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USS Picket Launch No. 4

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 Picket Launch No. 4 Type: Screw Steamer Tonnage: About 20
Length: Not Listed. Beam: Not Listed. Draught: Loaded, Forward: 1’, Loaded, Aft: 3’6”; Light, Forward: 6”, Light, Aft: 2’6”
Speed: Max: 8 knots, Avg.: 5 knots Complement: Not Listed. Class:
Armament: November 1864: 1 12-pdr. howitzer and torpedo attachment
Namesake: Not Listed.

Images:

Image Needed (Does One Exist?)

Ship Model Available:

Long Face Games Union and Confederate Torpedo Boats Ship Models Designs, 1/600 and 1/1200

Captain(s):
Acting Ensign [????]
Captain Image

Captain 2
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

 

First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864):

  • Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

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

  • Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Third Offensive Order of Battle (July 1-31, 1864):

  • Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864):

  • Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle (September 1-October 13, 1864):

  • Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

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

  • Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle (November 1-December 31, 1864): James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (December 15, 1864)3

  • Captain: Not Listed. (December 15, 1864)4
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:1 x 12-pdr. howitzer and torpedo attachment (November ??, 1864)5

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle (January 1-February 28, 1865): James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (January 1 & 15, 1865)6,7

  • Captain:
    • Not Listed. (January 1, 1865)8
    • Acting Ensign [????] (January 15, 1865)9
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 1 x “guns” (January 15, 1865)10
  • Note: On January 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.11

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle (March 1-April 2, 1865):

James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (March 18, 1865)12,13

Ordered to Potomac Flotilla (on or before April 15, 1865)14

  • Captain:
    • Not Listed. (March 18, 1865)15
    • Not Listed. (April 1, 1865)16
    • Not Listed. (April 15, 1865)17
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 1 x “gun” (March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865)18,19,20
  • Note: On March 18 and April 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Screw Class” vessel.21,22,23

 

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

  • TBD

 

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:

SOPO Editor’s Note: I could not find an entry for this ship in the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

 

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.: I could not find this ship at the DANFS site.  If you know which entry it is, please let me know.
      2. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 178: Incorrectly identified as Picket BOAT No. 4, rather than the proper designation of Picket LAUNCH.  There were six other ships called Picket Boat No.1 to No. 6, and those had their names changes to letters of the Greek alphabet to distinguish between the two.
      3. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192194
      4. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192194
      5. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 178
      6. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398400
      7. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597599
      8. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398400
      9. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597599
      10. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597599
      11. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597599
      12. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 7173
      13. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 9394
      14. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116118
      15. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 7173
      16. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 9394
      17. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116118
      18. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 7173
      19. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 9394
      20. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116118
      21. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 7173
      22. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 9394
      23. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 116118
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