'''CSS ''Scorpion''''' was a [[Squib-class torpedo boat|''Squib''-class]] [[torpedo boat]] that served in the [[Confederate States Navy]] during the [[American Civil War]]. Armed with a single [[spar torpedo]], she originally served guard duty on the [[James River]] after being built in late 1864. Along with the rest of the James River Squadron, ''Scorpion'' moved downriver on January 23, 1865, and participated in the [[Battle of Trent's Reach]]. After performing [[depth sounding]]s near Union obstructions, ''Scorpion'' moved to get a lantern from the [[ironclad]] [[CSS Virginia II|CSS ''Virginia II'']], but ran into a [[hawser]] and then [[ran aground]]. At 07:10 on the morning of January 24, Union fire struck the abandoned [[tender ship|tender]] [[CSS Drewry|CSS ''Drewry'']], whowhich then exploded. The force of the explosion swept ''Scorpion'' out of control downriver. An attempt to rescue her that night failed, and she fell into Union hands.
==Construction and characteristics==
During the [[American Civil War]], the [[Union blockade]] was slowly suffocating the breakaway [[Confederate States of America]]. In an attempt to break the blockade, the [[torpedo boat]] [[CSS David|CSS ''David]] attacked the Union [[ironclad]] [[USS New Ironsides|USS ''New Ironsides'']] on October 5, 1863, damaging the Union vessel. Afterwards, the Confederates continued to build additional torpedo boats. While some were built onto a similar pattern to ''David'', a group, known as the [[Squib-class torpedo boat|''Squib''-class]], were built at [[Richmond, Virginia]], onto a different pattern, with [[Lieutenant]] Hunter Davidson playing a significant role in the design.{{sfn|Pry|Zeitlin|1984|pp=384{{endash}}385}} One of the ''Squib''-class torpedo boats was ''Scorpion''. She was constructed in late 1864, and was {{convert|46|ft|m}} long, had a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|6|ft|3|in|m}}, and a [[depth of hold]] of {{convert|3|ft|9|in|m}}.<ref name="DANFS">{{cite web |title=Scorpion |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/confederate_ships/scorpion.html |publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=27 February 2022}}</ref> [[Tonnage]] for the class is unknown.{{sfn|Silverstone|1989|p=219}} The ''Squib''-class ships were powered by two [[oscillating engine|oscilliating condensing engines]], which had a {{convert|7|in|cm|adj=on}} diameter [[cylinder (engine)|cylinder]] and a {{convert|6|in|cm|adj=on}} [[stroke (engine)|stroke]], as well a single [[boiler]]. Her steering gear was towards the front of the vessel. According to a Union engineer, she could go at "a fair speed for a boat of her kind".{{sfn|Campbell|2000|p=105}} The ''Squib''-class vessels were manned by a crew of five or six.{{sfn|Pry|Zeitlin|1984|p=385}} They were armed with a single [[spar torpedo]]. The torpedoes were {{convert|5|in|cm}} in diameter, and the spar shaft itself was either {{convert|18|ft|m}}<ref name="DANFS" /> or {{convert|16|ft|m}} long.{{sfn|Coski|2005|pp=125{{endash}}126}} The spar could be raised or lowered by the ship's crew using a chain and tackle system.{{sfn|Coski|2005|p=126}} Thin plates of iron served as armor on the ships's sides.{{Sfn|Pry|Zeitlin|1984|p=385}}
