Editing CSS Beaufort (section)

===End of war===

On September 29, Union infantry won the [[Battle of Chaffin's Farm|Battle of Fort Harrison]], and captured [[Fort Harrison|Fort Harrison itself]], a Confederate defensive position. In response, ''Beaufort'', along with several other Confederate vessels, bombarded Union troops in the area of the fort from September 29 through October 1. The Confederate fire was effective, and Union return fire did little damage.{{sfn|Coski|2005|pp=167{{endash}}168}} A number of men from ''Beaufort'' were also transferred to man land fortifications.{{sfn|Coski|2005|pp=169{{endash}}170}} Other members of the ship's crew had been transferred to North Carolina in July, and as a result ''Beaufort'' could only provide minimal service due to a shortage of crew members. Some Confederate sailors were released in prisoner exchanges in October, which allowed the vessel to regain some crew strength.{{sfn|Coski|2005|pp=171{{endash}}172}} November saw ''Beaufort''{{'}}s armament reduced to a single 32-pounder cannon.{{sfn|Official Records|1921|p=246}} Lieutenant [[William Pinckney Mason]] took command of ''Beaufort'' in October, and Lieutenant Joseph W. Alexander took over on December 19.{{sfn|Coski|2005|p=252}} In January 1865, Mitchell decided to sally forth and attack the Union ships in the James River, as many Union ships had been transferred to North Carolina for the operations against Confederate-held [[Fort Fisher]].{{sfn|Coski|2005|pp=196{{endash}}197}}

On the evening of January 23, the Confederate ships began their movements downriver, starting the [[Battle of Trent's Reach]]. As the navigable channel of the river was narrow, the wooden Confederate ships were either lashed to one of the three ironclads in the James River Squadron, or were towed behind another ship. ''Beaufort'' and the tender [[CSS Drewry|CSS ''Drewry'']] were lashed to the ironclad [[CSS Richmond|CSS ''Richmond'']], with ''Drewry'' towing the [[torpedo boat]] [[CSS Wasp|CSS ''Wasp'']].{{sfn|Coski|2005|p=198}}  When the ironclad [[CSS Virginia II|CSS ''Virginia II'']] ran aground, ''Drewry'' and ''Beaufort'' were released to go to her aid. When efforts to free ''Virginia II'' failed. ''Drewry'' later moved downstream, but ''Beaufort'' and the gunboat [[CSS Nansemond|CSS ''Nansemond'']] spent three hours trying to free the ironclad. Before dawn, the Confederate vessels who had not run aground withdrew upriver, but ''Drewry'', ''Richmond'', ''Virginia II'', and the torpedo boat [[CSS Scorpion|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.{{sfn|Coski|2005|pp=202{{endash}}206}}

Command of ''Beaufort'' passed to George Henry Arledge on February 12.{{Sfn|Coski|2005|p=252}} Mitchell was relieved of command on February 18 and replaced by [[Rear Admiral]] [[Raphael Semmes]]. 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.{{sfn|Coski|2005|pp=212{{endash}}213}} The Confederates abandoned Richmond on April 2, and the James River Squadron was scuttled. The ironclads were destroyed at Drewry's Bluff, while the wooden ships went upriver to Richmond to be burned on the night of April 2/3.  The fire set on ''Beaufort'' did not sink her, and the ship was captured by Union troops.{{sfn|Coski|2005|pp=219{{endash}}220}} She was operated by the Union until September 15, when she was sold.<ref name="danfs" /> ''Beaufort'' was then used as a civilian merchant vessel,{{sfn|Silverstone|1989|p=243}} and was renamed ''Roanoke'' in October. In 1878 she was converted into a [[barge]].{{sfn|Lytle|1952|p=25}}