Changes

The first Agawam—a double-ended, side-wheel, gunboat built at Portland, Maine, by George W. Lawrence—was laid down in October 1862; launched on 21 April 1863; and commissioned on 9 March 1864, Comdr. Alexander C. Rhind in command.

The first '''Agawam'''—a double-ended, side-wheel, gunboat built at Portland, Maine, by George W. Lawrence—was laid down in October 1862; launched on 21 April 1863; and commissioned on 9 March 1864, Comdr. Alexander C. Rhind in command.

On 9 December 1863, some three months before Agawam was placed in full commission, Southern agents and sympathizers had boarded the steam packet Chesapeake at New York under the guise of being passengers bound for Portland, Maine. Shortly after midnight on the 7th, when the liner had reached a point some 20 miles north of the tip of Cape Cod, these men revealed their formerly concealed side arms and took over the ship, killing her second engineer. From there, they took the ship to Canadian waters in the hope that their daring act would provoke Union warships into violating British neutrality and thereby embroil the United States in a war with England.

On 9 December 1863, some three months before Agawam was placed in full commission, Southern agents and sympathizers had boarded the steam packet Chesapeake at New York under the guise of being passengers bound for Portland, Maine. Shortly after midnight on the 7th, when the liner had reached a point some 20 miles north of the tip of Cape Cod, these men revealed their formerly concealed side arms and took over the ship, killing her second engineer. From there, they took the ship to Canadian waters in the hope that their daring act would provoke Union warships into violating British neutrality and thereby embroil the United States in a war with England.

The work continued through mid-February, and the gunboat finally put to sea on the 16th. She entered Pamlico Sound, N.C., two days later and operated in the island waters of that state through the end of the Civil War.

The work continued through mid-February, and the gunboat finally put to sea on the 16th. She entered Pamlico Sound, N.C., two days later and operated in the island waters of that state through the end of the Civil War.

Following the collapse of the Confederacy, Agawam. operated along the Atlantic coast between Florida and the Virginia capes for almost two years. She was decommissioned at Norfolk on 31 March 1867. The ship was sold at auction there on 10 October 1867 to Mr. James Power. No record of her subsequent career has been found.<ref>Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a4-list.htm]</ref>

Following the collapse of the Confederacy, Agawam. operated along the Atlantic coast between Florida and the Virginia capes for almost two years. She was decommissioned at Norfolk on 31 March 1867. The ship was sold at auction there on 10 October 1867 to Mr. James Power. No record of her subsequent career has been found.<ref>Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a4/agawam-i.htm]</ref>

See also [[Agawam-II]] and [[Agawam-II]].

See also [[Agawam-II]] and [[Agawam-II]].