Ku dhammee weedhan soo socota: 1861, Irwin wuxuu shaqo ka bilaabay markab nooca loo yaqaano screw frigate. Dagaalkii Sokeeye ee Mareykanka wuxuu qarxay bishii Abriil 1861, Irwin wuxuu arkay waxqabadyo badan oo ka dhan ah ciidamada Confederate ee saarnaa "Wabash". Intii lagu guda jiray safarka Irwin, "Wabash" wuxuu ka qeyb qaatay
qabsashada Forts Hatteras iyo Clark ee Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina, 29kii Ogosto 1861, ka hor inta aysan noqon markabkii ugu horreeyay ee Koonfurta Atlantic Blockading Squadron, oo ka mid ah kooxaha ku hawlan go'doominta Midowga ee dekedaha Confederate. "Wabash" ayaa markaa ka qeyb qaatay qabsashada Fort Walker, Fort Beauregard, iyo Port Royal Sound, South Carolina, Dagaalkii Port Royal bishii Nofeembar 7, 1861. Irwin markii dambe wuxuu ahaa taliyaha doonta howitzers "Wabash" oo la dhigay xeebta intii lagu jiray Dagaalkii Port Royal Ferry, South Carolina, 1dii Janaayo 1862, wuxuuna saarnaa "Wabash" Dagaalkii Fort Pulaski ee Jasiiradda Cockspur, Georgia, 10-11 Abriil 1862. Waxaa loo dalacsiiyay taliye kuxigeen 16kii Luulyo 1862.