 "Covington", a side wheel steamer, was purchased in February 1863 from Samuel Wiggins at Cincinnati, Ohio; fitted for service at Cairo, Illinois; and assigned to the Mississippi Squadron, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant George P. Lord in command.Serving in the Tennessee River to convoy Union Army transports and other ships, "Covington" had frequent encounters with Confederates along the banks.On 18 June, she was transferred to the Mississippi River for similar duty on that river and the White, Black, and Red Rivers.