 Accompanying the Red River expedition as far as Alexandria, Louisiana, "General Price" returned to the mouth of the river on 6 April convoying transports.She then took up regular cruising station on the lower Mississippi River, protecting transports, landing reconnaissance parties, and keeping the river free from Confederate guerrillas.While on this duty, she engaged a Confederate battery off Tunic Bend, Louisiana on 19 May forced it to withdraw, and landed a shore party which burned the Confederate headquarters.