 "Sachem", after supporting Farragut near New Orleans, arrived at Ship Island, Mississippi on 5 May, but got underway later that day to reconnoiter Lake Ponchartrain and the Pearl River.Then, on the 7th, she accompanied the steamers of the mortar flotilla to the bar off Mobile Bay to get information and lay buoys for a contemplated attack on that port.On the 8th, when the steamer ran aground on Southeast Shoal under the guns of Fort Morgan, "Sachem", ignoring the Confederate fire, steamed in to help refloat the ship.