In November 1861, she was "under construction or alteration" and in December was noted as having been at New Orleans "without any armament."
By February 1862, Memphis was evidently fitted out, as she was noted as being one of the units of Flag Officer George N. Hollins, who commanded the naval defenses of the Mississippi and the coast of Louisiana.
The records are naturally skimpy on a unit of such small size.
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
This article about a specific ship related to the American Civil War is a stub.