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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Commodore Morris


Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal

Sidewheel Steamer:
  • Built as the sidewheel ferryboat Commodore Morris in 1862 at New York
  • Purchased by the US Navy, 5 August 1862
  • Fitted out at New York Navy Yard
  • Commissioned USS Commodore Morris, 19 November 1862, LCDR J. H. Gillis in command
  • During the Civil War USS Commodore Morris was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, in the rivers and creeks of Virginia, doing patrol and picket duty as well as transported troops, dragging for mines, towing disabled ships, and sending parties ashore to take prisoners and capture food supplies
  • In her patrols from 20 January 1863 to 20 April 1863 she took a sloop and 65 oyster boats as prizes
  • Participated in action against Confederate batteries at Trent's Reach, 16 May 1864, and near Malvern Hill on 14 and 16 July 1864
  • Decommissioned, 24 June 1865
  • Sold, 12 July 1865
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 532 t.
    Length unknown
    Beam unknown
    Depth unknown
    Draft 8' 6"
    Speed 7 kts
    Complement 106
    Armament
    one 100-pdr rifle
    one 9" smoothbore gun
    four 24-pdr howitzers
    Propulsion steam
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    Size Image Description Source
    Commodore Morris 343k USS Commodore Morris moored on the Pamunkey River, VA. sometime in early 1864 after being repaired just prior to the James-Nansemond Rivers expedition, 13 to 14 April 1864.
    US National Archives photo.
    Bill Gonyo
    Commodore Morris 110k Watercolor painting of the naval and merchant steamer, USS Commodore Morris, 1862-1931. Watercolor by Erik Heyl. 1866-1917: ferry SS Clinton; 1917-1920: U.S. Army ferry Gen. John Simpson; 1920-1931: ferry SS Clinton. For more data, see: Erik Heyl, Early American Steamers, vol. IV. Courtesy of Erik Heyl. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # NH 63705. Bob Hurst

    USS Commodore Morris
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Gillis, James H.19 November 1862 - 21 March 1864
    02LT. Fyffe, Joseph P.29 March 1864 - 21 May 1864
    03Act. Master Lee, Robert G.21 May 1864 - 18 March 1865
    04Act. Master Bingham, Hamilton1 April 1865 - 24 June 1865
    Courtesy Bill Gonyo

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    Last Updated 17 February 2023