CSS Scorpion

For other ships with the same name, see USS Scorpion and HMS Scorpion.

History
Confederate States
Name	Scorpion
Ordered	1864
Fate	Abandoned and captured
General characteristics
Length	46 ft (14 m)
Beam	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Depth of hold	3 ft 9 in (1.14 m)
Armament	1 × 5 in (130 mm) gun 18 ft (5.5 m) spar with percussion torpedo
Armor	None

CSS Scorpion was a Squib-class torpedo boat procured late in 1864 by the Confederate States Navy and armed with a spar torpedo fitted to her stem. She performed picket duty in the James River under command of Lieutenant E. Lakin, CSN.

On January 23 to January 25, 1865, torpedo boats Scorpion, Hornet and Wasp, under the overall command of Lieutenant Charles W. Read, CSN, joined Flag Officer J.K. Mitchell's James River Squadron in the abortive attack on General Ulysses S. Grant's main supply base at City Point, Virginia. Attempting to rejoin her consort, the ironclad CSS Richmond ran aground above Trent's Reach; Scorpion ended up fast ashore also and was severely damaged by the magazine explosion which destroyed nearby gunboat CSS Drewry, on January 24. Abandoned, she fell into Federal hands.