The USS Eastport was a partially completed ironclad steamer captured by Union forces during the American Civil War. Originally intended as an ironclad ram for the Confederacy, she was seized on 7 February 1862 at Cerro Gordo, Tennessee, by Union gunboats Conestoga, Tyler, and Lexington under Captain Seth Ledyard Phelps. Following her capture, she was converted at Cairo, Illinois, into an ironclad ram for Union service. Her physical specifications are not detailed on the Wikipedia page, but her construction involved conversion from a Confederate vessel into an ironclad, indicating she was reinforced with iron armor and adapted for combat. She was launched into service in late August 1862, sailing from Cairo under Captain Phelps to operate along the Mississippi River between Island No. 10 and the White River, Arkansas. She was subsequently returned to Cairo for repairs after an incident on 2 February 1863, when she struck bottom near Vicksburg. Throughout her service, USS Eastport played a vital role in Union efforts on the Mississippi River, functioning primarily as a convoy and patrol vessel. She contributed to the capture of over 14,000 bales of cotton, highlighting her role in disrupting Confederate supply lines and supporting Union blockades. On 5 March 1864, she participated in a joint Army-Navy expedition at the mouth of the Red River, passing through obstructions below Fort De Russy and aiding in the capture of the fort. She continued operations upstream of Grand Ecore until 5 April 1864. Her service was eventually cut short when she was damaged by a torpedo (mine) explosion on 15 April 1864. Despite efforts to save her, she was deemed beyond repair and was deliberately destroyed on 26 April 1864 to prevent her capture. Captain Phelps ordered her destruction by placing 3,000 pounds of gunpowder in her hold and detonating the charges, rendering her into fragments. The USS Eastport's service exemplifies the Union's strategic use of converted vessels in riverine warfare during the Civil War.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.