USS Katahdin (1861)

The USS Katahdin, launched in 1861, was a gunboat that served in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. A double-ended ferryboat acquired in 1861 and converted for naval service, the Katahdin was primarily used for blockade duty and patrol along the coasts of the Confederacy.

The Katahdin saw action in various engagements, including operations on the James River and in the sounds of North Carolina. She participated in expeditions against Confederate fortifications and supported Union Army operations. While not a particularly large or heavily armed vessel, the Katahdin contributed to the Union naval effort by preventing Confederate ships from running the blockade and disrupting enemy coastal commerce.

Following the end of the Civil War, the USS Katahdin was decommissioned. She was sold into private hands and returned to commercial service.