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Ship Information (from DANFS)1,2:
Name: USS Epsilon (aka Tug No. 5) (aka Picket Boat No. 5) | Type: Tug | Tonnage: 55 |
Length: 66’ | Beam: 15’ | Draught: 7’6” |
Speed: Max: 9 knots, Avg.: 3 knots | Complement: Not listed. | Class: Not listed. |
Armament: October 18, 1864: 8 muskets | ||
Namesake: The fifth letter of the Greek alphabet. |
Images:
Captain(s):
Acting Master Frederick W. Mintzer
Captain Image
Acting Ensign Ely M. Boggs
Captain Image
Acting Ensign Charles F. Russell
4
Captain 4
Captain Image
First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864): James River | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (June 17, 1864)5
- Captain:
- Crew Strength:
- Armament:
- Note: On June 17, 1864, this ship is noted as “unarmed; fitting with torpedoes” and “above Wilson’s Wharf” on the James River.6
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)7
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- Crew Strength:
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Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864): Fourth Division (James River) | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (August 1 & 17, 1864)8,9
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- Crew Strength:
- Armament:
- Note: On August 17, 1864, this ship is noted as a “torpedo boat.”10
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)11,12,13
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- Crew Strength:
- Armament:
- Note:
Sixth Offensive Order of Battle (October 14-31, 1864):
- Captain:
- Crew Strength:
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Seventh Offensive Order of Battle (November 1-December 31, 1864): James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (November 1 and December 5 & 15, 1864)16,17,18
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- Crew Strength:
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- Notes:
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, 1865)24,25,26,27
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- Crew Strength:
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- Note: On January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.32,33,34,35
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)36,37,38
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- Note: On March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Screw Class” vessel.42,43,44
Siege of Petersburg Battles:
- TBD
Siege of Petersburg Involvement:45
Epsilon, a steam tug, was purchased as Harry Bumm at Philadelphia 3 June 1864, and assigned to duty in the James River, Acting Ensign Ely M. Boggs in command. She was known as Tug No. 5 until November 1864 when she was named Epsilon.
Throughout her career, Epsilon performed useful service in the James, reconnoitering, patrolling, serving as picket, carrying mail, and transferring men from one ship’s company to another. She was ordered north in May 1865 and was sold at New York 12 July 1865.
Bibliography:
Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:
Sources:
- “DANFS.” Naval History and Heritage Command, www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html. ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 79 ↩
- Deep Bottom, Va., vicinity. Transport Linda of Philadelphia and a monitor Onondaga? on the James. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2018666829/>. SOPO Editor’s Note: Picket Boat #5, renamed Epsilon, is the vessel pictured here. Note the “5” painted on her smokestack. This alone would not necessarily be a smoking gun, but Picket Boats #3 and #4 are located further to the right in the original image. The Delta or Picket Boat #4 was originally the Linda of Philadelphia. The vessel is identified both in the title of the larger image and in the traditional spot on her stern. She has the #4 painted on her smokestack. Given this information, it is easy to deduce that the vessel behind her with a “3” on the smokestack is Picket Boat #3, renamed Gamma and the vessel pictured here is Picket Boat #5, the Epsilon. ↩
- Charles F. Russell image. MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 109, Page 5622. United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 157–158 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 157–158 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 324–325 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 370–371 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, p. 326 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 370–371 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 410–412 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 462–463 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 514–515 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 462–463 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 514–515 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 39–40 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 140–142 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 39–40 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 140–142 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 140–142 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116–118 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116–118 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116–118 ↩
- “Epsilon.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/e/epsilon.html. ↩