The CSS Beaufort (/ˈbjuːfərt/ BEW-fert) was an iron-hull gunboat that served in North Carolina and Virginia during the American Civil War.

First serving on the North Carolina coast, Beaufort was present at the battles of Roanoke Island and Elizabeth City in February 1862.

Escaping the Confederate defeat at Elizabeth City via the Dismal Swamp Canal, Beaufort reached Norfolk, Virginia, where she joined the James River Squadron.

On March 8, 1862, Beaufort served as an escort and ship's tender for the ironclad CSS Virginia at the Battle of Hampton Roads.

In January 1865, Beaufort was part of the Confederate advance before the Battle of Trent's Reach, but ended up spending hours trying to free the ironclad CSS Virginia II after the latter had run aground.

On the night of April 2/3, after the fall of Richmond, Virginia, the Confederates scuttled the ships of the James River Squadron, but Beaufort failed to sink.

[1] Early in the American Civil War, the coastline of North Carolina was recognized as being of strategic importance, and a state Military and Navy Board was created.

[9] The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships states that Beaufort was commissioned for military service on July 9, 1861, by Lieutenant R. C. Duvall, while at Norfolk, Virginia, before then traveling to New Bern, North Carolina.

[10] Beaufort took part in the first ship-versus-ship action of the American Civil War on July 20,[5] when it fought USS Albatross near Oregon Inlet.

[6] Albatross was a much larger vessel than Beaufort, but both ships spent the 45-minute battle firing from behind the cover of either side of a barrier island.

[6] By the time of Burnside's North Carolina Expedition in February 1862, Beaufort was part of the Confederate fleet near Roanoke Island commanded by Commodore William F.

On February 7, the Battle of Roanoke Island began, with the Union ships firing on the Mosquito Fleet and on the Confederate land defenses.

Parker and most of Beaufort's crew were sent ashore to man a fortification on February 10, the same day that Union ships attacked and brought on the Battle of Elizabeth City.

[18] Led by the ironclad CSS Virginia, the squadron sallied forth against the vessels of the Union blockade stationed in Hampton Roads on March 8.

[20] At the mouth of the Elizabeth River on the way to Hampton Roads, Beaufort had to user a hawser to assist Virginia in turning in shallow water.

[21] Virginia attacked the blockaders in the Battle of Hampton Roads and after sinking one Union vessel, badly damaged USS Congress.

Before dawn, the Confederate vessels who had not run aground withdrew upriver, but Drewry, Richmond, Virginia II, and the torpedo boat CSS Scorpion had all grounded within range of Union guns.

While the two ironclads were eventually able to get free and escape, Drewry blew up after being struck by Union fire, and the explosion forced Scorpion downriver, where she was captured.

Mitchell left Semmes a description of the condition of the James River Squadron vessels, which noted that Beaufort was "not servicable, except in emergencies" and that she had problems were her propeller and rudder.