The USS Nourmahal was a wooden-hulled, sidewheel steamship that served in the Union Navy during the American Civil War. Originally built as a luxury yacht in 1854, it was purchased by the Navy in 1861 for $38,500 and converted into a gunboat. The ship was armed with six guns and saw action in various operations, including blockades and patrols along the Atlantic coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. The USS Nourmahal participated in the capture of the Confederate privateer CSS Petrel in 1862, and later assisted in the capture of Fort Fisher in North Carolina in 1865, a significant victory for the Union forces. After the war, the ship was decommissioned and sold in 1865. The USS Nourmahal's service history reflects the adaptability of vessels during the Civil War, as many civilian ships were repurposed for military use. Its contributions to naval operations during this tumultuous period highlight the importance of maritime power in conflict and the strategic role of ships in securing victory.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.