USS Granite City ( 1863 ) USS " Granite City " ( 1863 ) was a steamer captured by the Union Navy during the American Civil War . She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways until she , in turn , was captured by Confederate forces and destroyed in grounding . Blockade runner " Granite City " captured . " Granite City " was originally a Confederate blockade runner , and was captured in the Bahama Islands 22 March 1863 by . She was bought by the United States from the New York City prize court for $ 55 , 000 and delivered to the Navy at New York City 16 April 1863 , Acting Master Charles W . Lamson in command . Assigned to the Western Gulf Blockade . Assigned to the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron , " Granite City " arrived in New Orleans , Louisiana , for duty 27 August 1863 . Participating in the ill - fated Sabine Pass expedition . She was detained for a time in quarantine because of sickness on board , but departed 4 September to take part in the ill - fated Sabine Pass Expedition , which was intended to provide a Union lodgment in Texas and prevent possible French moves into that State from Mexico . Expedition fails and " Granite City " escapes the Confederate guns . " Granite City " was ideally suited to help support the troop landings because her shallow draft allowed her to cross the bar and lie close to shore . She crossed the bar in company with , , and on 8 September , but the withering fire of Confederate batteries forced the gunboats and their transports to withdraw . " Sachem " and " Clifton " were disabled and captured in the action , though " Granite City " suffered no damage . Patrolling the Texas coast . For the next 8 months , " Granite City " , though often in need of repairs to her weak machinery , actively participated in the blockade of the Texas coast . She captured schooner " Anita " 27 October 1863 , schooner " Amelia Ann " 16 November , and bark " Teresita " 17 November . In addition , the steamer supported two landings of troops on the Texas coast . With , she shelled Confederate cavalry off Pass Cavallo 31 December 1863 , allowing Union reconnaissance forces to land successfully . Again on 19 January 1864 , the two ships covered the landing of several hundred troops near Smiths Landing , Texas , and defended them by shelling shore positions . Under attack , recaptured by Confederates . After 3 more months of grueling blockade duty , " Granite City " was dispatched with steamer to Calcasieu Pass , Louisiana , to receive refugees . While engaged in this duty , 28 April 1864 , the ships were attacked by Confederate troops and shore batteries . After an hour ' s sharp engagement , both ships surrendered , placing " Granite City " in Confederate hands for the second time . " Granite City " , converted into a blockade runner , runs aground , breaks up . Fitted out as a Confederate blockade runner , her original occupation , " Granite City " was loaded at Galveston , Texas , and ran out of Velasco , Texas , 20 January 1865 . The night was foggy and she succeeded in eluding the blockading squadron for a time , but the next day she was chased ashore by steamer , and soon broke up on the beach .