USS Stepping Stones (1861)
Encyclopedia
USS Stepping Stones (1861) was a steamer purchased by the Union Navy
during the early part of the American Civil War
.
She was used by the Union Navy first as a dispatch boat, and also as a gunboat assigned to patrol Confederate
waterways.
in 1861 -- was purchased by the Navy at New York on , and was commissioned on or before .
on 21 October, served briefly at Hampton Roads, Virginia, reached the Washington Navy Yard
on 5 November, and was promptly placed in service as a dispatch boat in the Potomac Flotilla
. These first few weeks of her service typified her fortunes throughout the Civil War.
Her services were wanted both in the Potomac Flotilla and in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron for service along the west coast of the Chesapeake Bay
and on the rivers -- roughly parallel to the Potomac -- which drain Tidewater Virginia. As a result, the ferry was shuttled between the two commands as ground operations ebbed and flowed over the Virginia
farmlands which separated Washington, D.C.
, and Virginia.
When assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, the ship was moved from the James
, to the York
, or to the Rappahannock River
as demanded by the military situation ashore.
's beleaguered army at Harrison's Landing; her rescuing, under heavy fire, of Mount Washington when that ship had been grounded and disabled near Suffolk, Virginia
; and her participation in a mid-April 1864 Army-Navy expedition up the Nansemond River
.
In May 1864, she became part of a torpedo sweeping (mine sweeping) and patrol force on the James.
s, Reliance and Little Elmer, in Mobjack Bay
.
In March 1865, less than a month before Robert E. Lee
surrendered, Stepping Stones was in a naval expedition up Mattox Creek
to Colonial Beach, Virginia
, where the Union ships attacked a supply base for Confederate guerrillas operating on the peninsula between that river and the Potomac River
.
on 23 June 1865 and was sold on 12 July 1865 to W. D. Wallach. Redocumented as Cambridge on 27 July 1865, the steamer was reduced to a barge on 2 August 1871 and soon disappeared from maritime records.
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 early part of 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 Union Navy first as a dispatch boat, and also as a gunboat assigned to patrol Confederate
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...
waterways.
Built in New York City in 1861
Stepping Stones -- a wooden ferryboat built at New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1861 -- was purchased by the Navy at New York on , and was commissioned on or before .
Assigned Potomac River operations
The ferryboat departed New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on 21 October, served briefly at Hampton Roads, Virginia, reached the 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...
on 5 November, and was promptly placed in service as a dispatch boat in the Potomac Flotilla
Potomac Flotilla
The Potomac Flotilla, or the Potomac Squadron was a unit of the United States Navy created in the early days of the American Civil War to secure Union communications in the Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac River and their tributaries, and to disrupt Confederate communications and shipping in the...
. These first few weeks of her service typified her fortunes throughout the Civil War.
Her services were wanted both in the Potomac Flotilla and in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron for service along the west coast of the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
and on the rivers -- roughly parallel to the Potomac -- which drain Tidewater Virginia. As a result, the ferry was shuttled between the two commands as ground operations ebbed and flowed over the Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
farmlands which separated Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and Virginia.
When assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, the ship was moved from the James
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
, to the York
York River (Virginia)
The York River is a navigable estuary, approximately long, in eastern Virginia in the United States. It ranges in width from at its head to near its mouth on the west side of Chesapeake Bay. Its watershed drains an area including portions of 17 counties of the coastal plain of Virginia north...
, or to the Rappahannock River
Rappahannock River
The Rappahannock River is a river in eastern Virginia, in the United States, approximately in length. It traverses the entire northern part of the state, from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, across the Piedmont, to the Chesapeake Bay, south of the Potomac River.An important river in American...
as demanded by the military situation ashore.
Operations on the James River in Virginia
Highlights of Stepping Stones service were the operations on the James in July 1862 to help protect General George B. McClellanGeorge B. McClellan
George Brinton McClellan was a major general during the American Civil War. He organized the famous Army of the Potomac and served briefly as the general-in-chief of the Union Army. Early in the war, McClellan played an important role in raising a well-trained and organized army for the Union...
's beleaguered army at Harrison's Landing; her rescuing, under heavy fire, of Mount Washington when that ship had been grounded and disabled near Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk is the largest city by area in Virginia, United States, and is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,585. Its median household income was $57,546.-History:...
; and her participation in a mid-April 1864 Army-Navy expedition up the Nansemond River
Nansemond River
The Nansemond River is a tributary of the James River in the U.S. state of Virginia. The Nansemond River Bridge crosses the river near its mouth. Both it and the former State Route 125 bridge, demolished in 2008, were once toll bridges. The river begins at the outlet of Lake Meade north of...
.
In May 1864, she became part of a torpedo sweeping (mine sweeping) and patrol force on the James.
Capturing Confederate blockade runners
On 9 November, she captured two blockade-running sloopSloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
s, Reliance and Little Elmer, in Mobjack Bay
Mobjack Bay
Mobjack Bay is a bay on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay in Virginia in the United States. It lies between the York River on the south and the Rappahannock River on the north....
.
In March 1865, less than a month before Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
surrendered, Stepping Stones was in a naval expedition up Mattox Creek
Mattox Creek
Mattox Creek is a tributary of the Potomac River in the Washington District of Westmoreland County, Virginia, near the colonial stagecoach stop of Oak Grove. The creek is long, and the lower of the creek is navigable...
to Colonial Beach, Virginia
Colonial Beach, Virginia
Colonial Beach is a town in Westmoreland County, Virginia, United States. The population was 3,228 at the 2000 census. Possessing the second largest beach front in the state, Colonial Beach was a popular resort town in the early to mid-20th century, before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge made ocean...
, where the Union ships attacked a supply base for Confederate guerrillas operating on the peninsula between that river and the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
.
Post-war decommissioning, sale and subsequent civilian career
After the war ended, Stepping Stones was decommissioned at the Washington Navy YardWashington 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...
on 23 June 1865 and was sold on 12 July 1865 to W. D. Wallach. Redocumented as Cambridge on 27 July 1865, the steamer was reduced to a barge on 2 August 1871 and soon disappeared from maritime records.