USS Hunchback was a side-wheel, steam-powered

Steam engine

A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...

 gunboat

Gunboat

A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...

 used by the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 during the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

.

Pre-Civil War

The original wooden boat that was later renamed as the USS Hunchback was built in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

 in 1852 for civilian use as a ferry. On December 16, 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 Colhoun

Edmund Ross Colhoun was a rear admiral of the United States Navy, who served during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.-Biography:...

 in command.

Civil War presence

USS Hunchback primarily served in southeastern Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

, in the area of the James River

James River (Virginia)

The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...

, and northeastern North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

, 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

Roanoke Island is an island in Dare County near the coast of North Carolina, United States. It was named after the historical Roanoke Carolina Algonquian people who inhabited the area in the 16th century at the time of English exploration....

. After steaming to the Hatteras Inlet

Cape Hatteras

Cape Hatteras is a cape on the coast of North Carolina. It is the point that protrudes the farthest to the southeast along the northeast-to-southwest line of the Atlantic coast of North America...

 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

Confederate States Army

The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...

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

Chowan River

The Chowan River is a blackwater river formed with the merging of Virginia's Blackwater and Nottoway rivers near the stateline between Virginia and North Carolina. According to the USGS a variant name is Choan River....

 to New Bern, North Carolina

New Bern, North Carolina

New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...

, 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

Franklin, Virginia

Franklin is an independent city in Virginia. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Franklin with Southampton county for statistical purposes. The population was 8,582 in 2010.-History:...

, 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. During the rest of the Hunchback's time on patrol, she was involved in a reconnaissance mission to Hamilton, North Carolina

Hamilton, North Carolina

Hamilton is a town in Martin County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 516 at the 2000 census. The current mayor is Gil Matthews.-Geography:Hamilton is located at ....

, and the defense of Fort Anderson

Fort Anderson (North Carolina)

Fort Anderson was an early fort in the lower Cape Fear Region of North Carolina, at Brunswick Town in Brunswick County. It was used as a Confederate Fort during the American Civil War. The fort was pivotal in protecting the Cape Fear River inlets and Wilmington upstream. Earthen batteries...

 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 Baltimore, 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 New York Harbor

New York Harbor

New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...

, where it was decommissioned on 12 June 1865. A month later, the ship was sold to the Brooklyn and New York Ferry Company

Brooklyn and New York Ferry Company

The Brooklyn and New York Ferry Company was a ferry company that operated between Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York City, United States.-History:The Williamsburgh Ferry Company was established in 1824, taking over the existing Grand Street Ferry....

for civilian use. The boat was renamed the General Grant and remained in civilian use until approximately 1880, when she was retired and scrapped.