She played a distant role in the June 1862 naval action off Memphis, Tennessee, and subsequently took part in operations in the Yazoo River and in the Vicksburg Campaign.

On 25 March 1863, while commanded by Colonel Charles Rivers Ellet, Switzerland joined the ram Lancaster in an attempt to pass the Vicksburg fortress.

Both ships were heavily hit by Confederate gunfire, with Lancaster being sunk.

Despite her damage, Switzerland survived the trip and made a subsequent successful passage of the fortifications at Grand Gulf, Mississippi, on 31 March.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.