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NavSource Online: Army Ship Photo Archive

USAT Burnside

Cable Repair Ship:

Built in 1882 as SS Yeoman by Campbell, Mackintosh & Bowstead, Newcastle upon Tyne as a cargo ship for Lund’s Blue Anchor Line

Launched date unknown

Fitted with new boilers and engines in 1887 at Swan, Hunter of Wallsend on Tyne

Sold to Vapores Serra at Bilboa, Spain in 1891 and reflagged Spain, renamed SS Rita

Captured, 8 May 1898, by USS Yale during the Spanish-American War

Acquired by the Quartermaster Department 8 July 1898 from the U.S. Prize Court and assigned to the Army Transport Service

Renamed USAT Burnside in February 1899 in honor of Maj. Gen. Ambrose P. Burnside, commander of the Army of the Potomac 1862-63

Assigned to the A.T.S. Pacific Fleet with homeport at Seattle, WA

Converted into a cable ship in 1900 after the loss of USAT Hooker while laying cable in the Philippines, USAT Burnside completed the work

In 1903 Burnside began work on the US-Alaska cable, laying the 291 nm section from Sitka to Juneau

In 1904 she laid 1070 nm of cable from Sitka to Seattle, and a further 640 nm from Sitka to Valdez

These cables were operated by the US Army Signals Corps for the Washington-Alaska Military Cable and Telegraph System (WAMCATS)

Condemned 17 March 1923 and sold

Final Disposition sold for scrapping to General Metals Co., Oakland CA. in June 1924

Specifications:
Displacement 2,226 gross tons
Length 276'8"
Beam 36'7"
Draft 17.8'
Speed unknown

Complement unknown

Cruise Radius unknown

Fuel Capacities unknown

Propulsion

one triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine

single shaft

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
Merchant Service
30040315	56k	SS British Yeoman date and location unknown. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. StateLibQld 1 127255	Robert Hurst
USAT Burnside
098627501	310k	*Namesake* General Ambrose Everett Burnside, U.S. Army, was born 1824 at Liberty, Ind. He graduated from West Point in 1847. In the Civil War he commanded a brigade in the First Battle of Bull Run; led troops in Army Navy expeditions against Roanoke Island, New Bern, Beaufort, and Fort Macon. He next commanded the Army of the Potomac through the Battle of Fredericksburg. After that defeat, he was replaced by General Hooker. Thereafter, he was commander of the Department of Ohio (March-December 1963). He occupied East Tennessee, took Knoxville, and repulsed Longstreet's attempt to recapture the town. In 1864 he served under Meade and Grant in Virginia. General Burnside was governor of Rhode Island (1866-68). From 1875 to his death in 1881, he served in the United States Senate.	Tommy Trampp
	128k	USAT Burnside underway, 28 September 1899, location unknown. Shortly the ship will be converted to a cable ship after the loss of USAT Hooker while she was laying cable in the Philippines, *Burnside* completed the work originally started by *Hooker. New England History, Nathaniel L. Stebbins photographic collection, Photo No. PC047.02.5890.10448*	Mike Green
30040323	49k	CAPT. Alfred H. Laffin, USAT Burnside's captain from 1898 to 1912 at the ship's engine room telegraph. Washington, circa 1900. (HESTER 742). Photographer Wilhelm Hester (1872–1947). Photo from : Wilhelm Hester Photographs Collection The author died in 1947, so this work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 75 years or fewer. TThis work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1931.	Robert Hurst
30040322	97k	USAT Burnside Filipino crewmen, Washington, ca. 1900. Photographer unknown. Photo courtesy of Wilhelm Hester Photographs Collection This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1931.	Robert Hurst
	92k	USAT Burnside anchored in an unidentified Puget Sound port circa 1900. University of Washington, Wilhelm Hester Photographs Collection	Mike Green
	82k		Mike Green
30040316	80k	USAT Burnside at anchor in Puget Sound circa 1900. University of Washington, Wilhelm Hester Photographs Collection	Robert Hurst
30040317	57k	USAT Burnside at anchor in Puget Sound circa 1900. University of Washington, Wilhelm Hester Photographs Collection	Robert Hurst
	130k	USAT Burnside at anchor, date and location unknown. US National Archives RG-111 Army Signal Corps. Photo Collection	US Army Order of Battle 1919-1941 Vol.4	Robert Hurst
30040321	37k	USAT Burnside off Dumaguete, Negros Island, Philippines, 26 December 1900. Unknown photographer, Annual_Reports of the War Department, 1901	Robert Hurst
	75k	USAT Burnside moored pierside at Seward, Alaska, date unknown. *Burnside* visited Seward numerous times beginning in 1903. Source: Seward Community Library Association, DC Bronell Photographs, Photo No. SCLA-28-32	Mike Green
	88k	USAT Burnside crew members in port, probably Seattle, WA., circa 1899 -1906 Source: Wilhelm Hester Collection	Tommy Trampp
30040319	96k	USAT Burnside at anchor off the town of Sitka, Baranoff Island, Alaska, date unknown. Unknown photographer, National Park Service. Photo courtesy of Sitka National Historical Park SITK 25739. 77b065fb-1dd8-b71b-0bb9-6cce30228716	Robert Hurst
30040320	184k	USAT Burnside arriving at Valdez, Alaska to begin laying a submarine cable to Sitka, 25 September 1904. Unknown photographer. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/40522239 This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person’s official duties under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code.	Robert Hurst
	59k	USAT Burnside at anchor in Valdez Bay, Alaska, October 1916	History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications
	36k	Painting of USAT Burnside courtesy of David Stoff. The painting was commissioned by his great-grandfather, who served on the *Burnside* laying cable in the Philippines.	History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications
	126k	USAT Burnside at Ketchikan, Alaska, 1911.	Courtesy of University of Washington Library
	81k	USAT Burnside in Wright Sound, Alaska. US National Archives photo	US National Archives
30040318	141k	USAT Burnside at anchor at Kasaan, Alaska, date unknown. Photo from www.picryl from www.loc.gov [ Library of Congress ]	John Spivey
	197k	USAT Burnside at the Orient Dock, Seattle circa 1912.	Courtesy University of Washington Libraries
	89k	USAT Burnside drydocked in Dry Dock No. 1. at Puget Sound Navy Yard, date unknown. US National Archives catalog # NAID 29962.	US National Archives, Pacific Alaska Region, Seattle, WA.
30040314	63k	1909 (AYPE) Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition post card of USAT Burnside moored pierside at Tacoma, WA., date unknown. Published by The Portland Post Card Co.	Tommy Trampp
	126k	USAT Burnside Spanish American War sailor's hat tally ribbon. From the estate of D.C. MINTON , III (USNA 1956)	Tommy Trampp

The history for USAT Burnside is from the US Army Order of Battle 1919-1941 Vol. 4NavSource

Master

01 Capt. Alfred H. Laffin, A.T.S. 1898 - 20 April 1912

02 Capt. Shears, Robert W., A.T.S. 20 April 1912 - 17 March 1923

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications - CS Restorer

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 30 January 2026

Master
01	Capt. Alfred H. Laffin, A.T.S.	1898 - 20 April 1912
02	Capt. Shears, Robert W., A.T.S.	20 April 1912 - 17 March 1923