USS Norfolk Packet

Last updated
History
US Naval Jack 36 stars.svg US flag 34 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Norfolk Packet
Laid downdate unknown
Launcheddate unknown
Acquired10 September 1861
Commissioned7 February 1862
Decommissioned12 July 1865
Stricken1865 (est.)
Homeport Port Royal, South Carolina
FateSold, 10 August 1865
General characteristics
Tonnage349
Length108 ft (33 m)
Beam28 ft 2 in (8.59 m)
Propulsion schooner sail
Speednot known
Complement40
Armament
  • one 13" mortar
  • two 32-pounder guns
  • two 12-pounder guns

USS Norfolk Packet was a large schooner purchased by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was assigned to gunboat duty in the inland waterways of the Confederate States of America.

Contents

Purchase

Schooner Norfolk Packet was purchased by the Navy from George Goodspeed of New York City 10 September 1861; altered for naval service by J. Engles; and commissioned 7 February 1862 at the New York Navy Yard, Lt. Watson Smith in command.

Mississippi River mortar fleet

The schooner was assigned to the Mortar Flotilla assembled under Comdr. David Dixon Porter for Flag Officer David Farragut's attack on New Orleans, Louisiana. The flotilla arrived in the Mississippi River 18 March; and, after eight days of arduous work in getting the larger vessels of the fleet over the bars, was ready for action.

The flotilla moved into position on 16 April and the mortars opened fire on Forts Jackson and St. Philip which protected New Orleans from attack by sea. From 16 until 24 April the mortar schooners bombarded the Confederate works. On the night of the 24th, Farragut's deep-draft ships raked the forts and the next day New Orleans surrendered.

Vicksburg

Norfolk Packet bombarded Vicksburg, Mississippi 27 June through 8 July 1862 supporting Farragut during his run past the batteries to meet Flag Officer Davis's Western Flotilla. Following this operation the schooner sailed to Baltimore, Maryland, for repairs.

South Atlantic blockade

Norfolk Packet was next assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, and arrived Port Royal, South Carolina, 7 November 1862. For the rest of the war, she blockaded the Confederate coast operating in the coastal waters of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

She participated in the bombardment of Fort McAllister, Georgia. 3 March 1863; captured schooner Ocean Bird off St. Augustine Inlet, Florida. 23 October; assisted Beauregard in capturing British schooner Linda attempting to slip into Mosquito Inlet, Florida. 11 March 1864. She took sloop Sarah Mary 26 June.

Decommissioning and disposal

After fighting stopped, Norfolk Packet departed Port Royal, South Carolina, on 23 June 1865. She was decommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 12 July, and was sold at public auction on 10 August.

Related Research Articles

USS A. Houghton – a 326 ton bark – was purchased during the beginning of the American Civil War by the Union Navy.

USS <i>Miami</i> (1861) American side-wheel steamer gunboat

The first USS Miami was a side-wheel steamer, double-ender gunboat in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.

USS Henry Janes was a mortar schooner acquired by the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She was used as a gunboat and assigned to the blockade of ports of the Confederate States of America.

USS <i>Owasco</i> Gunboat of the United States Navy

USS Owasco was a Unadilla-class gunboat built for the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was named for Owasco Lake.

USS <i>Kensington</i> (1862) Gunboat of the United States Navy

The second USS Kensington was a steamship in the United States Navy.

USS Horace Beals was a barkentine acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was placed into service as a cargo ship assigned to support the fleet blockading the ports of the Confederate States of America. However, at times, Horace Beals was assigned extra tasks, such as that of a hospital ship as well as an ammunition ship.

USS Sarah Bruen was a wooden schooner acquired by the United States Navy during the beginning of the American Civil War.

USS <i>Winona</i> Gunboat of the United States Navy

USS Winona was a Unadilla-class gunboat built for service with the Union Navy during the American Civil War. Winona was heavily armed, with large guns for duels at sea, and 24-pounder howitzers for shore bombardment. Winona saw significant action in the Gulf of Mexico and in the waterways of the Mississippi River and was fortunate to return home safely after the war for decommissioning.

USS <i>Racer</i> (1861) Gunboat of the United States Navy

USS Racer was a schooner acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used for various purposes, but, especially for bombardment because of her large 13-inch mortar that could fire up and over tall riverbanks.

USS John Griffith was a mortar schooner acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used for various purposes, but especially for bombardment because of her large 13-inch mortar and 12-pounder howitzers that could fire up and over tall defensive riverbanks.

USS <i>Octorara</i> (1861) Gunboat of the United States Navy

USS Octorara was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the Confederates from trading with other countries.

USS Oliver H. Lee was a schooner acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries as part of the Union blockade.

USS Matthew Vassar was a schooner purchased by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy primarily as a mortar gunboat, but also as a gunboat stationed off Confederate ports to prevent their trading with foreign countries.

USS Sea Foam was a brig purchased by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.

USS Adolph Hugel was a schooner acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.

USS George Mangham was a schooner acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways.

USS Arletta was a schooner acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat and, at times, an ammunition ship, in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways.

USS William Bacon was a schooner acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways.

USS Sidney C. Jones was a schooner that served in the Union Navy during the American Civil War. Built in East Haddam, Connecticut, and launched in April 1856, Sidney C. Jones was intended to be used on trade routes. In October 1861, she was purchased by the Union Navy for military service. Originally intended for service on the Union blockade, she was later converted into a mortar schooner and was armed with a mortar and four other cannons. In April 1862, she participated in the bombardment of Confederate positions at Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip. During July, she ran aground while part of a force bombarding Vicksburg, Mississippi, and was blown up by her crew to prevent capture on July 15.

USS T. A. Ward was a 284-ton schooner was purchased by the Union Navy during the Union blockade of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.