# List of tinclad warships of the Union Navy

Vessels converted from civilian steamboats by arming them, adding a wooden casemate, and armoring portions of the vessel, were referred to as tinclad warships. The Union Navy used tinclad warships during the American Civil War, mostly converted civilian ships, although a few were purpose-built for the United States War Department; some had formerly been in Confederate service. Tinclads were cheaper, required smaller crews, and could enter shallower water than ironclad warships due to their light drafts. While tinclads were poorly suited to engage heavy artillery or other warships, they were better equipped to combat small groups of enemy soldiers. Tinclads were frequently used for escort and patrol duties, and sometimes provided naval support for other military actions. A total of 74 saw service during the war.

## Background

During the American Civil War, the control of the rivers of the United States of America and the Confederate States of America was strategically important. Both sides purchased civilian steamboats for conversion into warships. Both sides built ironclads, warships with heavy iron armor, and early in the war Union forces built several timberclads, vessels that used layers of wood as armor. A third type of vessel used by the Union Navy was the tinclad warship. Tinclads were generally converted civilian vessels, although several were purpose-built for the United States War Department late in the war. The process of converting a civilian steamer into a tinclad involved arming the ships (originally with either six or eight cannons, although it was eventually found advisable to add heavier cannon to the vessels), adding a casemate made of wood and at least partially covered with thin iron armor, replacing the existing pilothouse with a better-armored one, reinforcing decks and internal beams, and removing the texas.
Tinclads were cheaper than ironclads, easier to produce, and required smaller crews; their smaller drafts allowed them to enter shallower water than other warships could. Another drawback to the ironclads was that they were generally ineffective against small groups of enemy soldiers, while the tinclads were better suited to handle such threats. However, the tinclads were poorly suited for engaging heavy artillery or enemy warships. During the war, the tinclads performed patrols on the rivers, protected and escorted other vessels, and sometimes acted as naval support for military actions. Seventy-four tinclads entered service during the war.

## List of tinclads

Beginning on June 19, 1863, the tinclads were assigned identifying numbers, which were painted on each vessel's pilothouse.
| Ship | Identifying number | Acquired | Commissioned | Summary of career | Disposition | Postwar fate |
| USS Alfred Robb | 21 | April 19, or 21, 1862 | June 2, 1862 | Served with the Western Gunboat Flotilla and the Mississippi River Squadron. Was involved in actions at Fort Donelson, Tennessee, in February 1863; at Palmyra, Tennessee, in April 1863, and at Cerro Gordo, Tennessee, in June 1863. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Broken up, 1873 |
| USS Little Rebel | 16 | June 6, 1862 | August 21, 1862 | Served with the Western Gunboat Flotilla, the Mississippi River Squadron, and the United States Ram Fleet. Participated in the capture of CSS Missouri in June 1865. | Sold, November 29, 1865 | Ceased to appear in shipping records, 1874 |
| USS General Pillow | 20 | June 9, 1862 | August 23, 1862 | Served on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers with the Western Gunboat Flotilla and the Mississippi River Squadron. | Sold, November 26, 1865 | Unknown |
| USS Fairplay | 17 | August 18, 1862 | September 6, 1862 | Part of the Western Gunboat Flotilla. Defended Fort Donelson in February 1863, before serving on the Ohio River during Morgan's Raid in July of that year. Was present on the Cumberland River in December 1864. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Broken up, 1871 |
| USS St. Clair | 19 | August 13, 1862 | September 24, 1862 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Was engaged at Fort Donelson in February 1863, and at Palmyra, Tennessee in April 1863. In February 1864, sank another Union vessel in a collision, and took part in the Red River campaign later in 1864. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Ceased to appear in shipping records, 1869 |
| USS Brilliant | 18 | August 13, 1862 | October 1, 1862 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron in 1862. In February 1863, she was engaged at Fort Donelson in Tennessee, and in April 1863 burned Palmyra, Tennessee. In December 1864, she was involved in the Nashville campaign. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Burned, December 6, 1867 |
