USS Morse USS " Morse " was a ferryboat acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War . Ferryboats were of great value , since , because of their flat bottom and shallow draft , they could navigate streams and shallow waters that other ships could not . Construction and design . " Morse " , originally named " Marion " , was a sidewheel ferryboat built at New York in 1859 by Roosevelt , Joyce & Co . She was in length , with a beam of , draft of and hold depth of . " Marion " was powered by a 500 hp single - cylinder vertical beam steam engine with bore and stroke , built by the Novelty Iron Works of New York . Service history . " Marion " was purchased by the Navy on 7 November 1861 , renamed " Morse " , and armed with two guns . She was commissioned 9 November 1861 , Acting Master Peter Hays in command . Morse arrived at Hampton Roads , Virginia , on 20 November 1861 to join the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron . She lay off Newport News , Virginia , until 29 December when she steamed across Hampton Roads in an attempt to capture the " CSS Sea Bird " ; " Morse ’ s " shelling drove the steamer to the protection of three batteries at Sewell ’ s Point . Heated action began for " Morse " in January 1862 when she joined the Roanoke Island expedition with 16 additional shallow draft gunboats . The expedition departed Hampton Roads 11 January and began bombarding the fortifications 7 February . The campaign resulted in Union capture of the island 8 February , threatening Confederate communications and opening the rear defenses to Norfolk , Virginia . On 9 February , " Morse " and steamed up Croatan Sound for Elizabeth City , North Carolina , to destroy Confederate gunboats and break up canal communications . Crossing Dismal Swamp Canal , the gunboats spotted Confederate ships and shore batteries . Firing from the ships drove the southerners from their guns and scattered the Confederate vessels . The Union squadron captured or destroyed Confederate ships " Sea Bird " , " Fanny " , " Ellie " , " Forrest " , and " Black Warrior " , permitting capture of the town 10 February . " Morse " and five additional gunboats departed Hatteras Inlet 23 February to reconnoiter Croatan Sound . Strong Confederate forces at Winton , North Carolina , opened heavy fire on , the lead ship , with artillery and musketry . The ships returned the attack , firing on the battery and landing the 9th New York Zouaves , who entered Winton , destroying military stores , tents , arms , and gear . " Morse " departed Hatteras Inlet with 12 other ships 12 March for Brant Island , Neuse River to cover the disembarkation of troops in the New Berne campaign . The joint Army Navy expedition captured the town 14 March and the last of the batteries the 16th . " Morse " spent the remainder of the spring and summer scouting and patrolling the York River , protecting transports and aiding operations of the Army on Pamunkey River in June . Joining the James River Flotilla in July , she captured supplies on Mattapony River the following May , scouting the river to Frazier ’ s Ferry and silencing Confederate guns above West Point , Virginia . " Morse " joined seven others in capturing Fort Powhatan , James River 14 July 1863 . In November , " Morse " joined the expedition to Mathews County , Virginia , a peninsula between Mobjack Bay and Piankatank River and a base for Confederate raiders . Information from captured guerrillas on plans to capture a schooner and to destroy the lights on Chesapeake Bay sent " Morse " up East River to throttle these efforts . After searching out torpedoes ( mines ) on Purtan Bay in February 1864 , " Morse " joined General Wister ’ s campaign on the Mattapony River , attacking King and Queen Courthouse . One thousand infantry went ashore from the Union ships at Sheppard ’ s Landing 13 March . After a feint attack on West Point , Virginia , in May , " Morse " evacuated troops from that point . After scouting duty throughout the spring and summer , " Morse " joined the Potomac Flotilla later in the winter . " Morse " relieved " Delaware " on the Rappahannock River in March 1865 , aiding the Army in its efforts to take Fort Lowry . She decommissioned and went to the Washington Navy Yard 21 May . " Morse " was sold there at public auction to the East Boston Ferry Co . , 20 July . Redocumented " Lincoln " 12 December , she continued to serve American commerce until abandoned in 1885 . References . Bibliography .