| History | |
|---|---|
 Confederate States | |
| Name | Pontchartrain |
| Namesake | Lake Pontchartrain |
| Launched | 1859 |
| Commissioned | March 1862 |
| In service | Purchased from civilian service, October 12, 1861 |
| Fate | Destroyed by her crew, September 10, 1863 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Side-wheel steamer |
| Tonnage | 454 tons |
| Length | 204 feet (62 m) |
| Beam | 36 feet 6 inches (11.13 m) |
| Draft | 10 feet (3.0 m) |
| Armament | 7 cannons |
CSS Pontchartrain was a gunboat that served in the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War. Built in 1859 for passenger and cotton trade, she was purchased by the Confederates in October 1862. After seeing action against Union land positions during the campaigns for New Madrid, Missouri, and Island Number Ten, she was transferred to serve on the Arkansas River and the White River. In June 1862, two of her cannons were taken to a land fortification at St. Charles, Arkansas, where part of her crew saw action in the Battle of St. Charles while manning the guns. Her other cannons were then offloaded at Fort Hindman, where more of her crew were captured while fighting on land at the Battle of Arkansas Post in January 1863. Pontchartrain herself remained inactive at Little Rock, Arkansas, and was burned to prevent capture in September 1863 when the Confederates evacuated the city.