The USS ''Daylight'' was a

steamship A steamship, often referred to as a steamer, is a type of steam-powered vessel, typically ocean-faring and seaworthy, that is propelled by one or more steam engines that typically move (turn) propellers or paddlewheels. The first steamships ...

acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the

Confederacy Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between ...

to prevent the South from trading with other countries.

Service history

The screw steamer ''Daylight'' was built in 1859 by Samuel Sneden of New York City. She was chartered by the Navy 10 May 1861, purchased 12 October 1861, outfitted at the

New York Navy Yard The Brooklyn Navy Yard (originally known as the New York Navy Yard) is a shipyard and industrial complex located in northwest Brooklyn in New York City, New York (state), New York. The Navy Yard is located on the East River in Wallabout Bay, a ...

, and was commissioned 7 June 1861, Commander Samuel Lockwood in command. ''Daylight'' put to sea on 7 June 1861 for duty in the waters of Virginia and along the Atlantic coast as far south as Wilmington, North Carolina, where she assisted in the establishment of the Union blockade. She served as guard and picket ship and captured four vessels carrying contraband, recapturing one which attempted to escape, before arriving at

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was ...

, on 3 December for repairs. On 26 January 1862, ''Daylight'' departed for

Hampton Roads Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water in the United States that serves as a wide channel for the James River, James, Nansemond River, Nansemond and Elizabeth River (Virginia), Elizabeth rivers between Old Point Comfort and Sewell's ...

, cruising off the Virginia coast until 16 April when she sailed for

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. She joined in the bombardment and capture of Fort Macon, North Carolina, on 25 and 26 April, receiving a damaging shot in her hull. She continued her duty, attacking Fort Fisher on 4 November 1862. During this attack she lost her second cutter and its crew. By the time she sailed for Baltimore and repairs on 30 April 1863, she had captured eight vessels. Repairs completed, ''Daylight'' sailed from Hampton Roads on 7 September 1863 to serve with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron until 13 October 1864. Two days later she arrived at Fort Monroe and on the 22nd stood up the

James River The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia that begins in the Appalachian Mountains and flows U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed April 1, 2011 to Chesapea ...

for guard and picket duty which continued until 6 May 1865. On 7 May, she put into Norfolk and five days later got underway for

. She was placed out of commission there on 24 May 1865 and sold on 25 October of the same year.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Daylight Ships built in New York City Ships of the Union Navy Steamships of the United States Navy 1859 ships