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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

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Morning Light (ship)

(Ship: t. 937; l. 172'; b. 34'3"; dr. 19'; dph. 24'; a. 8 32-pdr., 1 rifled Butler gun)

Morning Light, a wooden sailing ship, was built at Kensington, near Philadelphia, Pa., in 1853 and launched on 15 August 1853. She was purchased by the U.S. Navy on 2 September 1861 and commissioned on 21 November of that year. Assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron she was captured off Sabine Pass, Tex. on 21 January 1863 by two cottonclad Confederate steamers, Uncle Ben and Josiah A. Bell. Morning Light was under Confederate control for 2 days before she was burned on 23 January off Sabine Pass.