In April 1862, during the American Civil War, the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip took place near Buras. Union Flag Officer David Farragut led a fleet up the river to capture New Orleans and engaged the forts in the early morning hours of April 23. A single Union vessel, the USS "Varuna", was sunk near Buras in an engagement with the Confederate steamer "CSS Governor Moore" and the "CSS Stonewall Jackson". The heavily damaged "Governor Moore" also sank, not far from its Union opponent.