USS Matthew Vassar ( 1861 ) USS " Matthew Vassar " ( 1861 ) was a schooner purchased by the Union Navy during the American Civil War . She was used by the Union Navy primarily as a mortar gunboat , but also as a gunboat stationed off Confederate ports to prevent their trading with foreign countries . " Matthew Vassar " , a wooden , centerboard schooner was purchased by the Navy at New York City 9 September 1861 ; fitted out as a mortar schooner at New York Navy Yard ; and commissioned 25 January 1862 , Acting Master Hugh H . Savage in command . Assigned as a mortar ship for duty in the Mississippi River . Assigned to the Mortar Flotilla , organized to neutralize Confederate forts guarding the sea approaches to New Orleans , Louisiana , the schooner got underway in mid February and sailed via Key West , Florida , and Ship Island , Mississippi , for the Mississippi River . She crossed the bar at Pass a l ' Outre 18 March and anchored in the muddy waters of the Mississippi Delta . Assaulting Forts St . Philip and Jackson on the Mississippi . After a month preparing for the assault , the schooners moved upstream to carefully selected positions and opened fire on Fort St . Philip and Fort Jackson , New Orleans ’ main protection from attack from the sea . " Matthew Vassar " operated in the 2d Division of Commander David Porter ' s Mortar Flotilla during the 6 day cannonade . On the night of 24 April the bombardment rose to a mighty crescendo as Flag Officer David Farragut fought his strong fleet past the forts to capture the South ’ s largest and wealthiest city . This bold stroke deprived the Confederacy of her most productive industrial center , tightened the Union blockade , and raised hope of restoring the entire Mississippi Valley to the Federal Government . When he was barely behind the forts , Farragut dashed off a word of thanks to Porter : Assaulting Mobile , Alabama . While Farragut led his steamers on a reconnaissance expedition up the Mississippi River , Porter took his schooners to Ship Island to prepare for an attack on Mobile , Alabama . There , " Matthew Vassar " and , 15 May , captured Confederate blockade running sloops " Sarah " and " New Eagle " trying to slip to sea , laden with cotton . After learning that Confederate batteries had been sited high on the hillside safe from his low projectory guns , Farragut ordered up the mortar boats to attack the river stronghold . Porter took his schooners to a point just below Vicksburg , Mississippi , where they shelled the Confederate batteries while Farragut ’ s fleet steamed upstream past Vicksburg , 28 June , and joined Flag Officer Davis ’ s flotilla . However , sufficient troops were not available to reduce the Confederate fortress ; so Farragut , again supported by covering fire from the mortars , dashed downstream by Vicksburg and retired to New Orleans . Assigned blockade duty on the U . S . East Coast . Ordered back to the U . S . East Coast , " Matthew Vassar " spent the rest of the war on blockade duty . She captured schooner " Florida " off Little River Inlet , North Carolina , as the blockade runner tried to slip in with a cargo of salt for the Confederacy 11 January 1863 . On 3 March Acting Master ’ s Mate George Drain led a boat crew from " Matthew Vassar " which destroyed a large boat at Little River Inlet . Proceeding up the western branch of the river to destroy salt works , the boat grounded and the crew was captured by Confederate troops . On 27 April , boat crews from " Matthew Vassar " and boarded and destroyed British blockade runner " Golden Liner " in Murrell ' s Inlet , South Carolina , with a cargo of flour , brandy , sugar , and coffee for the straitened South . Reassigned to the East Gulf Blockade . Assigned to the East Gulf Blockading Squadron , 29 November 1864 , " Matthew Vassar " took her last prize of the war , schooner " John Hate " , off St . Marks , Florida , 3 February 1865 , as the blockade runner attempted to bring lead , blankets , and rope to the depleted South . Post - war decommissioning and sale . After the war ended " Matthew Vassar " decommissioned at Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , 10 July 1865 , and was sold at auction there 10 August .