| USS Marmora | 2 | September 17, 1862 | October 21, 1862 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Was on the Yazoo River in November and December 1862, and was involved in the campaign related to the Battle of Arkansas Post in January 1863. In March 1863, was part of the Yazoo Pass Expedition, and served on the White and Little Red Rivers in August 1863. In early 1864, took part in a campaign on the Yazoo River. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Unknown |
| USS Signal | 8 | September 22, 1862 | October 1862 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Was on the Yazoo River in December 1862, and took part in the campaign related to the Battle of Arkansas Post in January 1863. In March 1863 participated in the Yazoo Pass expedition, and was involved in the Battle of Snyder's Bluff in April and May of that year. Advanced up the Yazoo River in May 1863, and two months later destroyed Confederate ships at Yazoo City, Mississippi. Took part in the Red River campaign in 1864. | Burned to prevent capture after battle damage, May 5, 1864 | N/A |
| USS Forest Rose | 9 | November 15, 1862 | December 3, 1862 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Bombarded Drumgold's Bluff in December 1862, and in January 1863 was involved in the Battle of Arkansas Post. Participated in the Yazoo Pass Expedition in March 1863. In May 1863 served on the Yazoo River, and destroyed Confederate naval facilities at Yazoo City, Mississippi. Served on the Red River in July 1863, and took part in the Red River campaign in early 1864. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Destroyed by ice, February 4, 1868 |
| USS Glide I | None | November 17, 1862 | December 3, 1862 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Was involved in the Battle of Arkansas Post and an expedition up the White River in January 1863. | Burned in accident, February 7, 1863 | N/A |
| USS Romeo | 3 | October 31, 1862 | December 11, 1862 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Was on the Yazoo River in December 1862, and participated in the Battle of Arkansas Post in January 1863. In March 1863, was part of the Yazoo Pass Expedition, and took part in the Battle of Snyder's Bluff in April and May 1863. Served on the Yazoo River in early 1864. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Ceased to appear in shipping records, 1870 |
| USS Juliet | 4 | November 1, 1862 | December 14, 1862 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. In December 1862, removed naval mines on the Yazoo River. In January 1863, was involved in the Battle of Arkansas Post, and in early 1864 was part of the Red River campaign. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Wrecked, December 31, 1865 |
| USS New Era | 7 | October 27, 1862 | December 1862 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Was involved with the Battle of Arkansas Post in January 1863 and the Battle of Fort Pillow in April 1864. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Burned, June 3, 1868 |
| USS Rattler | 1 | November 11, 1862 | December 19, 1862 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Was involved in the campaign related to the Battle of Arkansas Post in January 1863, and in the Yazoo Pass Expedition the following March. In July 1863, she served on the Red, Tensas, and Ouachita Rivers. | Wrecked, December 30, 1864 | N/A |
| USS Silver Lake | 23 | November 15, 1862 | December 24, 1862 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Was engaged at Fort Donelson in February 1863, and bombarded the towns of Florence, Alabama, and Palmyra, Tennessee, in late March and early April 1863. Was engaged on the Cumberland river in December 1864. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Burned, February 28, 1866 |
| USS Linden | 10 | November 20, 1862 | January 3, 1863 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. In April and May 1863, participated in the Battle of Snyder's Bluff, and served on the Yazoo River in May 1863. | Wrecked, February 22, 1864 | N/A |
| USS Springfield | 22 | November 20, 1862 | January 12, 1863 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Burned Palmyra, Tennessee, in April 1863, and served on the Ohio River during Morgan's Raid in July 1863. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Ceased to appear in shipping records, 1875 |
| USS Cricket | 6 | November 18, 1862 | January 19, 1863 | Was engaged in a skirmish near Greenville, Mississippi, in May 1863, and served on the White River in August of that year. Served on the Ouachita River in early March 1864, before participating in the Red River campaign, during which she was damaged. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Broken up, 1867 |
