2, a sidewheel steamboat built in 1863 at Monongahela, Pennsylvania, was acquired by the Navy on 14 November 1863, renamed Wave, and converted to a "tinclad" gunboat.

Early in 1864, she was assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron and took up her initial station off New Orleans, Louisiana.

She arrived there on 24 April and entered the mouth of the river in company with USS Granite City to collect Confederate renegades for service in the Navy and to round up all the arms, saddles, and harness in the area that could be utilized for military purposes by the Confederacy.

At daybreak on 6 May, while riding at anchor in the river, the two ships were surprised by the entire Sabine Pass garrison.

Accordingly, her crew destroyed documents and materiel on board, and her commanding officer surrendered Wave to the Southerners.