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USS Mount Washington

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Ship Information (from DANFS)1,2:

Name: USS Mount Washington Type: Sidewheel Gunboat Tonnage: 500
Length: 200’ Beam: 24’ Draught: 6’6”
Speed: Max: 12 knots, Avg.: 5 knots Complement: Not Listed. Class: Not Listed.
Armament: Oct. 18, 1864, November 11, 1864, May 30, 1865: 1 32‑pdr. 47 cwt.
Namesake: Not Listed.

Images:

NH 45740 ‘The U.S. Steamer Mount Vernon Reconnoitreing the Unfinished Rebel Batteries on Mathias Point, on the Virginia Bank of the Potomac, Sixty Miles below Washington.3

 

Captain(s):
Acting Master H. H. Haynie
Captain Image

Captain 2
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

 

First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864): James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (June 17, 1864)4

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Note: On June 17, 1864, this ship is noted as a “transport” and “above Wilson’s Wharf” on the James River.5

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)6

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Note: On July 31, 1864, this ship is noted as “inside transport.”7

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864): Fourth Division (James River) | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (August 17, 1864)8

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Note: On August 17, 1864, this ship is noted as a “transport.”9

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)10,11,12

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 1 x 32‑pdr. 47 cwt. (October 18, 1864)13
  • Notes:
    • On September 1 & 16, 1864, this ship is noted as a “transport.”14,15
    • On October 1, 1864, this ship is noted as a “transport; needs extensive repairs.”16

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

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:

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

Norfolk Navy Yard, Va. (repairing) | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (November 1, 1864)17

Norfolk Navy Yard, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (December 5, 1864)18

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (December 15, 1864)19

  • Captain: Acting Master H. H. Haynie (November 1 and December 5 & 15, 1864) (also noted as a pilot on December 15)20,21,22
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
    • 1 x 32‑pdr. 47 cwt. (October 18, 1864)23
    • 1 x “guns” (December 15, 1864)24
  • Note: On December 15, 1864, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.25

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)26,27,28,29

Norfolk Navy Yard, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (February 25, 1865)30

  • Captain: Acting Master and Pilot H. H. Haynie (January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)31,32,33,34
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 1 x “gun” (January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)35,36,37,38
  • Note: On January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel. 39,40,41,42

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

Norfolk Navy Yard, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy March 18, 1865)43

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (April 1 & 15, 1865)44,45

  • Captain: Acting Master and Pilot H. H. Haynie (March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865)46,47,48
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 1 x “gun” (March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865)49,50,51
  • Note: On March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Paddle Class” vessel.52,53,54

 

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

  • TBD

 

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:55

The side‑wheel gunboat Mount Vernon, built at Philadephia in 1846, was seized by order of the War Department 21 April 1861 and transferred to the Navy on that date for active duty with the Potomac Flotilla, Lt. J. Glendy Sprosteon in command.

After fitting out at the Washington Navy Yard (striking the wharf in the process), Mount Vernon was ready for duty.

In this area for the remainder of 1861, Mount Vernon changed her name to Mount Washington 4 November 1861 to prevent confusion.

She joined the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron at Norfolk 25 February 1865. In April, she served as supply ship downriver until decommissioning. She was sold at public auction at Baltimore 21 June 1865. Redocumented 18 October 1865, she continued to serve American commerce until 1880.

 

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. 152–153 ↩
    3. “NH 45740 ‘The U.S. Steamer Mount Vernon Reconnoitreing the Unfinished Rebel Batteries on Mathias Point, on the Virginia Bank of the Potomac, Sixty Miles below Washington.”.” Naval History and Heritage Command, www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-45000/NH-45740.html. Photo #: NH 45740 The U.S. Steamer Mount Vernon Reconnoitreing the Unfinished Rebel Batteries on Mathias Point, on the Virginia Bank of the Potomac, Sixty Miles below Washington. Line engraving published in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, 1861, depicting a scene on the foredeck of USS Mount Vernon (later renamed Mount Washington) during her operations on the Potomac River in mid-1861. Note the 32-pounder smoothbore gun. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. ↩
    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. 157–158 ↩
    6. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 324–325 ↩
    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. 370–371 ↩
    10. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 410–412 ↩
    11. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 462–463 ↩
    12. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 514–515 ↩
    13. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 152–153 ↩
    14. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 410–412 ↩
    15. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 462–463 ↩
    16. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 514–515 ↩
    17. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 39–40 ↩
    18. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 140–142 ↩
    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. 39–40 ↩
    21. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 140–142 ↩
    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, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 152–153 ↩
    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, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
    27. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
    28. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
    29. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
    30. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 54–55 ↩
    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, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
    40. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
    41. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
    42. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
    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, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
    50. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
    51. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116–118 ↩
    52. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
    53. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
    54. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116–118 ↩
    55. “Mount Washington.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/m/mount-washington.html. ↩

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