CSS Jamestown

"CSS" "Jamestown", originally a passenger steamer, was built at New York City in 1853, and seized at Richmond, Virginia in 1861 for the Commonwealth of Virginia Navy. She was commissioned by the Confederate States Navy the following July, and renamed CSS "Thomas Jefferson" but was generally referred to as "Jamestown", after Jamestown, 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 the Battle of Hampton Roads on March 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". The Confederate 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 from Norfolk, Virginia, into Hampton 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 with Major General John Bankhead Magruder, CSA, in the James River, and early in May she was used to transport army sick and wounded to Richmond, 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 at Newport News, Virginia unobserved on both occasions. A second attempt to return to Norfolk met with failure.

On May 8, "Jamestown" was ordered to notify Stephen Mallory, Secretary of the Confederate States Navy, of the continuing engagement of two Federal gunboats and ironclad USS "Galena" with the Confederate batteries at Day's Point. Unable to carry out her assignment, "Jamestown" retired up the James River as far as Drewry's Bluff, where on May 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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