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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

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  • DANFS (Dictionary of American Fighting Ships)
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  • Ship History
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  • Civil War 1861-1865
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Zeta (Screw Steamer)

1864-1865

The sixth letter of the Greek alphabet.

(Screw Steamer: tonnage 60; length 58'; beam 13'; depth of hold 5'; speed 8 knots; armament 8 Enfield muskets, 1 "torpedo")

J. G. Loane -- a small wooden steamer built at Philadelphia, Pa., in 1844 -- was purchased by the Navy on 3 June 1864 at Philadelphia from William S. Mason.

Renamed Tug No. 6 and commissioned on 8 June 1864, Acting Ensign Frederick W. Mintzer in command, this small craft was sometimes referred to as Picket Boat No. 6 in dispatches.

Renamed Zeta in November 1864, she served as a torpedo tug in the James River until April of 1865. Transferred in that month to the Potomac Flotilla of Cmdr. Foxhall A. Parker, Zeta guarded the Bush River [Maryland] Bridge until sent to the Washington [D.C.] Navy Yard in May.

Her services no longer required, Zeta was sold to C. Vanderwerken on 24 June 1865.

Published: Mon Jan 09 14:18:52 EST 2023