There were some initial mechanical problems with the engines following her launch. Part of this was due to the fact that she was put in service to protect a battery construction project on the lower Apalachicola before she was finished and tested.

Once these problems were corrected, from everything I can find, the Chattahoochee functioned very well. She underwent trials on the Apalachicola River from a port at Chattahoochee. Her gunnery practice was reported to be exceptional and the ship withstood the shock of the firing perfectly. She cruised up and down the river several times with no major problems. The Confederate officers aboard raged about being blocked from action by the obstructions placed in the lower river by the army, so they clearly felt the ship was capable of doing battle.

The Apalachicola is, by its nature, a shallow river and the average life of a steamboat operating there during the 19th century was less than five years. One of the most troublesome points on the river was the Blountstown Bar, where the Chattahoochee grounded. Her draft was much greater than most vessels operating on the river, so negotiating her through shallow spots and around tight bends must have been quite a challenge.

The explosion was caused by human error, not a mechanical malfunction.

Dale