The wooden tug James Reid was originally built as the General Burnside in 1863 at Sandusky, Ohio by John E. Monk. The vessel had a single engine driving a single propeller. General Burnside was valued at $11,000 and rated A2 in 1874. The official registry number was 10234. General Burnside was used as a patrol boat on the Great Lakes during the Civil War. She then was employed in towing on the St. Clair River. The name change didn't take place until April of 1882 when she was almost entirely rebuilt.

August 1866: Readmeasured.

March 1871: Sunk at Muir yard and raised the following week. Rebuilt at Port Huron.

April 1882: Purchased by George Prentis of Detroit, Michigan and renamed James Reid.

Last Document Of Enrollment Surrendered: Port Huron: 6/30/1887: "Total Loss".
The tug James Reid, formerly the tug George Burnside, towing two scows loaded with cedar ties from Little Bay de Noquet to Chicago, was discovered to be on fire as the tug and tows prepared to enter Sturgeon Bay. The crew made an effort to fight the flames with a firehose, but the water seemed only to spread the flames, which apparently began in the oil room and the flames spread uncontrollably. Finally, after pulling the tug clear of the two scows, the crew escaped in the tug's yawl. The burning hull was pushed onto a shoal where she burned to the waterline. The Reid, which was being leased from D.H. Runnels by Captain Cusick and William Hoffman, eventually sank in eight feet of water. Two weeks later, after being stripped of the engine, shaft and propeller, the James Reid was raised and towed out into Green Bay by the tugs Lawrence and Spalding, where it was allowed to sink in deep water.