USS Mount Vernon (1859)

Heliotype photograph of a fresco by the American artist Michele Felice Cornè of the Mount Vernon
History
Name:	USS Mount Vernon
Laid down:	1859
Acquired:	by purchase, 12 September 1861
Commissioned:	1861
Decommissioned:	27 June 1865
Fate:	Sold, 12 July 1865
General characteristics
Type:	Steamer
Displacement:	625 long tons (635 t)
Length:	175 ft 7 in (53.52 m)
Beam:	22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
Draft:	14 ft (4.3 m)
Propulsion:	Steam engine
Speed:	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Armament:	1 × 32-pounder gun

The first USS Mount Vernon was a wooden-screw steamer in the United States Navy.

Mount Vernon was built at Brooklyn, New York, in 1859; chartered by the Navy in May 1861 for three months; purchased by the Navy at New York on 12 September 1861; and commissioned at New York, Commander Oliver S. Glisson in command.

After charter, Mount Vernon convoyed two steamers and two sailing ships to the Gulf of Mexico in May. While in the gulf, she took brigantine East, suspected of communicating with Confederate-held shore territory, and towed damaged Parkersburg from Pensacola, Florida to Key West. Ordered to Fortress Monroe, Virginia, 3 July, Mount Vernon gave refuge to Unionists preparing to travel north.

From 17 July, Mount Vernon patrolled in and off the Rappahannock River, capturing sloop Wild Pigeon in an attempted escape at night 20 July. On 1 September she sailed for Mobjack Bay to relieve USS Daylight, and in November proceeded to Beaufort, North Carolina. She engaged British schooner Phantom off Cape Lookout 2 December, and on the 31st sent an armed party to aid in firing a ship being used by the Confederates as a beacon.

In continued blockade and patrol service off North Carolina, Mount Vernon took British schooners British Queen on 1 March 1862 and Mary Jane on 24 March 1863. With USS Cambridge and USS Fernandina, Mount Vernon chased Confederate schooner Kate ashore near Fort Casswell 2 April, and later in the month captured St. George.