The ship was built in New York in 1854 for the Southern Steam Ship Company. It was named Charles Morgan , named after the founder of the company. In mid-January 1862, Brigadier General Mansfield Lovell had the ship requisitioned in New Orleans . It was converted to a gunboat. The bow was reinforced with two rows of railroad tracks for ramming. The ship was now named Governor Moore .
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When the Northern Navy under the command of Admiral Farragut attacked the Fort Jackson and St. Philip on April 24, 1862, the Governor Moore participated in the defense of the access to New Orleans. There was a fierce firefight. During the battle, the Governor Moore rammed the Varuna twice. The ramming of another ship brought the Varuna to sink. The Governor Moore then attacked the Cayuga . She came under heavy fire. Among other things, the Sloop Oneida was involved. The superstructures were badly damaged. 64 crew members died. The Governor Moore was rudderless and drifted away. The captain, the helmsman and another crew member set the ship on fire. The three sailors and other survivors were picked up by the Oneida dinghies and locked up on the Colorado . In the meantime the Governor Moore ran aground and there was an explosion. About two thirds of the survivors were able to flee into the swamp area. Nobody drowned.
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