USS Morning Light
Sailing Gunboat · United States · Lost 1863 · Texas & the Western Gulf
A Union sailing gunboat captured off Sabine Pass by Confederate cottonclads in 1863 and burned two days later, briefly lifting the Union blockade of Texas.
The Vessel and Her Loss
USS Morning Light, an eight-gun sailing ship built in 1853, was assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron off Sabine Pass, Texas. On January 21, 1863, she and the schooner USS Velocity were captured by the Confederate cottonclad steamers Uncle Ben and Josiah H. Bell, a Confederate success that temporarily lifted the Union blockade of the Texas coast. Held under Confederate control for two days, Morning Light was burned off Sabine Pass on January 23, 1863, rather than being retained.
Vessel
- 1853
- William Cramp & Sons
- Kensington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Wood
- 172 ft
- 34.25 ft
- 937
- Sail
- United States Navy
Loss
- January 23, 1863
- Enemy action
- Off Sabine Pass, Texas
- Gulf of Mexico
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
The Wreck Today
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
Position
- 29.73° N 93.90° W
- General area only
- Sabine Pass, Jefferson County, Texas
General area only: coordinate of Sabine Pass, the named place recorded off which this vessel was lost, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, not a surveyed wreck position.
Evidence
Overall confidence: Documented (88/100)
Naval History and Heritage Command, Morning Light (ship)
Build details, capture, and burning.
NavSource Online, USS Morning Light
Specifications and service timeline.
USGS Geographic Names Information System — Sabine Pass
coordinate of the named place of loss
