USS Maria J. Carlton was a schooner acquired by the United States Navy on October 15, 1861, during the American Civil War. Built before the war, the vessel was converted into a mortar schooner by the Navy. She was then transferred to the mouth of the Mississippi River in early 1862, as part of a force tasked with neutralizing Confederate forts guarding New Orleans, Louisiana. Maria J. Carlton participated in the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip on April 18, but, the battle continuing, was sunk the next day by a shot from Fort Jackson. She was the only Union warship sunk solely by artillery fire from Confederate forts on the Mississippi River during the war.
On April 18, the vessel and the rest of the Mortar Flotilla were present at the start of the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip.[7] Porter's fleet was subdivided into smaller commands, with Maria J. Carlton assigned to the 2nd Division of the flotilla, which was commanded by Lieutenant Walter W. Queen, along with five other vessels. With the battle opening, the 2nd Division moved to the east side of the Mississippi, and opened fire on Fort Jackson at a range of a minimum of 3,680 yards (3.36 km). As Confederate fire began to fall among Queen's ships, several were damaged. The mortar schooners USS T. A. Ward and USS George Mangham were both damaged, with the former having to temporarily withdraw from the fight. Firing continued until nightfall, although Fort Jackson ceased replying by 17:00. Both sides resumed the action on April 19, with Queen's vessels opening fire at 08:30 after shifting to the other side of the river in an attempt to avoid damage. Maria J. Carlton was struck at 10:00. The shot went through the quarterdeck, knocked away some lines, passed through the magazine, and exited through the side of the ship,[8] tearing a hole through it. Two[9] or three men on the ship were wounded,[10] but the entire crew of the ship was saved by being brought off by boats from the rest of the fleet[11][10] and many of the ship's supplies were reported to have been saved.[6] Union ships commanded by David Glasgow Farragut passed Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip on April 24.[12]Maria J. Carlton's wreck was destroyed on April 25 by Union forces.[9] The two forts surrendered on April 28.[12]Maria J. Carlton was the only Union warship sunk solely by artillery fire from Confederate forts on the Mississippi River during the war.[13]
Chatelain, Neil P. (2020). Defending the Arteries of Rebellion: Confederate Naval Operations in the Mississippi River Valley, 1861–1865. El Dorado Hills, California: Savas Beatie. ISBN978-1-61121-510-6.