USS Gamma
USS Gamma was a small steamer acquired by the Union Navy during close of the American Civil War.
She was employed by the Navy as a tugboat and, since she carried a spar torpedo, as a torpedo boat, capable of ramming and sinking another ship with her explosive torpedo.
Constructed as a tugboat in 1863
Gamma was built in 1863 as steamer R. F. Loper at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.; purchased there 3 June 1864; renamed Gamma, but was also called Tug Number 3 and ''Picket Boat Number 3.''Assigned to the James River
Gamma was assigned as a picket boat in the James River. She arrived at New Bern, North Carolina, from the James River 3 April 1865.Placed at the disposal of General William Tecumseh Sherman's quartermaster, she served in the sounds of North Carolina until close of the Civil War.