Charles Morris was born in Woodstock, Conn., 26 July 1784, and
served in the Quasi-War with France, Barbary Wars, and War of
1812. Commodore Morris served as a Navy Commissioner from 1823
to 1827, and as the Chief of the Bureau of Construction
Equipment, and Repairs from 1844 to 1847. He died in Washington,
D.C., 27 January 1856. (SwStr: t. 532; dr. 8'6"; s. 7 k.; cpl.
106; a. 1 100-pdr. r., 1 9" sb., 4 24-pdr. how.) Commodore
Morris, an armed side wheel ferryboat, was built in 1862 at New
York; purchased by the Navy 5 August 1862; fitted out at New
York Navy Yard; and commissioned 19 November 1862 with
Lieutenant Commander J. H. Gillis in command. Assigned to the
North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Commodore Morris' entire
service was in the rivers and creeks of Virginia. Serving on
patrol, and as picket, she also transported troops, dragged for
mines, towed disabled ships, and sent parties ashore which took
prisoners and food supplies. In January 1863, she sailed up the
Pamunkey in a joint Army-Navy expedit