USS Brilliant (1862)

The USS Brilliant was a United States Navy gunboat that served during the American Civil War. Built in 1862, she was a "tinclad" – a shallow-draft vessel with thin iron plating, designed for operations on rivers and inland waterways. The Brilliant was purchased by the Navy on September 24, 1862, from Joseph Brown of Cincinnati, Ohio, and commissioned on October 24, 1862, with Acting Volunteer Lieutenant John H. Rice in command.

Primarily, Brilliant was assigned to patrol duties on the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Her role involved suppressing Confederate activity, disrupting supply lines, and supporting Union Army operations. She participated in numerous engagements and skirmishes, often engaging Confederate shore batteries and small detachments of enemy troops.

Notable actions include participation in operations against Confederate forces in the vicinity of Vicksburg and Port Hudson. She contributed to the Union blockade, preventing Confederate vessels from transporting goods and supplies. She also performed escort duty, protecting Union transports and supply ships from Confederate raiders.

Following the end of the Civil War, the Brilliant was decommissioned. She was sold at public auction at Cairo, Illinois, on August 17, 1865. Her subsequent fate is not extensively documented, but like many of the "tinclads," she likely transitioned to civilian service.