The first USS Elfin was a light draft gunboat acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a patrol vessel on Confederate waterways. She was purchased as W. C. Mann by Admiral David Dixon Porter at Cincinnati, Ohio, February 23, 1864, and placed under the command of Acting Master A. F. Thompson. Assigned to the Mississippi Squadron Assigned to the Mississippi Squadron, she cruised in the 7th District between Caledonia and Mound City, Illinois, for a month, then took up duty in the 9th District extending from Cairo, Illinois, to the head of the Tennessee River. Elfin destroyed in combat with Confederate shore batteries On November 4, 1864 Elfin was operating with and in the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. After a severe engagement of several hours with heavy Confederate shore batteries it was considered impossible to save the three vessels, and they were burned to prevent capture. References Ships of the Union Navy Gunboats of the United States Navy Steamships of the United States Navy Shipwrecks of the American Civil War Shipwrecks in rivers Maritime incidents in November 1864