Fuchsia, a steam tug, was built in 1863 by Fincourt, New York City; purchased by the Navy 16 June 1863; and commissioned in August 1863, Acting Master W. T. Street in command.

During the later stages of the Taiping Rebellion, Shanghai local authorities contracted Henry Gamaliel Ward, brother of American mercenary Frederick Townsend Ward who had died in combat fighting for the Qing dynasty earlier, to purchase 5 steamers.

Henry Ward ordered the constructions of 3 steamers, one of them being Kiang Soo (Chinese: 江蘇; pinyin: Jiāngsū; lit.

On 7 March 1864, Fuchsia made a foray up the Piankatank, searching for the Army tug Titan previously taken by the Confederates.

[1] This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.