Oriole was acquired as the Florence Miller from John Swassey & Co. at Cincinnati, Ohio on 7 December 1864; converted to a sternwheel gunboat by Mr. Joseph Brown at Mound City, Illinois; and commissioned as Oriole on 22 March 1865, Acting Master Edward Alford in command. Assigned to the Mississippi River Squadron on 3 February 1865 while still named Florence Miller, Oriole departed Mound City on 22 March for service in the 5th Naval District under Lt. Comdr. E. Y. McCauley. On 4 August Oriole decommissioned at Mound City and was later sold there to Mr. Thomas Scott on 17 August 1865.