Under the name "Thistle" she was used as a blockade runner and in late January 1863 successfully ran through the Federal blockade into Charleston, South Carolina, a favorite port for blockade runners at the time. She ran aground while attempting to leave port a month later. The ship was salvaged, sold to another owner and renamed "Cherokee". On 8 May 1863, she again attempted to an outbound passage, but was captured by . Prior to delivery to the Boston Prize Court on 7 July, she was used in the search for the Confederate raider CSS Tacony.