Springfield—a stern wheel river steamer built at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1862—was purchased by the Navy at that city on 20 November 1862; and was commissioned at Cairo, Illinois, on 12 January 1863, Lt. Henry A. Glassford in command.

Perhaps Springfield's most exciting service came in July when she joined a number of other gunboats in chasing a large Confederate force led by General John Hunt Morgan.

The Southern raider crossed the Ohio River on 8 July, entered Indiana, and commenced a wild ride east.

Federal steamers Moose and Alleghany Belle repeatedly frustrated Morgan's efforts to move his troops south of the river.

Morgan and a few followers managed to retreat into the hills and rode on for another week through the North before they were surrounded and captured near New Lisbon, Ohio.