USS Dart (1861)

USS Dart (1861) was a captured Confederate schooner acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was put into service by the Union Navy to serve as a tender for other Union Navy ships. However, she was also able to capture several “prizes” on her own before she was dismantled and scrapped.

Confederate schooner captured and inducted into Union Navy
Dart was a small schooner captured by the screw steamer South Carolina off Galveston, Texas, on 4 July 1861.

Assigned blockade duty along the coast of South Carolina
Though never labeled or purchased by the Navy, she was armed with a 12-pounder howitzer, and cruised as tender to both South Carolina and the screw steamer Huntsville. During her brief service, she captured several small vessels, including schooners Cecilia on 24 September 1861, and Zavala on 1 October.

Taken out of service and dismantled
Dart was taken out of service, and dismantled by men from the screw frigate Niagara off the southwest pass of the Mississippi River, between 19 and 21 October 1861.