≡ Menu

USS Commodore Perry

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this ship’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Ship Information (from DANFS)1,2:

Name: USS Commodore Perry Type: Sidewheel Steamer Tonnage: 512
Length: 143’ Beam: 33’ Draught: Forward: 9’, Aft: 10’
Speed: Max: 7 knots Complement: 125 men Class: Not Listed.
Armament: July 16, 1864: 1 100-pdr. Parrott rifle, 4 9” Dahlgren Smoothbores, 1 heavy 12-pdr. Smoothbore
Namesake: Oliver Hazard Perry was born 3 August 1785 in South Kingston, R.I., and entered the Navy as a midshipman in 1799. After distinguished service in the Quasi-War with France and the Barbary Wars, Perry commanded American forces on Lake Erie in the War of 1812. There he won a decisive victory over the British on 10 September 1813 which gave control of the lakes to the United States. He died on board John Adams lying off Port of Spain, Trinidad, 23 August 1819.

Matthew Calbraith Perry, his brother, was born in Newport, R.I., on 10 April 1794, and became a midshipman in the Navy in 1809. Perry commanded the Gulf Squadron during the latter stages of the Mexican War, and in 1853-54, while commanding the East India Squadron, negotiated the historic treaty which opened Japan to American commerce. He died 4 March 1858 in New York City.

Images:

NH 55308: USS COMMODORE PERRY (1861-1865)3

 

Captain(s):
Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Amos P. Foster
Captain Image

Captain 2
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

 

First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864): In the Appomattox River | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (June 16-17, 1864)4,5,[102 Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume X, p. 138],6,7

  • Captain: Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Amos P. Foster (at least June 9-11, 13 and 16-17, 1864)8,9,10,11
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: at least 1 x 100-pdr. Parrott rifle, probably others as shown below (June 16-17, 1864)(100-pounder burst on June 17)12,13
  • Note: The Commodore Perry and General Putnam were in the Appomattox River on June 13, 1864.14
  • Note: Her 100-pounder burst on June 17, 1864.  Was it replaced or repaired or continued as is?  If repaired or replaced, when?15

Second Offensive Order of Battle (June 19-30, 1864):

  • Captain: Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Amos P. Foster (June 23, 1864)16
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:

Third Offensive Order of Battle (July 1-31, 1864): Fourth Division (James River) | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (July 31, 1864)17

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 1 x 100-pdr. Parrott rifle, 4 x 9” Dahlgren Smoothbores, 1 x heavy 12-pdr. Smoothbore (July 16, 1864)18

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864): Fourth Division (James River) | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (August 1 & 17, 1864)19,20

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle (September 1-October 13, 1864): Second Division (Hampton Roads and James River) | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (September 1 & 16 and October 1, 1864)21,22,23

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Notes:
    • On September 1 & 16, 1864, this ship is noted as “boiler very weak.”24,25
    • On October 1, 1864, this ship is noted as in “James River; boiler very weak.”26

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle (October 14-31, 1864):

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle (November 1-December 31, 1864):

Norfolk Navy Yard, Va. (repairing) | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (November 1, 1864)27

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (December 5 & 15, 1864)28,29

  • Captain: Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Amos P. Foster (November 1 and December 1 & 15, 1864)30,31,32
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 5  x “guns” (December 15, 1864)33
  • Notes:
    • On November 12, 1864, this ship was repairing in the Appomattox River and was classified as a “ferryboat.”34
    • On December 15, 1864, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.35

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle (January 1-February 28, 1865): James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (January 1 & 15 and February 1, 15 & 25, 1865)36,37,38,39,40

  • Captain: Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Amos P. Foster (January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)41,42,43,44
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 5 x “guns” (January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865)45,46,47,48
  • Note: On January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.49,50,51,52

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle (March 1-April 2, 1865): James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (March 1 and April 1 & 15, 1865)(at Trent’s Reach Aril 1)(Below Richmond April 15)53,54,55

  • Captain: Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Amos P. Foster (March 1 and April 1 & 15, 1865)56,57,58
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 5 x “guns” (March 1 and April 1 & 15, 1865)59,60,61
  • Notes:
    • On March 1 and April 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Paddle Class” vessel.62,63,64
    • On April 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “guard ship below Richmond.”65

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

 

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:71

Commodore Perry, an armed side wheel ferry, was built in 1859 by Stack and Joyce, Williamsburg, N.Y.; purchased by the Navy 2 October 1861; and commissioned later in the month, Acting Master F. J. Thomas in command.

Commodore Perry sailed from Hampton Roads, Va., 17 January 1862 to join the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron…

After another combined expedition against Hertford, N.C., on 30 January 1863, Commodore Perry patrolled constantly in Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds and the streams which enter them, frequently exchanging fire with small detachments of Confederates ashore. Repaired at Norfolk and Baltimore late in 1863, she returned to her squadron in March 1864 for duty in the inland and coastal waters of Virginia on picket, guard, and patrol duty, joining in many amphibious expeditions, until the close of the war. She sailed from Norfolk for New York 12 June 1865, and there was decommissioned 26 June and sold 12 July 1865.

 

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. “DANFS.” Naval History and Heritage Command, www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html. ↩
    2. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 64 ↩
    3. “NH 55308 USS COMMODORE PERRY (1861-1865).” Naval History and Heritage Command, www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-55000/NH-55308.html. USS COMMODORE PERRY (1861-1865) Description: Catalog #: NH 55308 ↩
    4. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 157–158 ↩
    5. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume X, p. 145 ↩
    6. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume X, p. 152 ↩
    7. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume X, p. 153 ↩
    8. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume 10, p. 145 ↩
    9. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume X, p. 138 ↩
    10. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume X, p. 152 ↩
    11. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume X, p. 153 ↩
    12. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume X, p. 152 ↩
    13. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume X, p. 153 ↩
    14. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume X, p. 145 ↩
    15. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume X, p. 153 ↩
    16. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume X, p. 153 ↩
    17. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 324–325 ↩
    18. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 64 ↩
    19. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 370–371 ↩
    20. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, p. 326 ↩
    21. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 410–412 ↩
    22. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 462–463 ↩
    23. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 514–515 ↩
    24. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 410–412 ↩
    25. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 462–463 ↩
    26. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 514–515 ↩
    27. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 39–40 ↩
    28. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 140–142 ↩
    29. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
    30. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 39–40 ↩
    31. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 140–142 ↩
    32. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
    33. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
    34. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, p. 61 ↩
    35. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
    36. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
    37. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
    38. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
    39. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
    40. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 54–55 ↩
    41. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
    42. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
    43. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
    44. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
    45. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
    46. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
    47. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
    48. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
    49. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
    50. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
    51. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
    52. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
    53. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
    54. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
    55. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116–118 ↩
    56. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
    57. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
    58. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116–118 ↩
    59. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
    60. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
    61. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116–118 ↩
    62. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
    63. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
    64. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116–118 ↩
    65. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116–118 ↩
    66. “Butler.” The New York Herald (New York, NY), June 12, 1864, p. 5, col. 4 ↩
    67. “The Movement on Petersburg, (Va.).” Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, DC), June 14, 1864., p. 3, col. 4. ↩
    68. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume X,  138 ↩
    69. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume X, p. 152 ↩
    70. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume X, p. 153 ↩
    71. “Commodore Perry.” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/commodore-perry.html. ↩

    Tagged as: , , ,

    { 0 comments… add one }

    Leave a Reply

    Next post:

    Previous post:

    Search SOPO

    SOPO RSS Feed

    Subscribe to The Siege of Petersburg Online RSS Feed

    Links