Morning Light

Morning Light
(Ship: t. 937'; 1. 172'; b. 34'3"; dr. 19'; dph. 24'; a. 832-pdrs. )

Morning Light an 8-gun ship, was built in 1853 by William Cramp at Kensington, Pa.; launched 15 August 1853; purchased by the Navy 2 September 1861 at New York and commissioned 21 November 1861 at New York Navy Yard, Acting Volunteer Lt. Henry T. Moore in command.

Atter fltting out for combat, Morning Light sailed from New York to cruise the lower east coast in search of Contederate privateers and blockade runners. morning Light returned to New York, arriving 28 February 18ff2.

Assigned to Flag Oflicer David G. Farragut's West Gulf Blockading Squadron, Morning Light departed New York in March with provisions for ships in the Mississippi Sound area. On 15 April Farragut ordered her to remain with bark Kuhn off Ship Island, Miss., as protection for the Army command of Ma;. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler which provided occupation troops tor New Orleans atter Farragut's fleet captured the city 25 April.

By 27 May Morning Light was off Pensacola, Fla., performing blockade duties with sloop Vincennee. On 19 June sloop Florida, temporary tender tor Horning Light, intercepted sloop Ventura, loaded with foodstuff for New Orleans, off Grant's Pass, Mobile Bay, Ala.

Returning to Ship Island in August, Morning Light left in November for Velasco, Tex. On 27 and 28 November, she sent several boat expeditions ashore to destroy the Confederate salt works at Cedar Lake.

On 18 January 1863, Morning Light, Acting Master John Dillingham now in command was ordered to blockade off Sabine Pass. Three days after two Confederate "cotton-clad" Steamers' Uncle Ben and Bell, with artillery and Texas infantry, attacked Morning Light and schooner Velocitv in a successful effort to destroy the blockade at Galveston, Tex. Due to the calm weather, neither Union sailing ship could evade the Contederate fire, and both were forced to strike their colors. Morning Light, left a riddled wreck, was taken by the Contederates 21 January and burned 2 days later.