USS Henry Janes ( 1861 ) USS " Henry Janes " was a motor schooner acquired by the United States Navy during the American Civil War . She was used as a gunboat and assigned to the blockade of ports of the Confederate States of America . Purchased in New York City in 1861 . " Henry Janes " was purchased by the Union Navy from her owners , Van Brunt and Slaght , at New York city 27 September 1861 . She commissioned at New York Navy Yard 30 January 1862 , Acting Master L . W . Pennington commanding . Blockading operations . Chosen by the department to be a part of Comdr . David Dixon Porter ' s Mortar Flotilla , " Henry Janes " was fitted with a mortar and proceeded to rendezvous with the other vessels under Porter ' s command at Key West , Florida . With the flotilla formed by the end of February , it sailed to join the West Gulf Blockading Squadron for the Mississippi River operations specifically aimed at the capture of New Orleans , Louisiana . " Henry Janes " and the other ships passed over the bar and into the Mississippi River 18 March in preparation for the attack on Fort Jackson and Fort St . Phillip . Below New Orleans , Louisiana , the mortars opened fire on the forts 18 April and kept up a steady and devastating bombardment until Flag Officer David Farragut passed with his fleet 24 April , defeated the Confederate Squadron , and steamed triumphantly to New Orleans , Louisiana . The loss of this great shipping center , largest and wealthiest city in the South , was a disaster from which the South had no hope of recovery . Mississippi River operations . After thus aiding in the key victory at New Orleans , the mortar schooners returned to Ship Island , Mississippi , 6 May . There they remained until they were called upon to aid in the bombardment of another Confederate stronghold — Vicksburg , Mississippi . Arriving below the city 20 June , " Henry Janes " and the other ships supported Farragut with their fire as he passed the batteries 28 June to join with Commodore C . H . Davis farther up the river . The ships remained off Vicksburg in July and " Henry Janes " bombarded the city ' s defenses on the 15th , before proceeding downriver , engaging shore batteries as she went . Patrolling the coast of Texas . Assigned to the blockading forces off the coast of Texas , the schooner ' s next action , at Sabine Pass , was against Confederate batteries near Sabine City . The Union Navy vessels entered the pass 21 September and forced the defenders to evacuate their fortifications 4 days later . Although Sabine City was captured , the Union Navy could dominate only the waters in the area as no occupying troops were available . " Henry Janes " returned to blockading duties , with occasional boat expeditions into the innumerable passes and inlets of the Texas coast . On one such expedition , 20 November 1862 , an entire boat crew from the schooner was captured by Confederates at Matagorda Bay . End - of - war operations . For the next 18 months , " Henry Janes " performed blockade and gunfire duties at various stations of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron . She was below Port Hudson in June 1863 and from February to May 1864 operated off Fort Powell , near Mobile , Alabama , and Pensacola , Florida . She was sent to New York 5 May 1864 for repairs to her hull and replacement of her mortar . The ship was subsequently turned over to the ordnance department 8 August , and assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron as an ordnance vessel . Post - war decommissioning and sale . " Henry Janes " sailed from New York 30 August to report in the sounds of North Carolina on ordnance duty . She remained there until sent north in June 1865 , decommissioned 12 July 1865 , and was sold to George Burnham , Jr . , 20 July 1865 at Portsmouth , New Hampshire .