Event of 1862: American Civil War: Yazoo Pass Expedition – Union ironclad gunboat USS Cairo is

Background. USS Cairo was a City-class casemate ironclad built in 1861 by James Eads and Co. in Mound City, Illinois. Initially serving with the Army's Western Gunboat Flotilla, she was transferred to the Navy in October 1862. Prior to the Yazoo Pass Expedition, Cairo participated in operations on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, including the capture of Fort Pillow.

Yazoo Pass Expedition. Cairo joined the Yazoo Pass Expedition on 21 November 1862 after patrolling the Mississippi River. The expedition involved clearing mines from the Yazoo River to prepare for an attack on Haines Bluff. This operation placed the gunboat in a hazardous environment where Confederate forces had established defensive positions.

Sinking Incident. On 12 December 1862, while clearing mines, Cairo struck a naval mine detonated by volunteers hidden behind the river bank. The explosion caused the ship to sink in 12 minutes. This event marked the first time a ship was sunk by a mine remotely detonated by hand.