<prompt> Qedela lo musho olandelayo: Ngo-1861, u-Irwin wabhalisela ukusebenza emkhunjini we-screw frigate. Impi Yombango YaseMelika yaqala ngo-April 1861, futhi u-Irwin wabona isenzo esikhulu ngokumelene namabutho ase-Confederate ayesebhodini i-Wabash. Ngesikhathi sokuvakasha kuka-Irwin, uWabash wabamba iqhaza  <response>: ukuthunjwa kweFort Hatteras neClark eHatteras Inlet, eNyakatho Carolina, ngo-29 Agasti 1861, ngaphambi kokuba abe ngumkhumbi omkhulu weSouth Atlantic Blockading Squadron, elinye lamabutho abambe iqhaza ekuvinjelweni kweNyunyana kwamachweba aseConfederate. Wabash wabe esehlanganyela ekuthatheni iFort Walker, iFort Beauregard, nePort Royal Sound, eNingizimu Carolina, eMpini yasePort Royal ngoNovemba 7, 1861. Kamuva u-Irwin waba ngumkhuzi wesikebhe i-howitzers Wabash efakwe ogwini ngesikhathi seMpi yasePort Royal Ferry, eSouth Carolina, ngoJanuwari 1, 1862, futhi wayesemkhunjini Wabash eMpini yaseFort Pulaski eCockspur Island, eGeorgia, ngo-10 kuya ku-11 Ephreli 1862. Wakhushulwa waba ngu-lieutenant commander ngo-16 Julayi 1862. 