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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS John P. Jackson

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal
Sidewheel Ferry Steamer:
  • Built in 1860 by Divine Burtis at Brooklyn, N.Y. for the Pennsylvania Railroad
  • Purchased by the Navy at Newark, N.J., from Jersey City Ferry Co. 6 November 1861
  • Commissioned USS John P. Jackson, 14 February 1862, at New York Navy Yard, LT. Selim E. Woodworth in command
  • Assigned to CDR. David D. Porter's mortar flotilla at Key West, FL.
    Participated in the securing of Pass Christian, MS. and capturing Confederate steamer SS P.C. Wallis, 4 April 1862
    Participated in the bombardment of Forts Philip and Jackson, 18 through 24 April 1862
    Support Adm. Farragut while running the gauntlet at Vicksburg in June 1862
    During this action John P. Jackson was hit twice by 7-inch rifle projectiles, leaving her without power and causing other serious damage
    After repairs at New Orleans, John P. Jackson was ordered to Mississippi Sound 30 September for reconnaissance work; and she served there throughout the remainder of the war
    Captured sloop Young Gustave in Mississippi Sound 21 October 1862
    Cooperated with USS Genesee and USS Calhoun, 12 September 1863, chasing the steamer SS Fanny ashore where she was burned to prevent her falling into Union hands
    Engaged Confederate steamer CSS Jeff Davis, 13 September 1863, forcing her to withdraw to the shelter of batteries at Grant's Pass where she silenced the Grant's Pass guns
    Took schooner Syrena, 21 October 1863
    Participated in the action at Mobile Bay, 16 February 1864
    Captured schooner Medora in Mississippi Sound, 8 December 1864
  • Decommissioned, 5 September 1865, at New Orleans, LA.
  • Sold at public auction in New Orleans to Marcy, Maury & Co. 27 September 1865
  • Redocumented SS J. P. Jackson 3 October 1865
  • Final Disposition, abandoned in 1871
    Specifications:
    Displacement 750 t.
    Length 192'
    Beam 36' 6"
    Depth 12'
    Draft unknown
    Speed unknown
    Complement 99
    Armament
    four 32-pdrs
    one 9" Dahlgren smoothbore
    one 6" Sawyer rifle
    Propulsion steam
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    John P. Jackson 131k Watercolor of SS J. P. Jackson by Erik Heyl, 1962, painted for use in his book "Early American Steamers", Volume IV. Courtesy of Erik Heyl.
    US Navy photo # NH 63704 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command     		US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Essex 79k "Panoramic View of the United States Fleet passing the Forts on the Mississippi, on its way to New Orleans, April 19th, 1862."
    Contemporary line engraving published in "The Soldier in our Civil War", Volume I. It depicts the Federal ships shortly before they began the passage of the forts, with the Confederate gunboats waiting upstream. Individual U.S. Navy ships (as identified in text below the engraving) are:
    USS John P. Jackson;
    USS Mississippi;
    USS Pensacola;
    USS Hartford (Flagship);
    USS Iroquois;
    USS Westfield;
    USS Cayuga; and
    USS Varuna;
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 59063    		 Robert Hurst
    John P. Jackson 243k James Bard. Steamer "J.P. Jackson". Oil. The Frick Collection / Frick Art Reference Library Photoarchive. Bill Gonyo
    USS John P. Jackson
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 7 January 2017