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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Commodore Morris

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal

Sidewheel Steamer:

Built as the sidewheel ferryboat Commodore Morris in 1862 at New York

Purchased by the US Navy, 5 August 1862

Fitted out at New York Navy Yard

Commissioned USS Commodore Morris, 19 November 1862, LCDR J. H. Gillis in command

During the Civil War USS Commodore Morris was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, in the rivers and creeks of Virginia, doing patrol and picket duty as well as transported troops, dragging for mines, towing disabled ships, and sending parties ashore to take prisoners and capture food supplies

In her patrols from 20 January 1863 to 20 April 1863 she took a sloop and 65 oyster boats as prizes

Participated in action against Confederate batteries at Trent's Reach, 16 May 1864, and near Malvern Hill on 14 and 16 July 1864

Decommissioned, 24 June 1865

Sold, 12 July 1865

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications:
Displacement 532 t.
Length unknown
Beam unknown
Depth unknown
Draft 8' 6"
Speed 7 kts
Complement 106

Armament

one 100-pdr rifle

one 9" smoothbore gun

four 24-pdr howitzers

Propulsion steam

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Source
	343k	USS Commodore Morris moored on the Pamunkey River, VA. sometime in early 1864 after being repaired just prior to the James-Nansemond Rivers expedition, 13 to 14 April 1864. US National Archives photo.		Bill Gonyo
	110k	Watercolor painting of the naval and merchant steamer, USS Commodore Morris, 1862-1931. Watercolor by Erik Heyl. 1866-1917: ferry *SS Clinton; 1917-1920: U.S. Army ferry Gen. John Simpson; 1920-1931: ferry SS Clinton*. For more data, see: Erik Heyl, Early American Steamers, vol. IV. Courtesy of Erik Heyl. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # NH 63705.		Bob Hurst

USS Commodore Morris
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LCDR. Gillis, James H.	19 November 1862 - 21 March 1864
02	LT. Fyffe, Joseph P.	29 March 1864 - 21 May 1864
03	Act. Master Lee, Robert G.	21 May 1864 - 18 March 1865
04	Act. Master Bingham, Hamilton	1 April 1865 - 24 June 1865


Courtesy Bill Gonyo

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This page is created by Gary P. Priolo and maintained by Michael Junge

Last Updated 17 February 2023