Red Rover, a 625-ton side-wheel river steamer, was built in 1859 at Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She was purchased by the Confederate Government in November 1861 and used as an accomodation ship at New Orleans. In early 1862, she aided the defense efforts at Columbus, Kentucky, and at Island Number Ten on the Mississippi River. Damaged by shellfire on 15 March 1862, she was captured at Island Number Ten on 7 April by USS Mound City. Later in 1862, she became the hospital ship USS Red Rover.