USS Varuna was a screw steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.

The squadron was under the command of Flag Officer David Glasgow Farragut and was tasked with the capture of New Orleans, Louisiana.

During the ensuing action, Varuna ran ahead of the other Union ships, and she was engaged in a chase with the Louisiana gunboat Governor Moore.

[1] Varuna, which was named after a Vedic deity associated with the skies and seas, was laid down at the Mallory Yard of Mystic, Connecticut, in late January or early February 1861. launched in September 1861, she was intended to be used as a merchant ship on the trade route between New York City and New Orleans, Louisiana.

By the end of the day, the order had been revoked, and Varuna became part of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron.

[2] In January, the commander of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, Flag Officer David Glasgow Farragut, had been tasked with capturing New Orleans for the Union.

Varuna was one of eight ships in the first group, which was tasked with moving up the eastern side of the river to engage Fort St.

Varuna fired into the duel, damaging both the Union and Confederate vessels, and the screw sloop USS Oneida came to the aid of Cayuga as well.

[12][13] While Oneida held position and fired at the forts, Varuna then broke formation and continued upriver at full steam, despite having engine trouble that resulted in low boiler pressure.

[16] Varuna was now the leading Union ship, and she was spotted by the State of Louisiana gunboat Governor Moore.

[19] The commander of Governor Moore ordered lights similar to those Varuna displayed on his ship as a ruse.

When the Confederate vessel caught up with Varuna shortly before daylight, the decoy lights were taken down and Governor Moore opened fire.

[19] Varuna tried to turn to face her broadside towards Governor Moore, but the move was countered; the two ships fired into each other at a range of 40 yards (37 m).

[30] Governor Moore in turn was scuttled not long after her victory over Varuna;[31] over three-quarters of her crew had been killed or wounded.

[33] The DANFS states that Varuna "contributed greatly" to the Union victory, and George Henry Boker wrote a poem commemorating the vessel.

[2] Her wreck was partially visible in 1885, and a 1981 expedition led by Clive Cussler located a signal with a gradiometer near where she is believed to have sunk.