CSS General Earl Van Dorn was a cottonclad warship used by the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.

She was purchased for Confederate service in New Orleans, Louisiana, in early 1862 to serve with the River Defense Fleet.

Having been assigned to defend the northern stretches of the Confederate-held portion of the Mississippi River, General Earl Van Dorn left New Orleans in late March 1862 and arrived at Memphis, Tennessee, early the next month.

On May 10, she fought with the River Defense Fleet against the Union Navy in the Battle of Plum Point Bend, where she rammed and sank the ironclad USS Mound City.

On June 6, General Earl Van Dorn was the only vessel of the River Defense Fleet to escape destruction or capture at the First Battle of Memphis.

In 1862, the Confederate States of America purchased 14 civilian vessels in New Orleans, Louisiana, for conversion into military ships.

[12] General Earl Van Dorn's armament consisted of a single 32-pounder cannon on her bow,[13] which was a common naval gun that was smoothbore and muzzleloading.

[16] General Earl Van Dorn left New Orleans on March 25,[9] and reached Memphis, Tennessee, on April 3.

[17] General Earl Van Dorn was present on the morning of April 13, when the Confederates made an abortive attempt at a surprise attack against Union Navy ships upriver from Fort Pillow.

[18] The Union fleet had established a pattern of stationing one mortar boat downriver guarded by one ironclad, and Montgomery decided to attack with the eight ships he had at Fort Pillow,[19] doing so on May 10, 1862.

[28] Montgomery arranged his ships in three rows of two vessels with General Sterling Price in the rear and CSS Little Rebel not having an assigned position.

[33] The historian Mark K. Christ and the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships attribute General Earl Van Dorn's escape to her "superior speed".