USS Jasmine (1863)

USS Jasmine (1861) was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a tugboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways.

Commissioned at the New York Navy Yard
Jasmine, a wooden tug, was purchased at New York City under the name Peter B. Van Houten from Palmer, Crary, & John Reid, 29 May 1863; and commissioned at New York Navy Yard 17 June, Acting Master A. L. B. Zerega in command.

Assigned to the West Gulf Blockade
Jasmine was assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron and sailed for the Gulf of Mexico 21 June. On 14 July she captured sloop Relampago with an assorted cargo, including supplies of critical copper boiler tubing, and towed her to Key West, Florida.

For the remainder of the war the tireless tug served as a supply and dispatch vessel maintaining communications between the various ships of the squadron.

Post-war service with the Navy
The end of the war found her in Pensacola, Florida, where she remained providing varied services while the squadron demobilized and the Navy resumed peacetime operations.

Post-war decommissioning and sale
Jasmine sailed north early in 1866 and decommissioned at New York City 12 May. She was sold to the U.S. Treasury Department 13 June 1866.