| USS Prairie Bird | 11 | December 19, 1862 | January 1863 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Bombarded Eunice, Mississippi, in June 1863, was served on the Yazoo River in April 1864. Damaged in a skirmish at Gaines Landing, Arkansas, in August 1864. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Unknown |
| USS Curlew | 12 | December 17, 1862 | February 16, 1863 | Served on the Red, Tensas, and Ouachita Rivers in July 1863, and in May of the next year, skirmished with a shore battery at Gaines Landing, Arkansas. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Unknown |
| USS Covington | 25 | February 13, 1863 | March 1863 | Served on the Tennessee River in 1863 and in the Red River campaign the next year. | Burned after battle damage on Red River of the South, May 5, 1864 | N/A |
| USS Argosy | 27 | March 24, 1863 | March 29, 1863 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Burned, March 7, 1872 |
| USS Hastings | 15 | March 24, 1863 | April 1863 | Served on the Tennessee River and later the White River. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Ceased to appear in shipping records, 1872 |
| USS Petrel | 5 | December 22, 1862 | 1863 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Participated in the Battle of Snyder's Bluff in April and May 1863, and then served on the Yazoo River in the latter month. Served on the Red River in July 1863, and was on the Yazoo River in early 1864. | Captured by Confederate forces on April 22, 1864, and later scuttled | N/A |
| USS Fort Hindman | 13 | March 14, 1863 | April 1863 | Served on the Red River of the South, Tensas River, Ouachita River, and Little Red River in 1863. In 1864 she served on the Ouachita and Red Rivers and was part of the Red River campaign. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Ceased to appear in shipping records, 1874 |
| USS Queen City | 26 | February 13, 1863 | April 1, 1863 | Served in the regions of Helena, Arkansas, and Clarendon, Arkansas, as well as the Tennessee River. | Captured by Confederate forces on June 24, 1864, and scuttled at a later date. | N/A |
| USS Naumkeag | 37 | April 14, 1863 | April 16, 1863 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Was on the Ohio River in July 1863, including during Morgan's Raid. Fought in a skirmish at Clarendon, Arkansas, in June 1864. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Burned, January 19, 1867 |
| USS Champion | 24 | March 14, 1863 | April 26, 1863 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. | Sold, November 29, 1865 | Ceased to appear in shipping records, 1868 |
| USS Silver Cloud | 28 | April 1, 1863 | May 4, 1863 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Was part of a movement towards Eastport, Mississippi in May 1863. During April of the next year, she was involved in the Battle of Fort Pillow, and in December 1864 was engaged on the Cumberland river. | Sold, August 15, 1865 | Wrecked, October 2, 1866 or 1868 |
| USS Fawn | 30 | May 13, 1863 | May 11, 1863 | Served on the White River, including in an action against a shore battery at Clarendon, Arkansas, in June 1864. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Wrecked, March 24, 1873 |
| USS Kenwood | 14 | April 3, 1863 | May 24, 1863 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron, sometimes on the Arkansas River. Was involved in an expedition to Yazoo City, Mississippi, in July 1863, and from 1863 to 1865, served in the Port Hudson, Louisiana, area. Participated in the capture of CSS Missouri in June 1865. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Exploded, August 14, 1868 or 1869 |
| USS Key West | 32 | April 16, or May 16, 1863 | May 26, 1863 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron, especially on the Tennessee River. Was involved in an expedition to Eastport, Mississippi, in October 1864, and was present at the Battle of Johnsonville the next month. | Burned to prevent capture, November 4, 1864 | N/A |
| USS Exchange | 38 | April 6, 1863 | June 1863 | Served on the Tennessee River in 1863. Was part of an expedition on the Yazoo River in early 1864, and was damaged in at skirmish at Columbia, Arkansas, in June 1864. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Wrecked, April 25, 1869 |
| USS Moose | 34 | May 20, 1863 | June 15, 1863 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Was on the Ohio River in July 1863, including during Morgan's Raid. Fought at the Battle of Fort Pillow in April 1864, skirmished against Confederate forces on the Cumberland River in December 1864, and in a fight at Centre Furnace, Tennessee, in April 1865. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Burned, December 29, 1867 |
