Countess was a sidewheel steamer built in 1860 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and served the Confederates in the Mississippi River area.

The steamer was retained by Major General John G. Walker for the evacuation of Alexandria, Louisiana in March 1864 during the Red River campaign.

[6][1] She was incorrectly reported to have been burned by Confederate forces after grounding in the Alexandria rapids during the evacuation of the city, and continued to operate late into the war.

She was employed as a flag of truce vessel in January 1865 and transported troops across the Red River at Shreveport in April of that year.

Taken over by the Union, she served as the USS Elk until the end of the war and reverted to her original name when returned to civilian service in September 1865.