CSS Pamlico was a sidewheel steamer that served in the Confederate States Navy during the early stages of the American Civil War.

After ferrying Confederate troops out of the city, Pamlico was burned by her crew on Lake Pontchartrain on April 25 to prevent capture.

While the United States had a functioning navy, the Confederates had to essentially build one from scratch with limited infrastructure and manufacturing abilities.

[3] The Confederates began inspecting vessels to determine if they were suitable for acquisition and conversion into gunboats,[4] and Pamlico was purchased on July 10, 1861 for that purpose.

[5][6] Along with Pamlico, the Lake Pontchartrain passenger vessels Arrow and A. G. Brown were seized as well, leading residents of areas on the lakeshore to complain that the Confederate government had taken their means of transportation and communication.

[1] Pamlico entered active service immediately after her commissioning, patrolling Mississippi Sound as far east as Horn Island.

[12] Together with the gunboat CSS Florida, Pamlico was involved in an attempt to board the steamer USS Montgomery, which was part of the Union blockade, on December 4.

The gunboat CSS Oregon, which was transporting powder mill equipment, was at Mississippi City, and together the two ships, under the overall command of Dozier, confronted the Union vessels.

[24] Oregon was sunk as a blockship, but the wreck later prevented Pamlico, Arrow, Carondelet, and the gunboat CSS Bienville from escaping.