| USS Tawah | 29 | June 19, 1863 | June 21, or October 1863 | Served on the Tennessee River, including in the Battle of Johnsonville. | Burned after battle damage, November 4, 1864 | N/A |
| USS Victory | 33 | May 1863 | July 8, 1863 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. In July 1863, she served on the Ohio River during Morgan's Raid, and in November 1864 participated in a skirmish at Paducah, Kentucky. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Wrecked, February 8, 1866 |
| USS Reindeer | 35 | May 25, or June 13, 1863 | July 25, 1863 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Was on the Ohio River during July 1863, including during Morgan's Raid. Served on the Cumberland River in December 1864 and was a dispatch vessel in 1865. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Wrecked, May 9, 1867 |
| USS Paw Paw | 31 | April 9, 1863 | July 25, 1863 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Sank after hitting a snag in August 1863, but was later refloated. Acted in support of Union Army operations on the Tennessee River from October to December 1863, and in March of the following year took part in a skirmish at Paducah, Kentucky. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Broken up, 1865 |
| USS Peosta | 36 | June 13, 1863 | October 2, 1863 | Served on the Tennessee River, including in an action at Paducah, Kentucky, in March 1864. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Burned, December 15, or 25, 1870 |
| USS Wave | 45 | November 14, 1863 | Unknown | Served with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. | Captured by Confederate forces on May 6, 1864; further fate uncertain but probably scuttled by Confederate troops | N/A |
| USS Glide II | 43 | November 30, 1863 | Unknown | Served with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, particularly at Berwick Bay. | Sold, August 12, 1865 | Exploded, January 13, 1869 |
| USS Stockdale | 42 | November 13, 1863 | December 26, 1863 | Served with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. Fought a minor action on the Tchefuncte River in May 1864, and was present at the Battle of Mobile Bay in August. In September 1864 was part of an expedition to the Bon Secour River. | Sold, August 24, 1865 | Ceased to appear in shipping records, 1871 |
| USS Nyanza | 41 | November 4, 1863 | December 21, 1863 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. | Sold, August 15, 1865 | Ceased to appear in shipping records, 1873 |
| USS Alexandria | 40 | July 13, 1863 | December 12, 1863 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Wrecked, October 5, 1867 |
| USS Tensas | 39 | August 14, 1863 | January 1, 1864 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Wrecked, 1868 |
| USS Gazelle | 50 | November 21, 1863 | February 1864 | Served in the Red River campaign. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Broken up, 1869 |
| USS Elfin | 52 | February 23, 1864 | March 1864 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron and fought at the Battle of Johnsonville. | Burned to prevent capture, November 4, 1864 | N/A |
| USS Fairy | 51 | February 10, 1864 | March 10, 1864 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron, including on the Tennessee River. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Unknown |
| USS Undine | 55 | March 7, 1864 | April 1864 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Almost rank in July 1864 on the Tennessee River, and was part of a movement to Eastport, Mississippi, in October 1864. Took part in an engagement at Paris Landing, Tennessee, in October 1864, in which she was captured. | Captured by Confederate forces on October 30, 1864, and burned on November 4, 1864 | N/A |
| USS Meteor | 44 | November or December 1863 | March 8, 1864 | Served with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. Guarded the Head of Passes from March 1864 to February 1865. In March and April 1865, served in the Mobile, Alabama, area. | Sold, October 5, 1865 | Ceased to appear in shipping records, 1869 |
| USS Tallahatchie | 46 | January 23, 1864 | April 19, 1864 | Initially served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Participated with the Red River expedition in early 1864, before transferring to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron in June 1864. | Sold, August 12, 1865 | Burned, September 7, 1869 |
| USS Naiad | 53 | March 3, 1864 | April 3, 1864 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Skirmished with Confederate batteries at multiple points in Louisiana in 1864. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Wrecked, June 1, 1868 |
