On May 2, I wrote about a house for sale on Long island, New York, that also had the grave of black Union sailor Thomas Jefferson Davis who had served during the war on the USS Heliotrope. I'd never heard of it, so went to good old Wikipedia.
The USS Heliotrope was 239 tons, 134 feet long steamer armed with a 12-pdr. cannon which served as a tug.
It was originally the Maggie Baker before being bought in New York City and commissioned 24 April 1864.
It was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron and proceeded to Hampton Roads, Virginia, where it served as a tug and ordnance ship. It occasionally patrolled up the James River.
January 23, 1865, it was transferred to the Potomac Flotilla.
--Old B-Runner
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