| USS Epsilon (1864) | |
|---|---|
| Career (US) |  |
| Ordered: | as Harry Bumm |
| Laid down: | date unknown |
| Launched: | date unknown |
| Acquired: | 3 June 1864 |
| In service: | circa June 1864 |
| Out of service: | circa June 1865 |
| Struck: | 1865 (est.) |
| Fate: | sold, 12 July 1865 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 55 tons |
| Length: | 66 ft (20 m) |
| Beam: | 15 ft (4.6 m) |
| Draught: | 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) |
| Propulsion: | steam engine |
| Speed: | 9 knots |
| Complement: | not known |
| Armament: | none indicated |
USS Epsilon (1864) was a tugboat acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a tugboat and dispatch boat to support Union Navy patrol vessels on Confederate waterways.
Acquisition and name change from Tug No. 5 to Epsilon[]
Epsilon, a steam tug, was purchased as Harry Bumm at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 3 June 1864, and assigned to duty in the James River, Acting Ensign E. M. Boggs in command. She was known as Tug No. 5 until November 1864 when she was named Epsilon.
Performing various services during tour of duty on the James[]
Throughout her career, Epsilon performed useful service in the James, reconnoitering, patrolling, serving as picket, carrying mail, and transferring men from one ship's company to another.
Post-war decommissioning and disposal[]
Epsilon was ordered north in May 1865 and was sold at New York City 12 July 1865.
References[]
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
See also[]
The original article can be found at USS Epsilon (1864) and the edit history here.