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USS Zeta (aka Picket Boat No. 6) (aka Tug No. 6)

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Ship Information (from DANFS)1,2:

Name: USS Zeta (aka Tug No. 6) (aka Picket Boat No. 6) Type: Screw Steamer Tonnage: 60
Length: 58’ Beam: 13’ Draught: November 5, 1864, Forward: 4’, Aft: 7’6”
Speed: Max: 8.5 knots Complement: Not Listed. Class: Not Listed.
Armament: November 5, 1864: 8 Enfield muskets with saber bayonets, 8 cutlasses, 1 torpedo, containing 150 lbs. of powder, so damaged as to render it unfit for service
Namesake: The sixth letter of the Greek alphabet.

Images:

01771vZetaCLOSEUP3

 

Captain(s):
Acting Ensign Frederick W. Mintzer
Captain Image

Acting Ensign Ely M. Boggs
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

 

First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864): James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (June 17, 1864)4

  • Captain: Acting Ensign Frederick W. Mintzer (June 8, 1864)5
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Note: On June 17, 1864, this ship is noted as “unarmed; fitting with torpedoes” and “above Wilson’s Wharf” on the James River.6

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

  • Captain:
  • 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)7

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864): Fourth Division (James River) | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (August 1 & 17, 1864)8,9

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Note: On August 17, 1864, this ship is noted as a “torpedo boat.”10

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)11,12,13

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Notes:
    • On September 16, 1864, this ship is noted as “fitted as torpedo boat.”14
    • On October 1, 1864, this ship is noted as in “James River; fitted as torpedo boat.”15

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

  • Captain:
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle (November 1-December 31, 1864): James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (November 1 and December 5 & 15, 1865)16,17,18

  • Captain:
    • Not listed. (November 1 and December 5, 1864)19,20
    • Acting Ensign Frederick W. Mintzer (December 15, 1864)21
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament: 8 Enfield muskets with saber bayonets, 8 cutlasses, 1 torpedo, containing 150 lbs. of powder, so damaged as to render it unfit for service (November 5, 1864) 22
  • Notes:
    • Note: On December 5, 1864, this ship is noted as having its name changed to “Zeta.”23
    • Note: On December 15, 1864, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.24

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, 1865)25,26,27,28

  • Captain:
    • Acting Ensign Frederick W. Mintzer (January 1 & 15 and February 1, 1865)29,30,31
    • Acting Ensign Ely M. Boggs (February 15, 1865)32
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Note: On January 1 & 15 and February 1 & 15, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Class 4” vessel.33,34,35,36

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle (March 1-April 2, 1865): James River, Va. | North Atlantic Blockading Squadron | Union Navy (March 18 and April 1, 1865)37,38

  • Captain:
    • Acting Ensign Ely M. Boggs (March 18, 1865)39
    • Acting Ensign Frederick Mintzer (April 1, 1865)40
  • Crew Strength:
  • Armament:
  • Note: On March 18 and April 1, 1865, this ship is noted as a “Screw Class” vessel.41,42

 

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

  • TBD

 

Siege of Petersburg Involvement:43

  1. G. Loane — a small wooden steamer built at Philadelphia, Pa., in 1844 — was purchased by the Navy on 3 June 1864 at Philadelphia from William S. Mason.

Renamed Tug No. 6 and commissioned on 8 June 1864, Acting Ensign Frederick W. Mintzer in command, this small craft was sometimes referred to as Picket Boat No. 6 in dispatches.

Renamed Zeta in November 1864, she served as a torpedo tug in the James River until April of 1865. Transferred in that month to the Potomac Flotilla of Cmdr. Foxhall A. Parker, Zeta guarded the Bush River [Maryland] Bridge until sent to the Washington [D.C.] Navy Yard in May.

Her services no longer required, Zeta was sold to C. Vanderwerken on 24 June 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. 245 ↩
    3. James River, Va. U.S.S. monitor Canonicus taking on coal from a schooner. (Between 1860 and 1865) Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2018666833/>. The Zeta fortuitously happened to be in the foreground when the original image was taken.  This is a closeup of the Zeta. Note the “6” on her smokestack. ↩
    4. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 157–158 ↩
    5. “Zeta (Screw Steamer).” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/z/zeta.html. ↩
    6. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 157–158 ↩
    7. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 324–325 ↩
    8. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 370–371 ↩
    9. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, p. 326 ↩
    10. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 370–371 ↩
    11. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 410–412 ↩
    12. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 462–463 ↩
    13. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 514–515 ↩
    14. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 462–463 ↩
    15. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume X, pp. 514–515 ↩
    16. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 39–40 ↩
    17. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 140–142 ↩
    18. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
    19. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 39–40 ↩
    20. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 140–142 ↩
    21. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
    22. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series 2, Volume 1, p. 245 ↩
    23. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 140–142 ↩
    24. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 192–194 ↩
    25. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
    26. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
    27. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
    28. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
    29. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
    30. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
    31. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
    32. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
    33. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 398–400 ↩
    34. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 597–599 ↩
    35. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XI, pp. 722–724 ↩
    36. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 20–21 ↩
    37. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
    38. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
    39. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
    40. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
    41. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 71–73 ↩
    42. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Volume XII, pp. 93–94 ↩
    43. “Zeta (Screw Steamer).” Naval History and Heritage Command, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/z/zeta.html. ↩

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