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USS Nansemond

The tugboat James F. Freeborn in merchant service,

before her naval commissioning as USS Nansemond

Builder: Lawrence & Foulks (NY)

Laid down: 1862

Acquired: purchased, 18 August 1863

Commissioned: 19 August 1863

Decommissioned: 8 August 1865

Fate: 22 August 1865: Transferred to U.S. Revenue Cutter Service, renamed W. H. Crawford, 20 November 1873

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Characteristics

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Type: Side-wheel steamer

Displacement: 340 long tons

Length: 146 ft.

Beam: 26 ft. 

Draft: 8 ft. 3 in.

Propulsion: Steam engine

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Armament

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1 x 30-pounder Parrott rifle

2 x 24-pounder guns

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Battles

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North Atlantic Blockading Squadron

Chased and destroyed blockade runner Douro

Forced blockade running steamer Venus to run ashore near Cape Fear River, NC

Assisted in capturing blockade runner Margaret and Jessie running her aground east of Myrtle Beach

1st Battle of Fort Fisher

2nd Battle of Fort Fisher

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