Naval History and Heritage Command

An animal of the weasel family; to drive or hunt out of a hiding place, to extract.

The second Ferret, a schooner, was purchased by the Navy at Charleston, S.C., in November 1812; and command assigned to Acting Lieutenant C. E. Crowley.

Based on Charleston, Ferret patrolled the sounds and inlets of the South Carolina coast to protect inland navigation in the War of 1812. On 2 February 1814, while making passage from Port Royal to Charleston for supplies, she grounded in Stono Inlet during a gale. Although breakers completely wrecked their ship, her officers and men made shore safely.