Owasco
(ScGbt: t. 507; 1. 158'; b. 28'; dph. 12'; dr. 6'9"; s. 9 k.; cpl.
91; a. 1 20-par P.r.; 1 11" D. sb.; 2 24-pdr. how.)

Owasco, a wooden hulled screw gunboat built by Charles Mallory, was launched at Mystie, Conn., 5 October 1861; delivered to the Navy at New York Navy Yard 6 December 1861; and commissioned there 23 January 1862, Lt. John Guest in command.

The new "ninety-day gunboat" departed New York 5 February and reached Key West, Fla., 10 days later where Comdr. David D. Porter's mortar flotilla was assemblying. She then headed via Ship Island, Miss. for Pass a L'Outre. Enroute, on 16 March, she captured schooners Eugenia and Preaident laden with cotton and bound for Havana.

The mortar flotilla had been established by the Navy to neutralize forts St. Philip and Jackson which protected New Orleans against atteek from the sea. Ou~aaco was one of seven steamers assigned to the flotilla to tow the schooners and help them navigate safely in the tricky currents of the Mississippi. In mid April she and her sister steamers moved the schooners into position below the forts. On the 18th, when the mortars opened fire on the Southern positions, the steamers supported the attaok with flat trajectory fire until, six days later, Farragut led his deep draft vessels in a historic dash past the Confederate heavy works. The following day New Orleans fell, depriving the South of its largest city and greatest industrial and oommereial center.

When Farragut ascended the Mississippi for the second time, Owasco helped to tow the schooners up river to a position just below Vieksburg from which they bombarded the Confederate cliffside batteries 28 June as Farragut raced under the Southern guns to join the Western Flotilla above Vieksburg.

Owasco participated in the bombardment and capture of Galveston 3 October; but, on New Year's day, was driven out of that port by Confederates in cotton elad steamers.

After continuing blockade duty, she participated in the joint Army-Navy capture of Brazos, Tex. 3 November 1863. She captured English schooner Fanny 19 April 1864, carrying cargo for Confederate General Magruder from Havana. She continued to serve along the coast of Texas through the end of the war. She decommissioned at New York Navy Yard 12 July 1865 and was sold at auction at New York 25 Oetoher 1865.