De Soto (Side wheel steamer)

U.S. Navy ship; first by this name; purchased 1861; served with West Gulf Blockading Squadron until Oct. 1862 when sent to Philadelphia Navy Yard for repairs; arrived in Key West, Fla., Feb. 1863, resuming successful cruising in the Gulf; in 1864 set into Portsmouth, N.H., for repairs where decommissioned; recommissioned in 1864 and jointed North Atlantic Squadron; during first cruise (1864-1867) damaged by an earthquake in the West Indies; after repairs at Norfolk, made another cruise in the Caribbean before returning to N.Y. Navy Yard where decommissioned and sold in Sept. 1868.

From the description of U.S.S. De Soto general regulations, 1863 Feb. 07. (Historical Society of Delaware). WorldCat record id: 70977943