"althea" was one of these ships. while the date of her departure from new york city is not known, the tug was said to be serving on the james in the dispatch dated 17 june 1864 which reported the locations of the ships of the north atlantic blockading squadron. she had been fitted out with a spar torpedo to be used in attacking any confederate ironclad which might appear and she was prepared to act as a ram should an opportunity for such employment arise. the tug also served as a tender to union ironclads in the james.