1834-1869

Location & historical notes: Virginia, on the west side of the Chesapeake Bay, off the Rappahannock River entrance.  Moored on the north side of the entrance channel to mark the extensive shoal area extending southeasterly from Windmill Point, and serve as a guide for traffic transiting the river.  The station was replaced by the Windmill Point Lighthouse, which was constructed about 1 mile NNW of the lightship station.

Lightships assigned:

1834-1861: "U "

Station: 1834-1861: Windmill Point (VA)
Note: Removed, sunk or destroyed by Confederate forces, 1861

1861-1863: station vacant

1863-1869: ?

? - 1869: Relief LV-21

YEAR BUILT: 1863

BUILT AT: New Bedford (MA)

BUILDER: Stephen Andrews

APPROPRIATION: None
Treasury Dept authorized vessels for Upper & Lower Cedar Point (141)) & Cross Rip

CONTRACT PRICE: $47,500 (for 3 vessels)

SISTER VESSELS: None

DESIGN: Wood - white oak; copper & iron fastened; bowsprit; 2 masts

LENGTH: 78' (lbp), BEAM: 21'6", DRAFT: 10', TONNAGE: 150 gross

PROPULSION: Sail- schooner rig

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: 2 lanterns each with 8 lard oil lamps

FOG SIGNAL: Hand operated bell and horn

CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS: LV 21-

1867: Hauled at Norfolk (VA); sheathing repaired; painted red-
1868: Nov-Jan 1869, found leaking and rotten, recaulked, deck planking replaced-
1875: Examined and "hull is quite rotten"

STATION ASSIGNMENTS: LV 21
1864-1867: Upper Cedar Point (MD)
1867-1868: Willoughby Spit (VA)
1869-1871: Relief (VA)
1871-1872: Wreck of Weehawken (SC)
1872-1880: Tybee Island Knoll (GA)

(1869-1871: While in Relief status, performed temporary duty marking Wolf Trap, Jan 8-Feb 24 1869; Windmill Point Shoal, Mar 8-Sepi 1869 during lighthouse construction; York Spit, Sep 1869)
(1880 Tybee Island Knoll station discontinued)
(Prior to 1867 when No. 21 was assigned, official records identify this vessel as "Upper Cedar Point Light Vessel")

HISTORICAL NOTES: LV 21-

1864: Sep, placed on Upper Cedar Point (MD)-
1867: Jul 20, withdrawn; station discontinued on activation of Upper Cedar Point
Lighthouse-
1867: Aug 17, placed on Willoughby Spit (VA)-
1867: Dec 6, in collision with steamer, bowsprit broken off-
1868: Jan 21, parted chain due to defective shackle, returned to station Jan 24-
1868: Nov 4, withdrawn and replaced by LV 23; LV 21 assigned Relief duty-
1869: Jan 8ãFeb 24, "temporarily" occupied Wolf Trap (VA)-
1869: Mar 8-Sep 1, "temporarily" occupied Windmill Point (VA) during lighthouse
construction-
1869: Sep, temporarily occupied York Spit (VA)-
1871: Jun, transferred to 6th District, placed on Wreck of Weehawken (SC)-
1872: Jul 15, withdrawn upon completion of range beacons for Charleston Harbor-
1872: Sep 16, placed on Tybee Island Knoll (GA)-
1879: Vessel is "old, unseaworthy, and not worth repairing"-
1880 : Jan, withdrawn, station discontinued, "other aids being substituted in
her stead''

More notes:

RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1880 AGE: 17

SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: 1880 Jan 7, sold at public auction $200; net $173.70

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