Potomska

(ScGbt: t. 287,1. 134'6"; b. 27'0", dr. 11'0", s. 10 k., cpl. 95
a. 4 32-pars., l 20-par. Parrott rifle).

P Potomska was a wooden screw steamer rigged as a three massed schooner purchased at New York from H. Haldrege 25 September 1861. She was commissioned at the New York Navy Yard 20 December 1861.

Upon commissioning she was ordered to Port Royal, S.C., for duty with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Potomeka assisted in covering the landing of U.S. troops at the mouth of the Savannah River, Gal, 28 January 1862. She was in the squadron commanded by Rear idmiral Samuel F. DuPont that took possession of Fernandina Fla., 4 March 1862. On 9 March with Mohican and Pocahonlas she took possession of St. Simonos and Jekyl Islands and landed at Brunswiek, Ga. All locations were found to be abandoned in keeping with the general Confederate withdrawal from the seacoast and coastal islands.

On 11 April Potomska was involved in an expedition to St. Catherine's Sound, Ga. On 27 Anril she ascended the Rieeboro River, Gal, inducing the Confederates to fire a British brig, then exchanged fire with dismounted Confederate cavalry eoneealed in the woods of Woodville Island effectively silencing them. She was involved in an expeditior; to Darien, Ga. 9 May and made a reconnaissance in Great Ogecchee River, Gal, i July, exchanging fire with a Confederate battery there.

Potomska was briefly decommissioned at Philadelphia in
August for repairs. In September she steamed back to Port Royal for duty in St. Simon's Sound. In late October she proeeeded to blockade Sapelo Sound. On 7 November Potomska escorted Army transport Darlington up Sapelo River, Gal, shelling the shore to cover a landing at Spaulding's.

On 23 February 1863 Potomska captured blockade running British schooner Belle in Sapelo Sound with a cargo of coffee and salt. A week later she returned to St. Simon's Sound. On 1 June she was ordered to move her blockade to Fernandina where she remained until September. She then returned to Port Royal for repairs which lasted into December when she was laid up prior to going north for further repairs in March.

Potomska decommissioned for repairs at Baltimore in March 1864 and recommissioned there 21 June, returning to Port Royal 11 July. On 30 July a landing party from Potomska destroyed two large Confederate salt works near the Back River, Ga. On their return the party was taken under fire by Confederates and a sharp battle ensued before they safely reached the ship, later receiving a commendation from Rear Admiral Dahlgren. On 22-24 August Potomska's men raided a turpentine still near White Oak River, Ga.

As of September 1864 Potomska was blockading off Charleston Bar. In October she was stationed at Georgetown. In November she was commanded briefly by Lt. A. T. Mahan who returned her to Charleston, where she remained occasionally chasing and firing on blockade runners. On 16'and 17 February 1865 ships of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, including Potomska and 6 others, and boats and 1aunches from these vessels supported the amphibious Army landing at Bull's Bav, S.C. Thls was a sueeessful diversionary movement in the major thrust to take Charleston, designed to eontain Confederate strength away from General Sherman's route. In March Potomska was up the Cooper River. On 1 June she was off Charleston, then steamed north.

Potomska decommissioned at Philadelphia 16 June 1865 and was sold at auction there, 10 August 1865, for $7,100.