CSS Florida ( blockade runner ) The Confederate blockade runner CSS Florida , built at Greenpoint , New York in 1859 , was thrice considered for a gunboat before she became one . Contrary to previous interpretation of the official records , closer comparison of entries reveals that she did not serve the Mississippi River Defense Fleet as originally intended but became a Government - owned blockade runner ; most authors have confused her with the Mobilian CSS " Florida " who did not receive her name CSS " Selma " until July 1862 . CSS " Florida " of New Orleans was one of 14 steamers of Charles Morgan ' s Southern Steamship Co . which Major General Mansfield Lovell " impressed for public service " at New Orleans , January 15 , 1862 , acting on Confederate Secretary of War Judah P . Benjamin ' s orders . The colorful Lieutenant Beverly Kennon , CSN , had sought " Florida " ' s command but had to be content with CSS " Governor Moore " . He nostalgically described " Florida " to a court of inquiry as " a very fast and a very handsome vessel indeed . . . A direct - acting screw of about 100 horsepower [ 75 kW ] … about the same size in all respects as the U . S . steam sloop " Pocahontas " . " Of the several ships of the same name , she apparently is the " Florida " who arrived at Havana , Cuba on March 23 , 1862 with 1 , 000 bales of cotton . Attempting to repeat her success , she had loaded 211 bales in St . Joseph Bay near Pensacola , Florida when captured by Acting Master Elnathan Lewis , USN , with armed boats from the bark USS " Pursuit " on April 6 . The boarders had just captured a sloop , " Lafayette " , at St . Andrew ' s , Florida , 20 miles below , and the latter ' s Captain Harrison volunteered to pilot Lewis ' party on up to capture " Florida " . Surprised at 4 o ' clock Sunday morning , " Florida " ' s crew were unable to fire their ship . It later appeared that the pilot , chief mate , first and second engineers were Union sympathizers . Mr . Lewis , after running " Florida " aground twice and jettisoning 30 bales of cargo , found " it was impossible to bring her out without the assistance of the engineers , pilot , and mate ; so rather than burn her he considered it prudent to bargain with them , and gave his word that they would receive $ 500 . 00 each . They were faithful . " In the 30 mile ( 50 km ) passage to the bar , " Florida " and " Lafayette " were almost recaptured by the Confederates on April 8 after Captain R . L . Smith , CSA , and his company of dragoons had galloped 24 hours from Marianna , Florida to intercept them off St . Andrew ' s . A ship ' s boat was ambushed with four casualties , one dead , but the prizes continued on to Key West . There , on April 19 , 1862 , Commodore William McKean reporting to United States Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles confirmed that " Florida " had never been converted : " I have examined her , and find that her upper deck is too light to carry guns of any weight . I have not the means to strengthen her sufficiently , or I should retain and convert her into a gunboat . " Despite this rejection , the U . S . Navy bought " Florida " from the Philadelphia prize court on September 20 , 1862 , changed her name to USS " Hendrick Hudson " and placed 4 , later 5 , guns on board . Union service . " Hendrick Hudson " served in the East Gulf Blockading Squadron for the remainder of the war , capturing two schooners and sinking the blockade runner " Wild Pigeon " . Two members of her crew received the Medal of Honor for their actions at the Battle of Natural Bridge . She was sold into commercial service in 1865 , and sunk near Havana , Cuba in 1867 .