AH-WR-0974

USS Satellite

Gunboat · United States · Lost 1863 · Chesapeake Bay

A Union gunboat surprised and burned by Confederate cavalry alongside USS Reliance near Port Royal on the Rappahannock.

Artistic recreation based on recorded historical documents. See the documented evidence.

Historically Reconstructed. Drawn from partial documentation of this vessel together with her known class and configuration. See the documented evidence.

The Vessel and Her Loss

USS Satellite served with the Potomac Flotilla enforcing the Union blockade on Virginia's tidal rivers. On 23 August 1863, she was attacked near Port Royal by Confederate cavalry and horse artillery under Mosby and Imboden, who forced her crew to surrender alongside USS Reliance. Both vessels were burned by their captors. The action was a notable instance of Confederate horsemen seizing naval vessels from the riverbank.

Vessel

Built: 1861
Builder: Not established
Yard: Not established
Material: Wood
Length: Not established
Beam: Not established
Tonnage: Not established
Propulsion: Steam, screw
Owners: United States Navy, Potomac Flotilla

Loss

Date: August 23, 1863
Cause: Enemy action
Location: Rappahannock River off Port Royal, Virginia
Water: Rappahannock River
Voyage: Not established
Cargo: Not established
Aboard: Not established
Lives lost: Not established
Master: Not established

The Wreck Today

Depth: Not established
Condition: Not established
Orientation: Not established
Discovered: Not established
Protection: Not established

Position

Coordinates: Not established
Accuracy: Position not established
Nearest: Port Royal, Virginia
Region: Chesapeake Bay

Evidence

Overall confidence: Documented (75/100)

Exact wreck location and present condition are not established in the sources reviewed.

Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion
Date, location, and circumstances of capture and burning.
Naval History and Heritage Command
Vessel identification and Potomac Flotilla service.