USS Harvest Moon (1863)

The USS "Harvest Moon" was a steam operated gunboat acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries.

Constructed in Portland, Maine

"Harvest Moon", a side-wheel steamer, was built in 1863 at Portland, Maine, and was purchased by Commodore Montgomery from Charles Spear at Boston, Massachusetts, 16 November 1863. She was fitted out for blockade duty at Boston Navy Yard and commissioned 12 February 1864, Acting Lieutenant J. D. Warren in command.

Civil War Service

Operating with the South Atlantic Blockade

Assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, "Harvest Moon" departed Boston 18 February and arrived off Charleston, South Carolina, 25 February 1864. Next day Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren made the steamer his flagship. After putting into Washington Navy Yard for repairs. "Harvest Moon" began her regular blockading duties 7 June 1864 off Charleston.

For the next 9 months the steamer served off Tybee Island, Georgia, the North Edisto River, and Charleston harbor. During this period she also acted as a picket and dispatch vessel as well as Admiral Dahlgren's flagship.

"Harvest Moon" strikes a mine and sinks while Admiral Dahlgren is aboard

While proceeding in company with tug Clover shortly after 0800 on 29 February 1865 "Harvest Moon" struck a torpedo (mine) in Winyah Bay, South Carolina. Admiral Dahlgren, awaiting breakfast in his cabin, saw the bulkhead shatter and explode toward him.

The explosion blew a large hole in the ship's hull aft and she sank in 2½ fathoms of water. One man was killed. The Admiral, and the crew, were taken on board "Nipsic". "Harvest Moon" was stripped of her valuable machinery and abandoned 21 April 1865.

Attempts to raise "Harvest Moon" a century later

In 1963, nearly 100 years later, a project was initiated to raise "Harvest Moon" from the mud at the bottom of Winyah Bay and to restore the ship, but has made little headway.

References

See also

* United States Navy
* American Civil War
* Confederate States Navy

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-h/harv-mn.htm USS Harvest Moon (1864-1865).]