A large number of ships were bought or chartered by the U. S. Government for transport service. The steamer CSS "Fanny" was armed as a gunboat and operated by the Quartermaster Department of the Union Army during the American Civil War. The SS "Fulton" and SS "Arago" were chartered by the Union Army in the Army Transport Service, for use as a troop transport and in operation with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron throughout the war. ATS operated between New York, Port Royal, South Carolina and New Orleans, Louisiana. At the close of the war, the fleet of 590 ocean transports in service on July 1, 1865 was reduced to 53 vessels by June 30, 1866. Most of them were discharged soon after.