James L. Davis (also called
J. L. Davis), a wooden sailing vessel, was purchased at
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 29 September 1861; and commissioned 30 December. The crew varied in number from forty-five to sixty-nine and the number of officers always at eleven. Most of the crew were born in the United States but there was also a sizeable number of foreign-born individuals. The average age of the crew was 26.5 and six of the regular crew were listed on the muster rolls as "mulatto, Negro, or black." Additionally, slaves who had escaped to the Union fleet were made temporary crew. Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Joseph Winn in command.
James L. Davis departed Philadelphia 2 January 1862 for the
Gulf of Mexico. She joined Flag Officer
David Farragut's
West Gulf Blockading Squadron off
Pass a l'Outre 5 February but was soon transferred to the
East Gulf Blockading Squadron in exchange for .
James L. Davis arrived
Cedar Keys, Florida, 2 March and 8 days later captured
schooner Florida attempting to slip in through the blockade with a cargo of coffee,
soda ash, and other supplies already in short supply in the South. After 6 months of blockade duty on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of
Florida, the bark took English schooner
Isabel attempting to dash out of
St. Mark's, Florida, with a cargo of
cotton in late September. On 2 October
James L. Davis interrupted her
blockade duty to serve as a supply ship, carrying stores and provisions to other vessels of the squadron. The bark continued this essential work until ordered to relieve at
St. Joseph's Bay, Florida, in March 1863. She remained at this station until ordered to
Key West, Florida, for repairs 15 November. At the beginning of 1864
James L. Davis was ordered to
Tampa Bay where she served until fall. On 4 May 1864 she joined and in landing
Union Army troops at
Tampa, Florida, and in providing men for a naval, landing party which helped to capture the town 6 May. During the operation the three ships cooperated in capturing blockade-running sloop
Neptune with a cargo of cotton. In July and August,
James L. Davis participated in a series of successful boat expeditions which destroyed salt works, a large saw and
grist mill, and a
sugar mill belonging to
Jefferson Davis.
James L. Davis was ordered to St. Joseph's Bay 1 September and served there until ordered to Key West for repairs 1 April 1865. The war ended while the bark was at Key West. She was ordered to Philadelphia 21 April where she was sold at public auction 20 June 1865. == References ==