The USS Mary Alice was a wooden-hulled steamship that served as a gunboat for the United States Navy during the American Civil War. Originally built as a civilian vessel, it was purchased by the Navy in 1861 and commissioned as a gunboat to support Union forces in the blockade of Confederate ports. The ship participated in several operations along the Atlantic coast, including capturing blockade runners and engaging in skirmishes with Confederate forces. The USS Mary Alice was armed with a variety of weapons, including cannons and howitzers, and was used for patrol and reconnaissance missions. After the Civil War, the ship was decommissioned and eventually sold into private ownership. The USS Mary Alice's service history reflects the important role played by steam-powered gunboats in naval operations during the Civil War, as well as the Navy's efforts to expand its fleet and capabilities to support the Union blockade of Confederate ports.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.