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USS Mahopac

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Ship Information (from DANFS)1,2:

Name: USS Mahopac Type: Single-turreted Monitor Tonnage: 1,034
Length: 190’ Beam: 37’8” Draught: August 20, 1864: Forward: 11’10”, Amidships: 12’3”, Aft: 13’; October 13, 1864: :Loaded: 13’9”
Speed: Max: 6.3 knots Complement: Not Listed. Class: Canonicus
Armament: January 2, 1865: 2 15″
Namesake: Lake in New York, 50 miles south by east of New York City.

Images:

33958v: The monitor Mahopac, James River, Va.3

Ship Model Available:

Long Face Games Canonicus Class Ship Models Designs, 1/600 and 1/1200

Image of Canonicus Class Monitors, 1/600 and 1/1200 Scale 3D STL Files Long Face Games

Captain(s):
Commander William A. Parker
WilliamAParkerUSNavyV64P31774

Lieutenant Commander James M. Prichett
Captain Image

Lieutenant Commander Edward E. Potter
Captain Image

Lieutenant Commander Aaron W. Weaver
Captain Image

Lieutenant Commander George E. Belknap
GeorgeEBelknapUSNavyV40P19755

Captain 6
Captain Image

 

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

  • Not Present6

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

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:

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

  • Not Present7

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

  • Not Present8

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

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

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:

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

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (November 1 and December 5, 1864)12,13

Not Present (North Carolina) (December 15, 1864)14

  • Captain:
    • Commander William A. Parker (November 1, 1864)15
    • Lieutenant Commander James M. Prichett (December 5, 1864)16
    • Lieutenant Commander Edward E. Potter (December 15, 1864)17
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 2 x “guns” (December 15, 1864)18
  • Note: On December 15, 1864, this ship is noted as a “Class 3” vessel.19

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle (January 1-February 28, 1865):

Not Present (North Carolina) (January 1 & 15, 1865)20,21\

Not Present (South Atlantic Squadron) (February 1 (and 15 & 25?), 1865)22,23,24

  • Captain: Lieutenant Commander Edward E. Potter (January 1 & 15 and February 1, 1865)25,26,27
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
    • 2 x “guns” (January 1 & 15 and February 1, 1865)28,29,30
    • 2 x 15″ guns (January 2, 1865)31
  • Note: On January 1 & 15 and February 1, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Class 3” vessel.32,33,34

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

Not Present (March 18, 1865)35

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (April 1, 1865)(at Trent’s Reach April 1)36

Ordered to Washington, D. C. (on or before April 15, 1865)37

  • Captain:
    • Lieutenant Commander Aaron W. Weaver (April 1, 1865)38
    • Lieutenant Commander George E. Belknap (April 15, 1865)39
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 2 x “guns” (April 1 & 15, 1865)40,41
  • Note: On April 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Screw Class” vessel.42,43

 

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

 

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:44

The first Mahopac, a heavily armored monitor built by Z. & F. Secor at New York, was launched 17 May 1864, and, after a trial trip 20 August [1864], commissioned at New York, Comdr. William A. Parker in command.

The single‑turreted monitor participated in the joint attack on Charleston 9 September [1864]. She operated on the James River in the autumn and steamed to the Wilmington area in time to join the bombardment of Fort Fisher 24 and 25 December 1864 and 13 through 15 January 1865. In the latter attacks, which doomed Wilmington, she was hit eight times without serious damage.

Next steaming to Charleston, Mahopac remained there on picket duty until 8 March [1865] when she returned to Chesapeake Bay. In April [1865], she and sister Union ships helped General Grant’s force in the capture of Richmond. She decommissioned in June [1865] and laid up at the Washington Navy Yard.

Mahopac recommissioned 15 January 1866 and operated along the east coast. Renamed Castor 15 June 1869, she resumed the name Mahopac 10 August. Going into reserve at Hampton Roads 11 March 1872, she recommissioned 21 November 1873 and sailed to Key West for fleet drill and remained there over 2 years. In 1876 she steamed to Port Royal and moved to Norfolk in July 1877. She was stationed with several other monitors at Brandon Landing until March 1880, when she proceeded to City Point, where she was based until 1888. She was in ordinary at Richmond 1889‑95, then moved to League Island. She was struck from the Navy Register 14 January 1902 and was sold 25 March 1902.

 

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. 132 ↩
    3. The monitor Mahopac, i.e. Lehigh? James River, Va. (Photographed between 1861 and 1865, printed between 1880 and 1889)Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2013647376/>. ↩
    4. William A. Parker image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 64, Page 3177.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
    5. George E. Belknap image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 64, Page 3177.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
    6. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 157–158 ↩
    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. 370–371 ↩
    9. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 410–412 ↩
    10. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 462–463 ↩
    11. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 514–515 ↩
    12. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 39–40 ↩
    13. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 140–142 ↩
    14. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
    15. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 39–40 ↩
    16. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 140–142 ↩
    17. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
    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. 192–194 ↩
    20. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
    21. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
    22. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
    23. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
    24. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 54–55 ↩
    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 XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
    29. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
    30. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
    31. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 132 ↩
    32. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
    33. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
    34. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
    35. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
    36. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
    37. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116–118 ↩
    38. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
    39. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116–118 ↩
    40. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
    41. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116–118 ↩
    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. “Mahopac I (Mon).” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/m/mahopac-i.html. ↩

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