USS Sorrel (1864)
USS Sorrel (1864) was a small 68-ton steamer purchased by the Union Navy towards the end of the American Civil War.
| History | |
|---|---|
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| Ordered | as W. S. Hancock |
| Laid down | date unknown |
| Launched | date unknown |
| Acquired | 1 August 1864 at Philadelphia |
| In service | c. 1864 |
| Out of service | late 1870s |
| Stricken | 1883 (est.) |
| Homeport | Philadelphia Navy Yard |
| Fate | sold, 27 September 1883 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 68 tons |
| Length | 77' 0" |
| Beam | 16' 6" |
| Draught | depth of hold. 6' 6" |
| Propulsion | steam engine |
| Speed | not known |
| Complement | not known |
| Armament | not known |
The Navy placed Sorrel in service as a Philadelphia tugboat, a role she maintained through the end of the Civil War and for a short period afterwards.
Purchased at Philadelphia in 1864
Sorrel—a wooden-hulled steam tug—was purchased by the Navy at Philadelphia, under the name W. S. Hancock on 1 August 1864 from Hillman and Streaker.
Service with the Navy
The small steamer apparently served as a general purpose tug at the Philadelphia Navy Yard throughout her naval career.
Deactivation and sale
She was laid up in Philadelphia in the late 1870s and remained inactive until she was sold there to A. Purvis & Son on 27 September 1883.
References
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.