USS King Philip (1845)

USS "King Philip" (1845) was a steamer acquired by the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a dispatch boat, providing various services.

A commercial steamer seized by the Union Navy

"Powhatan", a side wheel steamer built at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1845 by J. A. and E. T. Robinson, operated on the Potomac River out of Georgetown, D.C. Early in the Civil War the Union Army seized the side wheeler on 21 April 1861 and transferred her to the United States Navy.

Assigned to replace stolen buoys in the Potomac

The next day she entered the Washington Navy Yard to be fitted out for war service. A week later Lieutenant John Glendy Sproston was ordered to take command of "Powhatan" and proceed to Kettle Bottom Shoals to replace and protect buoys there which had been removed by Confederate agents.

Renamed USS "King Philip"

After patrol duty in the Potomac River, helping to protect Washington, D.C. during the early months of the Civil War, "Powhatan" steamed to Baltimore, Maryland, for repairs. She was renamed USS "King Philip" 4 November 1861.

Civil War duties

Throughout the Civil War "King Philip" was used as a dispatch vessel shuttling mail, supplies, and passengers between Washington, D.C., and Union ships in the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers.

Post-war decommissioning and sale

"King Philip" was sold at auction to H. F. Harrill 15 September 1865.

References

See also

* United States Navy
* American Civil War

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/k4/king_philip.htm USS King Philip]