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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Dawn (I)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal

Screw steamer:

Built in 1857 as the screw steamer SS Dawn by Samuel Sneden, New York

Chartered by the US Navy, 26 April 1861

Purchased, 12 October 1861, outfitted at New York Navy Yard

Commissioned USS Dawn, 9 May 1861, CDR. W. Chandler in command

During the Civil War USS Dawn was assigned to the Potomac Flotilla

Captured three ships with contraband goods and passengers on board while on blockade duty at the mouth of the York River

Reassigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in May 1862

Participated in the attack on Fort McAllister, 27 January and 1 February 1863

Assisted in the capture of several blockade runners, including the Confederate privateer Nashville

Decommissioned, 9 July 1863 at New York for repairs

Recommissioned, 2 December 1863

Assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron

Patrolled the James River from 14 December 1863 to 25 March 1865

Decommissioned, 17 June 1865, at Portsmouth Navy Yard

Towed to Boston Navy Yard and sold 1 November 1865, entered commercial service as the steamer SS Eutaw

Final Disposition, wrecked in 1869

Specifications:
Displacement 399 t.
Length 154'
Beam 28'
Draft 12'
Speed 8 kts
Complement 60

Armament

two 32-pdrs

Propulsion steam

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
59k	Watercolor by Erik Heyl, of SS Dawn for use in his book "Early American Steamers", Volume III. This vessel served as USS Dawn in 1861-1865 and was later the civilian steamer SS Eutaw. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 66961	Tommy Trampp
170k	Line engraving published in "The Soldier in Our Civil War", Volume II, page 41, showing *Rattlesnake* (ex-CSS Nashville) burning after being shelled by the monitor USS Montauk commanded by CAPT. John L. Worden, USN, in the Ogeechee River, Georgia, 28 February 1863. Fort McAllister is in the right-center background, and the U.S. Navy gunboats USS Wissahickon, USS Seneca and USS Dawn are providing supporting fire in the left distance. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 59286	US Naval History and Heritage Command
103k	"The Line Of Battle, Ogeechee River" The second battle of Ogeechee River, 13December 1864. A sketch from "Harpers Weekly" showing: USS C.P. Williams USS Dawn *Daffodil* USS Wissahickon USS Seneca USS Montauk on the river.	Tommy Trampp

USS Dawn (I)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 27 October 2017