Morse (Sidewheel Gunboat)
1861-1865
(Sidewheel Gunboat: tonnage 514; length 143'; beam 33'; draft 8'6"; speed 9 knots; armament 2 9-inch)
The wooden-hulled sidewheel ferryboat Marion, built at New York in 1861, was purchased by the Navy at New York on 7 November 1861, and, renamed Morse, was commissioned on 9 November 1861, Acting Master Peter Hays in command.
Morse arrived Hampton Roads on 20 November 1861 to join the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. She lay off Newport News until 29 December, four days after Christmas, when she steamed across Hampton Roads in an attempt to capture the Confederate sidewheel gunboat Sea Bird; Morse's shelling, however, drove the steamer to the protection of three batteries at Sewell's Point.
Heated action began for Morse in the New Year, when she joined the Roanoke Island expedition with 16 additional shallow‑draft gunboats. The expedition departed Hampton Roads 11 January and began bombarding the fortifications 7 February. The campaign resulted in Union capture of the island 8 February, threatening Confederate communications and opening the rear defenses to Norfolk.
On 9 February 1862, Morse and the sidewheel gunboatCommodore Perry steamed up Croatan Sound for Elizabeth City to destroy Confederate gunboats and break up canal communications. Crossing Dismal Swamp Canal, the gunboats spotted secessionist ships and shore batteries. Firing from the U.S. ships drove the southerners from their guns and scattered the Confederate vessels. The Union squadron captured or destroyed Confederate ships Sea Bird (schooner), Fanny, Ellie, Forrest, and Black Warrior, permitting capture of the town on 10 February.
Morse and five additional gunboats departed Hatteras Inlet on 23 February 1862 to reconnoiter Croatan Sound. Strong Confederate forces at Winton opened heavy fire on the sidewheel gunboat Delaware, the lead ship, with artillery and musketry. The ships returned the fire, bpombarding the battery and landing the 9th New York Zouaves, who entered Winton, destroying military stores, tents, arms, and gear.
Morse departed Hatteras Inlet with 12 other ships on 12 March 1862 for Brant Island, Neuse River to cover the disembarkation of troops in the New Berne campaign. The joint Army‑Navy expedition captured the town on 14 March and the last of the batteries on the 16th.
Morse spent the remainder of the spring and summer of 1862 scouting and patrolling the York River, protecting transports and aiding operations of the Army on Pamunkey River in June. Joining the James River Flotilla in July, she captured supplies on Mattaponi River the following May [1863], scouting the river to Frazier's Ferry and silencing Confederate guns above West Point. Morse joined seven other warships in capturing Fort Powhatan, James River on 14 July 1863.
In November 1863, Morse joined the expedition to Mathews County, a peninsula between Mobjack Bay and Plankatank River and a base for Confederate raiders. Information from captured guerrillas on plans to capture a schooner and to destroy the lights on Chesapeake Bay sent Morse up East River to thwart those efforts.
After searching out "torpedoes" [mines] on Purtan Bay in February 1864, Morse joined operations on the Mattaponi River, attacking King and Queen Courthouse. One thousand infantry went ashore from the Union ships at Sheppard's Landing on 13 March. After a feint attack on West Point in May, Morse evacuated troops from that location. After scouting duty throughout the spring and summer of 1864, Morse joined the Potomac Flotilla later in the winter.
Morse relieved the sidewheel gunboat Delaware on the Rappahannock in March 1865, aiding the Army in its efforts to take Fort Lowry. She decommissioned and went to the Washington Navy Yard on 21 May, where she was sold at public auction to the East Boston Ferry Co., on 20 July 1865.
Redocumented as Lincoln on 12 December 1865, she continued to serve U.S. commerce until abandoned due to age and deterioration in 1885.
Updated, Robert J. Cressman
5 October 2021
