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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Harvest Moon

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal
Sidewheel Steamer:
  • Laid down in 1862 at Portland, ME. by Joseph W Dyer
  • Launched, 22 November 1862
  • Purchased, 16 November 1863, from Spear, Lang and Delano at Boston, MA.
  • Fitted out for blockade duty at Boston Navy Yard
  • Commissioned USS Harvest Moon, 12 February 1864, Acting LT. J. D. Warren in command
  • USS Harvest Moon was assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron as ADM Dahlgren's flagship;
    Harvest Moon began regular blockading duties, 7 June 1864, off Charleston
    Struck a torpedo in Winyah Bay, S. C., 29 February 1865, sinking in 2 ½ fathoms of water
  • Stripped of valuable machinery, the ship was abandoned, 21 April 1865
    Specifications:
    Displacement 546 t.
    Length 193'
    Beam 29'
    Depth of Hold 10'
    Draft 8'
    Speed 15 kts
    Complement unknown
    Armament
    one 20-Pdr. Parrott rifle
    four 24-Pdr. Howitzers
    on 12-Pdr. rifle
    Propulsion
    two 24 foot diameter sidewheels driven by a single cylinder vertical beam engine (Portland engine no. 4)
    two coal fired boilers
    single stack
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Harvest Moon>
    098633304    		 38k
    Namesake
    Harvest Moon - The full Moon nearest to the autumnal equinox (September 23rd).    		 Tommy Trampp
    Harvest Moon 52k Watercolor by Erik Heyl, 1953, of SS Harvest Moon for use in his book "Early American Steamers", Volume III. Courtesy of Erik Heyl.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 66973     		Bill Gonyo
    Harvest Moon 96k Wash drawing by R.G. Skerrett, 1903, depicting USS Harvest Moon underway during the Civil War. Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 57823.    		 Bill Gonyo
    Wachusett 149k "Landing of General Potter's and Admiral Dahlgren's Troops at Bull's Bay, South Carolina". Line engraving, based on a sketch by John Everding, published in "Harper's Weekly", March 1865, depicting the landings made on 16-17 February 1865. Ships shown include (as identified below the print, from left to right:
    USS State of Georgia,
    USS Pawnee,
    USS Juniata,
    USS Harvest Moon--flagship,
    USS Wando,
    USS Winona,
    USS Shenandoah, and
    USS Canandaigua.
    US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Photo #: NH 59175    		 Robert Hurst
    Harvest Moon 112k SCUBA Divers use rods to probe the area of the USS Harvest Moon shipwreck, circa 1963. Note the remains of her smokestack nearby. Courtesy of Walter McDonald.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 53685    		 Bill Gonyo
    USS Harvest Moon
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    U.S.S. Harvest Moon
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 21 May 2021