 CSSJamestown moving in to capture merchantschooners inHampton Roads, April 11, 1862.(Line engraving originally published inHarper's Weekly in 1862.) | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Confederate States | |
| Name | Jamestown |
| Namesake | Jamestown, Virginia |
| Launched | 1853 |
| Commissioned | July 1861 |
| Decommissioned | May 15, 1862 |
| Fate | Sunk to obstruct James River |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 1300 tons |
| Length | 250 ft (76 m) |
| Beam | 34 ft (10 m) |
| Draft | 17 ft (5.2 m) |
| Propulsion | Steam engine |
| Armament | 2 guns |
CSSJamestown, originally a side-wheel, passengersteamer, was built atNew York City in 1853, and seized atRichmond,Virginia in 1861 for theVirginia Navy during the early days of theAmerican Civil War. She was commissioned by theConfederate States Navy (CSN) the following July (after the Virginia Navy was transferred to the CSN),[1] and renamed CSSThomas Jefferson but was generally referred to asJamestown, afterJamestown, Virginia.
Brigantine-riggedJamestown was designed and constructed by the well-known shipbuilderWilliam H. Webb for the New York and Old Dominion Line as a sister toYorktown, which becameCSSPatrick Henry.
WithLt.Joseph Nicholson Barney, CSN, in command, she was actively employed until the end of her career in May 1862. Her service was highlighted by theBattle of Hampton Roads on March 8–9 1862, during which she assistedCSSVirginia in attackingUSSCongress andUSSCumberland and stood by during the battle betweenUSSMonitor andVirginia. TheConfederate Congress tendered special thanks to the officers and crew ofJamestown for their "gallant conduct and bearing" in combat.[2]
Some 4 weeks later, on April 11, 1862,Jamestown,Virginia and five other Confederate ships sailed fromNorfolk, Virginia, intoHampton Roads in full view of theUnion squadron there. When it became clear that the Federal ships were not going to attack,Jamestown, covered byVirginia and the others, moved in, captured three merchant ships, and helped byCSSRaleigh, towed them to Norfolk. The merchant ships were the brigsMarcus of Stockton, NJ andSabout of Providence, RI and the schoonerCatherine T. Dix of Accomac County, VA. Their flags were hoisted "Union-side down" to taunt the Federals into fighting. Later that monthJamestown was despatched from Norfolk to cooperate withMajor GeneralJohn B. Magruder,CSA, in theJames River, and early in May she was used to transport army sick and wounded toRichmond, Virginia.
On the night of May 5,Jamestown andPatrick Henry proceeded to Norfolk and returned the following night withCSSRichmond,CSSHampton andordnance store boats, passing the Federal battery atNewport News, Virginia unobserved on both occasions. A second attempt to return to Norfolk met with failure.On May 8,Jamestown was ordered to notifyStephen Mallory, Secretary of the Confederate States Navy, of the continuing engagement of two Federalgunboats andironcladUSSGalena with the Confederate batteries atDay's Point. Unable to carry out her assignment,Jamestown retired up the James River as far asDrewry's Bluff, where on May 15, 1862, she was sunk to obstruct the channel.
The commanders of the CSSJamestown were:[3]
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
