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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Commodore Jones

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal
Sidewheel Steamer:
  • Built as a sidewheel ferry, date and location unknown
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Purchased by the Navy at New York in 1863
  • Commissioned USS Commodore Jones, 1 May 1863, LCDR. J. G. Mitchell in command
  • USS Commodore Jones was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron and operated in Virginia's rivers and on her coast from 11 May 1863
  • The steamer was detailed to picket and patrol duty and dragging for torpedoes (mines)
  • Commodore Jones skirmished with enemy cavalry, shelled shore installations, and captured contraband goods with her shore parties
  • She joined in the evacuation of West Point, VA., 31 May and 1 June
  • Participated in the expedition up the Mattaponi from 3 to 7 June
  • Took part in the Chickahominy demonstration of 10 to 13 June
  • Put to sea in search of CSS Tacony from 13 to 19 June
  • Final Disposition, while on patrol in the James River she was destroyed by an electric torpedo, 6 May 1864
    Specifications:
    Displacement 542 t
    Length 154'
    Beam 32'6"
    Draft unknown
    Depth of Hold 11'8"
    Speed 12kts
    Complement 88
    Armament
    four 9" smoothbores
    one 50-pdr rifle
    two 30-pdr rifles
    four 24-pdrs
    Propulsion steam
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Commodore Jones 107k "Destruction of the United States Gun-boat 'Commodore Jones' on the James River".
    Engraving published in Harper's Weekly, 28 May 1864, page 348, depicting USS Commodore Jones being blown up by a very powerful Confederate electrically detonated mine ("torpedo") on 6 May 1864, while she was operating on the James River, Virginia.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 55305    		 Robert Hurst
    USS Commodore Jones
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    Last Updated 28 April 2017