In 1846, the United States Navy purchased the brig Howard at Boston, Massachusetts to strengthen its forces for the Mexican–American War.

Stromboli performed blockade duty in the Bay of Campeche, especially off the mouth of the Coatzacoalcos River.

On 14 June, she and Bonito were towed across the bar into the river as Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry's squadron occupied Frontera.

That summer, the ship's crew was stricken by yellow fever, but she continued to help guard the U.S. Army water communications through the winter and spring.

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