| USS Nymph | 54 | March 8, 1864 | April 11, 1864 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Unknown |
| USS Carrabasset | 49 | January 23, 1864 | May 12, 1864 | Served in the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, and participated in an expedition to Berwick Bay in March 1865. | Sold, August 12, 1865 | Wrecked, May 1, 1870 |
| USS Elk | 47 | December 8, 1863 | May 6, 1864 | Served with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron]] in 1863, and later on the Lower Mississippi River in 1864 and 1865, including an expedition to Lake Pontchartrain in October 1864. | Sold, August 24, 1865 | Wrecked, 1868 |
| USS Rodolph | 48 | December 31, 1863 | May 18, 1864 | Served with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, including actions at Mobile Bay in August 1864, Bon Secour, Alabama, in September 1864, and the Blakely River in April 1865. | Sunk by naval mine, April 1, 1865 | N/A |
| USS Huntress | 58 | May 1864 | June 10, 1864 | Served in the Mississippi River Squadron, patrolling between Memphis, Tennessee, and Columbus, Kentucky. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Wrecked, December 30, 1865 |
| USS Peri | 57 | April 30, 1864 | June 20, 1864 | Served on the White River in July 1864. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Wrecked, January 8, 1868 |
| USS Sibyl | 59 | April 27, 1864 | June 16, or 26, 1864 | Served as a dispatch boat with the Mississippi River Squadron. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Ceased to appear in shipping records, 1876 |
| USS General Grant | 62 | 1864 | July 20, 1864 | Served on the Tennessee River, including an action at Decatur, Alabama, in December 1864. Destroyed Guntersville, Alabama, in January 1865. | Returned to United States War Department, June 2, 1865 | Unknown |
| USS General Sherman | 60 | 1864 | July 27, 1864 | Served on the Tennessee River, including an action at Decatur, Alabama, in December 1864. | Returned to United States War Department, June 3, 1865 | Unknown |
| USS General Burnside | 63 | 1864 | August 8, 1864 | Served on the Tennessee River, including an action at Decatur, Alabama, in December 1864. | Returned to United States War Department, June 1, 1865 | Unknown |
| USS General Thomas | 61 | 1864 | August 8, 1864 | Served on the Tennessee River, participating in fighting at Whitesburg, Tennessee, in October 1864, and Decatur, Alabama, in December 1864. | Returned to United States War Department, June 3, 1865 and sold in 1866 | Wrecked, December 31, 1868 |
| USS Siren | 56 | March 11, 1864 | August 30, 1864 | Was a receiving ship at Mound City, Illinois, from March to August 1864, and then joined the Mississippi River Squadron. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Ceased to appear in shipping records, 1867 |
| USS Grosbeak | 8 | December 3, 1864 or February 3, 1865 | February 24, 1865 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Rescued survivors of the Sultana Disaster. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Wrecked, June 9, 1871 |
| USS Colossus | 25 | December 6, or December 8, 1864 | February 24, 1865 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Wrecked, December 17, 1866 |
| USS Mist | 26 | December 23, 1864 | March 3, 1865 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Ceased to appear in shipping records, 1874 |
| USS Collier | 29 | December 7, 1864 | March 18, 1865 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. In June 1865, she participated in the capture of CSS Missouri. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Ceased to appear in shipping records, 1867 |
| USS Oriole | 52 | December 7, 1864 | March 22, 1865 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Wrecked, March 3, 1869 |
| USS Gamage | 60 | December 22, 1864 | March 23, 1865 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. Participated in the capture of CSS Missouri in June 1865. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Burned, October 11, 1876 |
| USS Kate | 55 | December 23, 1864 | April 2, 1865 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. | Sold, March 29, 1866 | Wrecked, June 21, 1867 |
| USS Ibex | 10 | December 10, 1864 | April 4, 1865 | Served with the Mississippi River Squadron. | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Exploded, January 3, 1868 |
| USS Abeona | 32 | December 21, 1864 | April 10, 1865 | Served as a patrol and guard vessel with the Mississippi River Squadron | Sold, August 17, 1865 | Burned, March 7, 1872 |
| USS Tempest | 1 | December 30, 1864 | April 26, 1865 | Served on the western rivers and was the flagship for Samuel P. Lee through the demobilization of the Mississippi River Squadron. | Sold, November 29, 1865 | Burned, December 27, 1869 |