On 24 April 1862 a Union fleet under Flag Officer David Farragut, USN, ran past Forts Jackson and St. Philip on its way to capture New Orleans. In the engagement "Stonewall Jackson" rammed , which had already been struck by . With "Varuna's" shot glancing off her bow, "Stonewall Jackson" backed off for another blow and struck again in the same place, crushing "Varuna"s side. The shock of the blow turned the Confederate vessel, and she received five 8-inch shells from "Varuna", abaft her armor. "Varuna" ran aground in a sinking condition, and "Stonewall Jackson", chased by coming to "Varuna"s rescue, was driven ashore and burned.