USS Itasca ( 1861 ) USS " Itasca " was a built for the U . S . Navy during the American Civil War . She was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries . " Itasca " was a wooden screw steamer launched by Hillman & Streaker at Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , 1 October 1861 ; and commissioned there 28 November 1861 , Lt . C . H . B . Caldwell in command . Assigned to the Gulf Blockading Squadron . Assigned to the Gulf Blockading Squadron , " Itasca " promptly began to establish a distinguished record . She captured schooner " Lizzie Weston " loaded with cotton bound for Jamaica 19 January 1862 . A month later she assisted " Brooklyn " in capturing Confederate steamer " Magnolia " loaded with cotton and carrying several secret letters containing valuable intelligence concerning Confederate plans to import arms and to assist side - wheel , blockade runner " CSS Tennessee " to escape through the " blockade " . Reassigned to the Western Squadron of the Gulf Blockade . When the Gulf Blockading Squadron was split 20 January 1862 , " Itasca " was assigned to the Western Squadron under Flag Officer David Farragut , who stationed her briefly at Mobile , Alabama , and then called her to the mouth of the Mississippi River 4 March 1862 for service in the impending operations against New Orleans , Louisiana , and the Mississippi River Valley . " Itasca " takes numerous hits while the fleet takes New Orleans . This formed one prong of the gigantic pincer movement that was destined to cut the Confederacy in two , assuring its defeat . " Itasca " joined the fleet below Forts St . Philip and Jackson 19 April and promptly added her guns to the bombardment . The next day , accompanied by " Kineo " and " Pinola " , she boldly steamed up close to the forts to break the boom which prevented Farragut ' s ships from sailing up the river to attack New Orleans . Four days later the Union Squadron dashed through the passage to take the South ' s largest and most highly industrialized city . " Itasca " , in the dangerous rear of the movement , was caught in " a storm of iron hail . . . over and around us from both forts " and disabled by a 42 - pound shot which made a large hole in her boiler . Before she could drift down the river out of range , the gallant gunboat received fourteen hits . " Itasca " saves Admiral Farragut from “ grave danger ” . After the fall of New Orleans , " Itasca " served in the Mississippi River for the remainder of the year successfully fulfilling a wide variety of duties . On one occasion she saved Admiral Farragut from grave danger when " Hartford " ran hard aground below Vicksburg , Mississippi , 14 May 1862 . " Itasca " , deep in hostile territory , worked hastily , refloating her 3 days later . Early in 1863 , " Itasca " was ordered to blockade duty off Galveston , Texas , where she arrived 31 January . While in Texas waters , " Itasca " took two prizes : " Miriam " , loaded with cotton , 17 June ; and " Sea Drift " , containing a cargo of materiel and drugs , 22 June . On 30 June urgent need for repairs caused her to be dispatched to New Orleans , and she sailed from that port for the North 15 August , arriving Philadelphia for overhaul 26 August . " Itasca " survives the battle of Mobile Bay . " Itasca " departed Philadelphia 26 December and arrived at New Orleans on the last day of 1863 . Five days later she was ordered to blockade duty off Mobile Bay , where she was stationed until Admiral Farragut closed the last great gulf port opened to the South 5 August 1864 . During historic Battle of Mobile Bay , after dashing past the forts as part of Farragut ' s formation , " Itasca " engaged and captured Confederate gunboat " Selma " . After returning to the Texas coast , she took English schooner " Carrier Mair " off Pass Cavallo , Texas , 30 November ; and she chased on shore and destroyed sloop " Mary Ann " . Final operations and decommissioning . " Itasca " remained on duty in the Gulf of Mexico until sailing from Pensacola , Florida , for Philadelphia 5 August 1865 . She decommissioned 22 August and was sold at New York City 30 November 1865 . She was documented as " Aurora " 23 August 1866 and sold abroad the following year .