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USS Harvest Moon (1863)
Encyclopedia
The USS Harvest Moon was a steam operated gunboat
acquired by the Union Navy
during the American Civil War
. She was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy
to prevent the South from trading with other countries.
, was built in 1863 at Portland, Maine
, and was purchased by Commodore Montgomery from Charles Spear at Boston, Massachusetts, 16 November 1863. She was fitted out for blockade duty at Boston Navy Yard
and commissioned 12 February 1864, Acting Lieutenant J. D. Warren in command.
, 25 February 1864. Next day Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren
made the steamer his flagship
. After putting into Washington Navy Yard
for repairs. Harvest Moon began her regular blockading duties 7 June 1864 off Charleston.
For the next 9 months the steamer served off Tybee Island, Georgia
, the North Edisto River
, and Charleston harbor. During this period she also acted as a picket and dispatch vessel
as well as Admiral Dahlgren's flagship.
shortly after 0800 on 1 March 1865 Harvest Moon struck a torpedo (mine) in Winyah Bay
, South Carolina
. Admiral Dahlgren, awaiting breakfast in his cabin, saw the bulkhead shatter and explode toward him.
The explosion blew a large hole in the ship's hull aft and she sank in 2½ fathoms of water. One man was killed. The Admiral, and the crew, were taken on board Nipsic
. Harvest Moon was stripped of her valuable machinery and abandoned 21 April 1865.
and to restore the ship, but has made little headway.
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
acquired by the Union Navy
Union Navy
The Union Navy is the label applied to the United States Navy during the American Civil War, to contrast it from its direct opponent, the Confederate States Navy...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. She was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
to prevent the South from trading with other countries.
Constructed in Portland, Maine
Harvest Moon, a side-wheel steamerSteamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
, was built in 1863 at Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, and was purchased by Commodore Montgomery from Charles Spear at Boston, Massachusetts, 16 November 1863. She was fitted out for blockade duty at Boston Navy Yard
Boston Navy Yard
The Boston Navy Yard, originally called the Charlestown Navy Yard and later Boston Naval Shipyard, was one of the oldest shipbuilding facilities in the United States Navy. Established in 1801, it was officially closed as an active naval installation on July 1, 1974, and the property was...
and commissioned 12 February 1864, Acting Lieutenant J. D. Warren in command.
Operating with the South Atlantic Blockade
Assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Harvest Moon departed Boston 18 February and arrived off Charleston, South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, 25 February 1864. Next day Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren
John A. Dahlgren
John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren was a United States Navy leader. He headed the Union Navy's ordnance department during the American Civil War and designed several different kinds of guns and cannons that were considered part of the reason the Union won the war...
made the steamer his flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
. After putting into Washington Navy Yard
Washington Navy Yard
The Washington Navy Yard is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy...
for repairs. Harvest Moon began her regular blockading duties 7 June 1864 off Charleston.
For the next 9 months the steamer served off Tybee Island, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, the North Edisto River
Edisto River
The Edisto River is the longest completely undammed / unleveed blackwater river in North America, flowing 206 meandering miles from its sources in Saluda and Edgefield counties, to its Atlantic Ocean mouth at Edisto Beach, SC...
, and Charleston harbor. During this period she also acted as a picket and dispatch vessel
Dispatch boat
Dispatch boats were small boats, and sometimes large ships, tasked to carry military dispatches from ship to ship or from ship to shore or, in some cases from shore to shore...
as well as Admiral Dahlgren's flagship.
Harvest Moon strikes a mine and sinks while Admiral Dahlgren is aboard
While proceeding in company with tug CloverUSS Clover (1863)
USS Clover was a steam operated gunboat acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries....
shortly after 0800 on 1 March 1865 Harvest Moon struck a torpedo (mine) in Winyah Bay
Winyah Bay
Winyah Bay is a coastal estuary that is the confluence of the Waccamaw River, the Pee Dee River, the Black River and the Sampit River in Georgetown County in eastern South Carolina...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Admiral Dahlgren, awaiting breakfast in his cabin, saw the bulkhead shatter and explode toward him.
USS Nipsic (1863)
USS Nipsic was a gunboat in the United States Navy. The ship was laid down on 24 December 1862 by Portsmouth Navy Yard; launched on 15 June 1863; sponsored by Miss Rebecca Scott; and commissioned on 2 September 1863, Lieutenant Commander George Bacon in command.-1863–1873:Nipsic arrived off...
. Harvest Moon was stripped of her valuable machinery and abandoned 21 April 1865.
Attempts to raise Harvest Moon a century later
In 1963, nearly 100 years later, a project was initiated to raise Harvest Moon from the mud at the bottom of Winyah BayWinyah Bay
Winyah Bay is a coastal estuary that is the confluence of the Waccamaw River, the Pee Dee River, the Black River and the Sampit River in Georgetown County in eastern South Carolina...
and to restore the ship, but has made little headway.