On January 25, 1862, he began to convert her into a cottonclad ram by placing a 4-inch oak sheath with a one-inch iron covering on her bow, and by installing double pine bulkheads filled with compressed cotton bales.

Defiance, with five other ships of Montgomery's fleet in that area was under the overall command of Capt.

When Flag Officer D. G. Farragut, USN, ran his fleet past Forts Jackson and St. Philip on April 24, 1862, on his way to New Orleans, Defiance, under Capt.

On April 28, Captain Mitchell, not having enough men for a crew, and realizing that capture was inevitable after the forts surrendered, burned her to keep her from falling into Union hands.

This article about a specific ship related to the American Civil War is a stub.