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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Morning Light

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal

Ship:

Built in 1853 by William Cramp at Kensington, PA.

Launched 15 August 1853

Purchased by the Navy, 2 September 1861, at New York

Commissioned USS Morning Light, 21 November 1861, at New York Navy Yard, Acting Volunteer Lt. Henry T. Moore in command

After fitting out Morning Light sailed from New York to cruise the lower east coast in search of Confederate privateers and blockade runners

Morning Light returned to New York, 28 February 1862

She next joined the West Gulf Blockading Squadron in March

On 15 April, Morning Light and the bark USS J.C. Kuhn were ordered to stand off Ship Island, MS., as protection for the Army command of Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler

On 27 May, Morning Light was off Pensacola, FL., performing blockade duties with sloop USS Vincennes

On 27 and 28 November at Velasco TX., Morning Light sent several boat expeditions ashore to destroy the Confederate salt works at Cedar Lake

On 21 January 1863, Morning Light, now assigned to the blockade off Sabine Pass, was attacked and captured by the Confederate cotton-clad Josiah A. Bell and was burned 2 days later

Specifications:
Displacement 937 t.
Length 172'
Beam 34'3"
Depth of Hold 24'
Draft 19'
Speed unknown
Complement unknown

Armament eight 22-pdrs

Propulsion Sail

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
	60k	*CSS Uncle Ben* and *J. A. Bell* capture USS *Morning Light* at Sabine Pass, Texas on January 21, 1863. Image from New York Public Library Digital Collections		Tommy Trampp

USS Morning Light
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

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Last Updated 24 April 2023