Prairie Bird StwStr

Prairie Bird

(StwStr: t. 171; 1. 159'10"; b. 29'3"; dph. 4'2"; dr. 5'; s. 6 k.;
a. 8 24-pdrs.)

Prarie Bird, a" tinelad" wooden steamer purchased as Mary Miller at Cineinnati, O., 19 December 1862, was fitted Ollt at Cairo, III., renamed Prairie Bird and commissioned in January 1863, Aeting Master J. C. Moore in command.

Prairie Bird steamed down the Mississippi in mid-February 1863, to assist Juliet, grounded 20 miles below Island No. 10. She then continued on to Memphis, whence she escorted a provision ship to the Yazoo, where she joined the Mississippi Squadron. At the end of the month she took up station above the White River to protect a eoal depot. In mid-March she shifted to Greenville; in April, she operated at the mouth of the White River; and in May, she returned to Memphis.

Remaining in the Arkansas-White River area into the following spring, she reconnoitered the Sunflower River as far as Lake George and Silver Creek, with Petrel in MareL 1864. In April she steamed with Petrel and Freeitone up the Yazoo to fire on and pass Yazoo City in support of an Army operation against that city. On the 22nd Prairie Bird, having reeeived engine damage, rescued survivors from Petrel, then retired to Vieksburg for repairs.

Assigned to the 6th District, Mississippi Squadron, for most of the remainder of the war, Prairie Bird operated between Vieksburg and the Arkansas. On 21 July she seized the steamer Union for violation of revenue laws and giving "aid and eomfort to the enemy." On the 23rd she rescued 350 of 500 passengers aboard B. M. Runyan, sunk off Skipwith's Landing, and on 11 August she engaged the enemy battery at Gaines

Landing, Ark., in support of operations there. The following December she joined with other vessels and Army units to eut the rebel communications in Mississippi and on the 31st assisted blowing the railway bridge over the Big Black River. Prairie Bird remained in the 6th District until March 1865 Then sent to Mound City, she remained a unit of the Mississippi Squadron until ordered decommissioned in July. On 17 August 1865 she was sold hy public auction to Henry Morton.