Thomas Powell (steamboat)

Thomas Powell in the Appomattox River, Virginia, during or shortly after her American Civil War service, 1865
History
Name	Thomas Powell
Owner	Thomas Powell et al (1846–49) New York & Erie Railroad (1849–51) Newcastle and Frenchtown T & RR Co. (1851–55) Oscar Hoyt (1855) Absalom L. Anderson (1855–1862) Catskill Steam Transportation Co. (1862–69) Joseph Cornell et al (1869–71) Citizens Steamboat Company of Troy (1872–81)
Operator	See owners
Builder	Lawrence & Sneden (Manhattan, NY)
Completed	1846
Maiden voyage	30 Apr 1846
In service	1846–1879
Fate	Scrapped at Port Ewen, New York, 1881
General characteristics
Type	Sidewheel steamboat
Tonnage	585
Length	Original: 231 ft 2 in (70.46 m) 1865: 225 ft 9 in (68.81 m) 1872: 260 ft 9 in (79.48 m)
Beam	28 ft 11 in (8.81 m)
Propulsion	Vertical beam: 48-in bore × 11-ft stroke

Thomas Powell was a fast and popular steamboat built in Manhattan, New York City in 1846 for service on the Hudson River. She ran between New York City and various Hudson River destinations during her career, including Newburgh, Piermont, Poughkeepsie, Rondout, Catskill, and finally as a nightboat to Troy. She also ran on the Delaware River for some years in the 1850s, and during the American Civil War served as a Union Army dispatch boat.

Thomas Powell was considered one of the fastest, if not the fastest, of the Hudson River steamers of her time, capable of speeds in excess of 22 miles per hour (35 km/h). Her speed, excellent accommodations and good management made her a favorite with the traveling public, and consequently, she retained her original name to the end of her career. Her last known trip was made in 1879 and she was scrapped in 1881.