USS Nereus (1863)

Somerset, formerly USS Nereus, in postwar merchant service
History
United States
Name	USS Nereus
Namesake	Nereus
Laid down	1863
Launched	21 March 1863
Acquired	by purchase, 5 October 1863
Commissioned	19 September 1864
Decommissioned	15 May 1865
Fate	Sold, July 1865 Broken up, 1887
General characteristics
Type	Screw Steamer
Displacement	1,244 long tons (1,264 t)
Length	200 ft (61 m)
Beam	34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
Draft	13 ft 9 in (4.19 m)
Depth of hold	20 ft 8 in (6.30 m)
Propulsion	Steam engine
Speed	11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Complement	164
Armament	1 × 100-pounder Parrott rifle 2 × 30-pounder Parrott rifles 6 × 32-pounder guns 2 × 12-pounder rifles
Armor	4 in (100 mm)

The first USS Nereus, a screw steamer built at New York in 1863, was purchased by the Union Navy from William P. Williams on 5 October 1863; and commissioned at New York Navy Yard 19 April 1864, Commander John C. Howell in command.