History
United States
Laid down	date unknown
Launched	1864
Acquired	23 December 1864
Commissioned	3 March 1865
Decommissioned	August 1865
Stricken	1865 (est.)
Fate	Sold, 17 August 1865
General characteristics
Displacement	232 tons
Length	157 ft 3 in (47.93 m)
Beam	30 ft 4 in (9.25 m)
Draught	not known
Propulsion	steam engine stern wheel-propelled
Speed	5.5 knots
Complement	not known
Armament	two 20-pounder guns four 24-pounder guns one 12-pounder gun
Armour	tinclad

The first USS Mist was a steamer purchased by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was planned by the Union Navy for use as a gunboat stationed off Confederate waterways to prevent their trading with foreign countries.

Mist, a stern wheel steamer built at Allegheny, Pennsylvania, in 1864, was purchased at Cincinnati, Ohio, 23 December 1864, and commissioned at Mound City, Illinois, 3 March 1865, Acting Master W. E. H. Fontress in command.

Assigned to the Mississippi Squadron

Mist was converted into a gunboat during the first 4 months of 1865. The new tinclad was assigned to the 8th District, Mississippi Squadron and patrolled the river protecting steamers and river settlements from desperadoes.

End-of-war decommissioning, sale, and subsequent civilian career

Mist was removed from naval duty 4 August; decommissioned at Mound City and was sold at public auction to C. C. Hutchinson 17 August 1865. Documented as a merchant ship, she served American commerce on the Mississippi River and its tributaries until 1874.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.