html. ↩
      9. “Dumbarton.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/dumbarton.html. ↩
      10. “Dumbarton.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/dumbarton.html. ↩
      11. “Dumbarton.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/dumbarton.html. ↩
      12. “Dumbarton.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/dumbarton.html. ↩
      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 XI, pp. 39–40 ↩
      17. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 140–142 ↩
      18. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
      19. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 39–40 ↩
      20. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 140–142 ↩
      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, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 75–76 ↩
      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. 192–194 ↩
      25. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
      26. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
      27. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
      28. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
      29. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 54–55 ↩
      30. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
      31. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
      32. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
      33. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
      34. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
      35. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
      36. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
      37. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
      38. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
      39. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
      40. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
      41. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
      42. “Dumbarton.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/dumbarton.html. ↩
      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. 71–73 ↩
      48. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 75–76 ↩
      49. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
      50. “Dumbarton.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/dumbarton.html. ↩
      51. “Dumbarton.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/dumbarton.html. ↩

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