USS Prairie Bird-- Part 2: A Busy Warship

At the end of the month, the Prairie Bird took up position above the White River to protect a coal depot.  In Mid March, she shifted to Greenville, in April it was operations at the mouth of the White River. and in May a return to Memphis.

Remaining in the Arkansas-White River area into the following spring, she reconnoitered the Sunflower River as far as Lake George and Silver Creek with the USS Petrel in March 1864.  In April she steamed with the Petrel and Freestone up the Yazoo River to fire on and pass Yazoo City, Mississippi, in support of Union Army attempts to take the city.

On the 22nd, the Prairie Bird received engine damage rescuing survivors from the Petrel, then returned to Vicksburg for repairs.

--Old B-Runner