CSS Scorpion

CSS "Scorpion" was a "Squib"-class torpedo boat that served in the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War. Armed with a single spar torpedo, she originally served guard duty on the James River after being built in late 1864. Along with the rest of the James River Squadron, "Scorpion" moved downriver on January 23, 1865, and participated in the Battle of Trent's Reach. After performing depth soundings near Union obstructions, "Scorpion" moved to get a lantern from the ironclad CSS "Virginia II", but ran into a hawser and then ran aground. At 07:10 on the morning of January 24, Union fire struck the abandoned tender CSS "Drewry", which then exploded. The force of the explosion swept "Scorpion" out of control downriver. An attempt to rescue her that night failed, and she was captured by Union forces.
Construction and characteristics.
During the American Civil War, the Union blockade was slowly destroying the economy of the rebelling Confederate States of America. The first use of torpedo boats in attempting to break the blockade came in October 1863. The attack damaged a Union vessel, and the partial success led the Confederates to build additional torpedo boats. Multiple designs were used, including a group known as the "Squib"-class built at Richmond, Virginia. Lieutenant Hunter Davidson playing a significant role in the design.
CSS "Scorpion", one of the "Squib"-class, was constructed in late 1864, and was long, had a beam of , and a depth of hold of . Tonnage for the class is unknown. The "Squib"-class ships were powered by two oscillating condensing engines, which had a diameter cylinder and a stroke, as well a single boiler. According to a Union engineer, she could go at "a fair speed for a boat of her kind". Her crew of five or six operated steer gear that was located towards the front of the vessel. Her armament was a single spar torpedo mounted to a spar shaft that measured or long. The torpedoes used were in diameter, and the spar could be raised or lowered by the ship's crew using a chain and tackle system. Thin plates of iron served as armor on the ships's sides.
Service history.
After construction, "Scorpion" entered Confederate service with the James River Squadron. Under the command of Lieutenant Edward Lakin, she performed guard duty in the James River. Beginning on January 23, 1865, the James River Squadron began an offensive against the Union supply depot at City Point, Virginia. To reduce the chance of collisions in the narrow river, the wooden vessels of the fleet were lashed to the ironclads. Overall, the Confederates had 11 ships present: three ironclads, three gunboats, three torpedo boats, and two tenders. "Scorpion" was towed by the tender CSS "Torpedo", which was in turn lashed to the ironclad CSS "Virginia II". Moving during the night, the Confederate vessels passed a Union shore position known as Fort Brady, which fired upon them. At around 09:00, the Confederate vessels reached Union obstructions in the river at Trent's Reach.
"Scorpion" was then sent forward to perform depth sounding, with a pilot from "Virginia II" aboard. The pilot claimed that the channel was not open, but Charles Read, who commanded all of the torpedo boats in the James River Squadron, found that a passage could be made; the pilot may have become unnerved by Union shore fire. The ironclad CSS "Fredericksburg" then managed to clear the obstructions at around 01:30 on January 24. Read later took "Scorpion" to look for the gunboat CSS "Hampton", but after not finding her, took the ship to "Virginia II" to get a lantern for lighting the passage. "Virginia II" had run aground, and the same fate had befallen the ironclad CSS "Richmond" as well. The tender CSS "Drewry" then ran aground trying to free "Richmond". Moving towards "Virginia II", "Scorpion" ran into a hawser strung between the former ship and the gunboat CSS "Beaufort", losing her torpedo and spar in the process. Not long afterwards, she ran aground. The torpedo boat CSS "Hornet" then ran aground trying to free "Scorpion". The Confederate vessels that were not aground withdrew upriver before daylight. At 06:55, the crew of "Drewry" was taken onto "Richmond", and at 07:10, Union fire caused "Drewry" to explode. The force of the explosion knocked "Scorpion" downriver out of control; two men on board were killed and four others swept overboard. After dark on January 24, Read tried to take "Beaufort" downriver to rescue "Scorpion", but as "Beaufort" could not be controlled due to a strong wind, and a smaller vessel was sent to "Scorpion". "Scorpion" was found to have taken on water, and after the Union illuminated the area with a Drummond light, the efforts to rescue the vessel were abandoned. She was later captured by Union forces, and may have been burned.