- CSS Jamestown
"CSS" "Jamestown", originally a passenger steamer, was built at
New York City in1853 , and seized at Richmond,Virginia in1861 for the Commonwealth of Virginia Navy. She was commissioned by theConfederate States Navy the following July, and renamed CSS "Thomas Jefferson" but was generally referred to as "Jamestown", afterJamestown, Virginia .Brigantine -rigged "Jamestown" was designed and constructed by the well-known shipbuilder William H. Webb for the New York and Old Dominion Line as a sister to "Yorktown", which became CSS "Patrick Henry".Career
With Lt.
Joseph Nicholson Barney , CSN, in command, she was actively employed until the end of her career in May 1862. Her service was highlighted by theBattle of Hampton Roads onMarch 8 –9,1862 , during which she assisted CSS "Virginia" in attacking USS "Congress" and USS "Cumberland" and stood by during the battle between USS "Monitor" and "Virginia". TheConfederate Congress tendered special thanks to the officers and crew of "Jamestown" for their "gallant conduct and bearing" in combat.Some 4 weeks later, on
April 11 ,1862 , "Jamestown", "Virginia" and five other Confederate ships sailed fromNorfolk, Virginia , intoHampton Roads in full view of the Union squadron there. When it became clear that the Federal ships were not going to attack, "Jamestown", covered by "Virginia" and the others, moved in, captured three merchant ships, and helped by CSS "Raleigh", towed them to Norfolk. The merchant ships were the brigs "Marcus of Stockton, NJ" and "Sabout of Providence, RI" and the schooner "Catherine T. Dix" of Accomac County, VA. Their flags were hoisted "Union-side down" to taunt the Federals into fighting. Later that month "Jamestown" was despatched from Norfolk to cooperate withMajor General John Bankhead Magruder , CSA, in the James River, and early in May she was used to transport army sick and wounded toRichmond, Virginia .On the night of
May 5 , "Jamestown" and "Patrick Henry" proceeded to Norfolk and returned the following night with CSS "Richmond", CSS "Hampton" and store boats, passing the Federal battery atNewport News, Virginia unobserved on both occasions. A second attempt to return to Norfolk met with failure.On
May 8 , "Jamestown" was ordered to notifyStephen Mallory , Secretary of the Confederate States Navy, of the continuing engagement of two Federalgunboat s andironclad USS "Galena" with the Confederate batteries atDay's Point . Unable to carry out her assignment, "Jamestown" retired up the James River as far asDrewry's Bluff , where onMay 15 ,1862 , she was sunk to obstruct the channel.Commanders
The commanders of the CSS "Jamestown" were:Coski (1996), John M. "Capital Navy: The Men, Ships and Operations of the James River Squadron", Campbell, CA: Savas Woodbury Publishers. ISBN 1-882810-03-1.]
* Lt.
Joseph Nicholson Barney (1861-1862)
* Lt.George W. Harrison (May 1862, temporarily)Notes and references
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