USS Midnight (1861)

The USS Midnight (1861) was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She served primarily as a dispatch vessel and patrol boat along the coasts of the Confederate States of America.

Midnight was purchased by the Union Navy from J. H. Williams on 15 July 1861. Following her acquisition, she was fitted out for naval service.

Her primary duties involved carrying messages and orders between Union ships and shore installations. She also participated in patrols, aiming to intercept Confederate blockade runners attempting to deliver supplies to the Confederacy or export goods. The Midnight performed these duties along the Atlantic coast, contributing to the Union blockade of Southern ports.

Details regarding the specific actions and captures made by the Midnight are sparse, but she contributed to the overall Union naval effort. The ultimate fate of the Midnight after the conclusion of the Civil War is not readily available in primary sources, requiring further research to determine her decommissioning and eventual disposition.