USS Virginia (1861) (Paperback)

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! USS Virginia (1861) was a heavy 581-ton blockade-running steamer captured by the U.S. Navy and put to use by the Union during the American Civil War. Virginia served the Navy primarily as a mortar gunboat. Her ordnance included six 24-pounder howitzers for riverbank bombardment, and a powerful 12-pounder rifle for use at sea against blockade runners. Virginia was originally the British merchantman Pet built at Dumbarton, Scotland, in 1861. Pet sailed as Noe-Daquy during the early months of the Civil War and, in December 1862, was acquired by a Havana, Cuba, merchant for use as a Confederate blockade runner.