USS Jasmine (1863)

Career (US)
Ordered:	as Peter B. Van Houten
Laid down:	date unknown
Launched:	date unknown
Acquired:	29 May 1863
Commissioned:	17 June 1863
Decommissioned:	12 May 1866
Struck:	1866 (est.)
Fate:	sold, 13 June 1866
General characteristics
Displacement:	120 tons
Length:	79 ft (24 m)
Beam:	18 ft 3 in (5.56 m)
Draught:	7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
Propulsion:	steam engine screw-propelled
Speed:	not known
Complement:	19
Armament:	one 20-pounder Parrott rifle one 12-pounder howitzer

USS Jasmine (1861) was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a tugboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways.

Commissioned at the New York Navy Yard

Jasmine, a wooden tug, was purchased at New York City under the name Peter B. Van Houten from Palmer, Crary, & John Reid, 29 May 1863; and commissioned at New York Navy Yard 17 June, Acting Master A. L. B. Zerega in command.

Assigned to the West Gulf Blockade

Jasmine was assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron and sailed for the Gulf of Mexico 21 June. On 14 July she captured sloop Relampago with an assorted cargo, including supplies of critical copper boiler tubing, and towed her to Key West, Florida.

For the remainder of the war the tireless tug served as a supply and dispatch vessel maintaining communications between the various ships of the squadron.

Post-war service with the Navy

The end of the war found her in Pensacola, Florida, where she remained providing varied services while the squadron demobilized and the Navy resumed peacetime operations.

Post-war decommissioning and sale

Jasmine sailed north early in 1866 and decommissioned at New York City 12 May. She was sold to the U.S. Treasury Department 13 June 1866.

References

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

See also

• United States Navy
• American Civil War

External links

• USS Jasmine