She was placed into service as a gunboat assigned to support the Union Navy during the naval blockade of ports and rivers of the Confederate States of America.

She was purchased by the Navy at Louisville, Kentucky, in May 1864, taken to Cincinnati, Ohio, for outfitting and reported to the 8th District, Mississippi Squadron for duty 10 June 1864, Acting Master J. S. Dennis in command.

Assigned to the area of the Mississippi River between Memphis, Tennessee, and Columbus, Kentucky, Huntress engaged in the key role of keeping the vital river lines of supply open, stopping illegal trade in cotton along the riverbank and suppressing bands of guerrillas who attacked transports and gunboats.

Huntress remained on that duty between March and July 1865, maintaining Union control of the Mississippi River during the waning moments of the Civil War.

Redocumented Huntress 2 October, she resumed her career as a river steamer but was lost after stranding near Alexandria, Louisiana, 30 December 1865.