The first USS Shamokin was a double-ended gunboat built during the American Civil War at Chester, Pennsylvania by Reaney, Son & Archbold.

Completed too late for service in the Civil War, Shamokin proceeded via New York City to the coast of Brazil.

After three years of service in the South Atlantic Squadron, protecting American citizens and interests along the coast of South America, Shamokin returned home and was decommissioned and laid up at the Washington Navy Yard on 24 December 1868.

After an extensive rebuild for commercial service, Shamokin was renamed Georgia.

Georgia operated for nearly a decade before being wrecked off Costa Rica on 30 September 1878.