USS John Paul, Jr. (1861)

Career (US)	Union Navy Jack
Laid down:	date unknown
Launched:	1862–63
In service:	March 1863
Out of service:	June 1864
Struck:	1865 (est.)
Fate:	sold, 17 August 1865
General characteristics
Displacement:	not known
Length:	not known
Beam:	not known
Draught:	not known
Propulsion:	steam engine
Speed:	not known
Complement:	not known
Armament:	one small howitzer

USS John Paul, Jr. (1861) was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the beginning of the American Civil War.

She served the Union Navy’s struggle against the Confederate States of America as a ship’s tender, an observation platform, and as a gunboat despite the fact she was only lightly armed.

Assigned to the South Atlantic blockade as ship’s tender

Paul Jones, Jr. was built in 1862–63 and was assigned as tender to U.S. gunboat Seneca of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the Civil War.

Use as an observation platform

A shallow draft vessel, she was used effectively as an observation boat to gather intelligence in the outlets and estuaries of St. Simon’s and Doboy Sounds, Altamaha (Buttermilk Channel), Georgia.

Providing service as a patrol vessel

Never mounting more than one small howitzer, she also assisted Seneca in guarding the sounds to prevent Confederate river steamers, which were generally unarmed, from using the waterways. Paul Jones, Jr. served in this capacity from March 1863 through June 1864.

Post-war deactivation and sale

She was sold 17 August 1865.

References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

External links

• USS Paul Jones, Jr.