USS ''Ice Boat'' was a vessel borrowed from the City of

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

, Pennsylvania, by the Union Navy when 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 ...

suddenly broke out. She was placed in service immediately and kept in service until she could be replaced by Union Navy vessels, built or borrowed, and then returned to Philadelphia.

Temporary assistance to the Union Navy

''Ice Boat'', also known as ''Refrigerator'' and ''Release'', was owned by the city of Philadelphia and offered to the Union Navy free of expense soon after the outbreak of the American Civil War. She was placed in service at Philadelphia 23 April 1861, Commodore

Oliver S. Glisson Oliver Spencer Glisson (January 18, 1809 – November 20, 1890), was a rear admiral of the United States Navy. After commanding a schooner in the Mexican–American War, he was posted to the East India Squadron and took part in the Japan Expeditio ...

in command.

Supporting the initial stability of the Potomac River area

She departed

, Pennsylvania, the same day to protect the landing of troops at

Annapolis, Maryland Annapolis ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland and the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Anne Arundel County. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east o ...

, to encourage

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

's adherence to the Union and to be available for the defense of

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

''Ice Boat'' was ordered to Washington for duty in the

Potomac River The Potomac River () drains the Mid-Atlantic United States, flowing from the Potomac Highlands into Chesapeake Bay. It is long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map. Retrieved Augus ...

21 May arriving two days later. Most of her service was off

Aquia Creek Aquia Creek () is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed August 15, 2011 tributary of the tidal segment of the Potomac River and is located in northern Virginia. The creek's h ...

where she labored to stop trade across the Potomac River between

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 ...

and

, occasionally engaging

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 ...

batteries on the Virginia shore.

Defending the Nation’s Capital after Union loss at Bull Run

News of the Union Army's defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run caused ''Ice Boat's'' return to Washington to defend the Nation's Capital. A fortnight later the ship was back off

where she remained until she was returned to her owner late in November 1861.

Commanding officers

During its seven months of service in the U.S. Navy, the ''Ice Boat'' served under the following officers:

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ice Boat Ships of the Union Navy Gunboats of the United States Navy Steamships of the United States Navy Ice trade