USS Kinsman ( 1854 ) USS " Kinsman " ( 1854 ) was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy from the Union Army during the American Civil War . She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways . Commandeered for Union Army service . In 1854 " Kinsman " was built at Elizabeth , Pennsylvania , as Grey Cloud . She operated on the Mississippi River and its tributaries from St . Louis , Missouri . After the capture of New Orleans , Louisiana , in the spring of 1862 , she was commandeered by General B . F . Butler and fitted out for river service . On 18 July , the and " Grey Cloud " , reinforced by men from the , steamed toward Pascagoula with the " New London " announcing their arrival by firing two shells over the large shoreline hotel . The " New London " docked at the Hotel Wharf at Pascagoula , Mississippi , and deployed about 60 sailors and marines to the village to capture mails and confiscate the telegraph equipment . Sentries quickly spotted a Confederate cavalry patrol and the sailors and marines withdrew to their gunboats . The " Grey Cloud " moved about a half mile west and attempted to enter the Pascagoula River with the intent on capturing local schooners with turpentine and lumber . However , the mouth of the river was obstructed to prevent passage . At this point the gunboats stood off shore and put in three launches loaded with about 25 sailors and marines each and proceeded up the river . About a mile from the mouth where the river is not but 200 yards wide , the launches were amushed by a platoon of 30 troopers of the Mobile Dragoons under Lieut Hallett , a cavalry unit armed with Sharps carbines . The launches returned fire , but where in the open and withdrew to the mouth of the river with eight or nine wounded . Once the launches were clear , the " New London " fired 25 shells into the village and the " Grey Cloud " fired seven shells . After sitting off shore 19 July , the ships withdrew from the shoreline . 2 Damaged in action against Confederate ironclad Cotton . Renamed " Kinsman " , the side - wheel steamer operated for the Union Army , Acting Master George Wiggen in command . With , , and , she engaged Confederate ironclad gunboat " Cotton " in a spirited action 3 November . " Kinsman " was struck under her port bow and the other Union ships were damaged but they forced the Confederate vessel to retire . That night the Northern ships captured " A . B . Seaer " , a small Steamer of the Confederate Navy used as a dispatch boat . Five days later , " Kinsman " and " A . B . Seger " captured and burned steamers " Osprey " and " J . P . Smith " in Bayou Cheval , Louisiana . Transferred to the Union Navy for service . " Kinsman " was transferred to the Navy 1 January 1863 . With three other ships under overall command of Lt . Comdr . Thomas McKean Buchanan , she attacked the South ' s defenses at Bayou Teche , below Franklin , Louisiana . Vigorous prosecution of the action by Northern vessels forced the Southerners to retire permitting removal of obstructions which had impeded Union ships . Ironclad " Cotton " sets itself on fire while " Kinsman " strikes a mine . Confederate gunboat " Cotton " enaged the attackers but was compelled to retire . Soon thereafter " Cotton ' s " crew set their ship afire and destroyed her to prevent capture . During the engagement , a torpedo ( mine ) exploded under " Kinsman " unshipping her rudder . " Kinsman " strikes a snag in the river , sinks with loss of six men . While transporting a detachment of troops 23 February 1863 , " Kinsman " struck a snag and sank in Berwick Bay near Brashear City , Louisiana . Six men were reported missing . References . 2Ref : Charleston Daily Courier , 29 July 1862