USS ''Hunchback'' was a side-wheel, steam-powered gunboat used by the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

Pre-Civil War

The original wooden boat that was later renamed as the USS ''Hunchback'' was built in

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in 1852 for civilian use as a ferry. On 16 December 1861, with the onset of the Civil War, the United States Navy purchased the boat. Within a month of its purchase, the Navy had converted the ferry into a gunboat and commissioned it for use in the war. The refitted ship was ready for departure in early January 1862 with Acting Lt.

Edmund Colhoun Edmund Ross Colhoun (6 May 1821 – 17 February 1897) was a rear admiral of the United States Navy who served during the Mexican War and the American Civil War, in which he was commended for his participation in the bombardment and capture of For ...

in command.

Civil War presence

USS Hunchback crewmen in the American Civil War

USS ''Hunchback'' primarily served in southeastern

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

, in the area of the

James River The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia that begins in the Appalachian Mountains and flows U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed April 1, 2011 to Chesapea ...

, and northeastern

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...

, in the area sounds.

Army support

The ''Hunchback's'' first assignment was to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, which had plans to launch an attack to capture

Roanoke Island Roanoke Island () is an island in Dare County, North Carolina, Dare County, bordered by the Outer Banks of North Carolina, United States. It was named after the historical Roanoke (tribe), Roanoke, a Carolina Algonquian people who inhabited the ar ...

. After steaming to the Hatteras Inlet in late January where the squadron was staging its amphibious operation, the ''Hunchback'' and other ships departed for Fort Barrow. While in subsequent battle, the ''Hunchback'' carried her assault at close range towards Fort Barrow and received heavy damage. Despite the ship's battle scars, she played an important role in securing the fort for ground forces and was a key contributor to the successful attack on the

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

forces. After the successful battle at Fort Barrow, the ''Hunchback'' continued to support Army operations by carrying troops up the

Chowan River The Chowan River (cho-WAHHN)
, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the

New Bern, North Carolina New Bern, formerly called Newbern, is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 29,524, which had risen to an estimated 29,994 as of 2019. It is the county seat of Craven County and t ...

, where the Confederate army had a large supply depot. With ''Hunchback'' providing the heavy artillery for the assault, the Union forces captured New Bern and the Confederate depot.

On patrol

After her major accomplishments at Fort Barrow and New Bern, the ''Hunchback'' was assigned to patrol the North Carolina Sounds. While on patrol, the ship made several trips up the Chowan River. During these patrols, the ''Hunchback'' was responsible for the capture of four small ships and the destruction of one Confederate battery. In early October 1862, the ''Hunchback'' received an urgent request for assistance near the city of Franklin, Virginia, where Confederate forces were gathering. Responding to the call, the ''Hunchback'' set towards Franklin in what became known as The Joint Expedition Against Franklin. The ship was unable to reach Franklin due to the narrow river and strong Confederate resistance. The ''Hunchback'' was eventually forced to retreat after coming within three-quarters of a mile of the city.United States. US Navy. Report of the Secretary of the Navy, December, 1862. pg 150. During the rest of the ''Hunchback's'' time on patrol, she was involved in a reconnaissance mission to

Hamilton, North Carolina Hamilton is a town in Martin County, North Carolina, Martin County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 408 at the 2010 census. Geography Hamilton is located at (35.944116, -77.207772). According to the United States Census Bureau, ...

, and the defense of

Fort Anderson Fort Anderson can refer to: *Fort Anderson (Kentucky) ; A Union fort used in the American Civil War and site of the Battle of Paducah, Kentucky *Fort Anderson (North Carolina) ; A Confederate fort used in the American Civil War *Fort Anderson Locate ...

which came under Confederate attack.

The James River

After aiding in the siege against New Bern, the combined damage from battle and routine wear left the ''Hunchback'' crippled. The ship steamed to

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, Maryland, for repairs. After necessary repairs, she was assigned to patrol on the James River. For the ship's remaining days as a gun boat, it patrolled the James with occasional attacks on Confederate positions, while aiding other ships in need of assistance.

Post-Civil War

With the end of the Civil War imminent, on 17 March 1865, the ''Hunchback'' returned to its original patrol on the sounds of North Carolina. After one final mission in April up the Chowan River, the Navy sent the ship back to

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, where it was decommissioned on 12 June 1865. A month later, the ship was sold to the Brooklyn and New York Ferry Company for civilian use. The boat was renamed the ''General Grant'' and remained in civilian use until approximately 1880, when she was retired and scrapped.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunchback 1852 ships Steamships of the United States Navy Ships of the Union Navy Ships built in New York City Gunboats of the United States Navy