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Photo # NH 63704:  Ferry J.P. Jackson, which was USS John P. Jackson during the Civil War.  Artwork by Erik Heyl

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS John P. Jackson (1862-1865).
Originally Civilian Ferry Steamship John P. Jackson (1860).
Later renamed J.P. Jackson

John P. Jackson, a 750-ton (burden) side-wheel ferry steamer, was built at Brooklyn, New York, in 1860. In November 1861 the Navy purchased her for Civil War service. Following conversion to a gunboat she was commissioned as USS John P. Jackson in February 1862. Promptly sent to the Gulf of Mexico, during April she played in active role in the campaign that led to the capture of New Orleans. In late June she was disabled by Confederate cannon fire during operations against Vicksburg, Mississippi, and had to be sent downriver to New Orleans for repairs.

At the end of September 1862 John P. Jackson took station in Mississippi Sound, where she was active for the rest of the conflict. During this time she captured several would-be blockade runners and participated in bombardments of Fort Powell, at the western entrance of Mobile Bay, Alabama. John P. Jackson also played a supporting role in the Battle of Mobile Bay in early August 1864. She was decommissioned at New Orleans in September 1865 and sold there later in that month. Renamed J.P. Jackson soon afterwards, she was employed commercially until about 1871.

This page features the only views we have related to USS John P. Jackson (1862-1865) and the civilian ferry steamer J.P. Jackson.


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 63704

J.P. Jackson
(Ferry Steamship, 1860-1871)

Watercolor by Erik Heyl, 1962, painted for use in his book "Early American Steamers", Volume IV.
Built in 1860 as the civilian ferryboat John P. Jackson, this steamer served as USS John P. Jackson during the Civil War. She returned to commercial use after the war as J.P. Jackson.

Courtesy of Erik Heyl.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 49KB; 740 x 425 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 59063

"Panoramic View of the United States Fleet passing the Forts on the Mississippi, on its way to New Orleans, April 19th, 1862."


Contemporary line engraving published in "The Soldier in our Civil War", Volume I.
It depicts the Federal ships shortly before they began the passage of the forts, with the Confederate gunboats waiting upstream. Individual U.S. Navy ships (as identified in text below the engraving) are: John P. Jackson; Mississippi; Pensacola; Hartford (Flagship); Iroquois; Westfield; Cayuga and Varuna.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 370 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 12 July 2003