USS Shawsheen (1855)
| History | |
|---|---|
  United States
|
|
| Ordered: | as Young America |
| Launched: | 1855 in New York City |
| Acquired: | 21 September 1861 at New York City |
| Commissioned: | 1861 (est.) |
| Homeport: | Newport News, Virginia |
| Fate: | Captured & burned by Confederate forces, 7 May 1864 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 180 tons |
| Length: | 118 ft (36 m) |
| Beam: | 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m) |
| Draught: | 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) |
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: | not known |
| Complement: | 40 |
| Armament: | 2 × 20-pounder Parrott rifles |
USS Shawsheen was a steam operated tugboat acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.
In addition to her tugboat duties, she was used by the Navy as a gunboat to patrol and blockade navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries.
Shawsheen—a side wheel tug built at New York City in 1855—was purchased by the Union Navy at New York City as Young America on 21 September 1861. No record of her commissioning has been found, but Acting Lieutenant Edmund R. Colhoun was apparently the tug's first commanding officer.
Originally assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Shawsheen arrived in Hampton Roads early in November badly damaged and unable to proceed further south under her own power. Nevertheless, the need for blockading vessels was so great off the coast of South Carolina that, on the 12th, she and USS Whitehall—towed by USS Connecticut—got underway to join Flag Officer DuPont. However, their conditions worsened soon after their departure, forcing them both to return to Newport News, Virginia.
Although it seemed desirable to send Shawsheen north for repairs, the tactical situation in the vicinity of Hampton Roads required her to remain there. On the 14th, she ascended the York River to investigate a report that Southern forces were gathering in preparation for an attack. After finding no evidence to support the report, she returned to Newport News and remained there to help guard USS Congress and USS Cumberland.
On 23 November shortly after midnight, Shawsheen and USS John L. Lockwood bombarded a Confederate camp above Newport News on the Yorktown Road. On the morning of 2 December, Confederate steamer, Patrick Henry, attacked the Union warships. Shawsheen engaged the Southern ship for over an hour and claimed to have scored two hits. In any case, the Patrick Henry was damaged and retired toward Norfolk, Virginia.
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