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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Norfolk Packet

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal
Schooner:
  • Built, date and location unknown
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Purchased, 10 September 1861, by the Navy Department from George Goodspeed of New York
  • Fitted out for naval service by J. Engles
  • Commissioned USS Norfolk Packet, 7 February 1862, at the New York Navy Yard, LT. Watson Smith in command
  • During the Civil War USS Norfolk Packet was initially assigned to the Mississippi Mortar Flotilla
    Participated in the attacks of Forts Jackson and St. Philip at New Orleans, 16 to 24 April 1862
    Took part in the bombardment of Vicksburg, MS., 27 June through 8 July 1862
    Reassigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron for the remained of the war
    Participated in the bombardment of Fort McAllister, GA., 3 March 1863
    Captured schooner Ocean Bird, 23 October 1864
    Assisted in the capture of British schooner Linda, 11 March 1864
    Took sloop Sarah Mary, 26 June 1864
  • Decommissioned, 12 July 1865
  • Sold, 10 August 1865, at public auction
    Specifications:
    Displacement 349 t.
    Length 108'
    Beam 28' 2"
    Depth unknown
    Draft unknown
    Speed unknown
    Complement 40
    Armament
    one 13" mortar
    two 32-pdrs
    two 12-pdrs
    Propulsion sail
    Click On Image
    or Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description
    Dandelion 75k "Bombardment of Fort McAllister, Georgia, 3 March 1863"
    Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", January-June 1863, page 196, depicting the bombardment of Fort McAllister by the U.S. Navy monitors USS Passaic, USS Patapsco and USS Nahant. The engraving is based on a sketch by "an eye-witness" on board USS Montauk, which is in the right center foreground. In the left foreground, firing on the fort, are the mortar schooners USS C.P. Williams, USS Norfolk Packet and USS Para. Among other U.S. Navy ships involved were gunboats USS Wissahickon, USS Seneca and USS Dawn and tug USS Dandelion.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 59288    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    USS Norfolk Packet
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Smith, Watson7 February 1862 - 26 August 1862
    02Act. ENS. Wood, George William8 November 1862 - 15 May 1865
    03Act. ENS. Smith, A. Dayton15 May 1865 - 12 July 1865
    Courtesy Bill Gonyo
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 10 May 2013