USS Geranium ( 1863 ) USS " Geranium " ( 1863 ) was a steamship acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War for the purpose of using her as a tugboat in support of Union ships on the blockade of Southern waterways . However , in addition to her tug duties , she also served as a picket ship , dispatch boat , supply runner and other duties assigned to her by the Navy . Constructed in Newburgh , New York , in 1863 . " Geranium " , formerly " John A . Dix " , was built at Newburgh , New York , in 1863 ; purchased by the Navy at New York City 5 September 1863 ; and commissioned at New York Navy Yard 15 October 1863 , Acting Ens . G . A . Winsor in command . Assigned to the blockade as a dispatch boat and light transport . " Geranium " departed New York 20 October for duty off Charleston , South Carolina , with Rear Admiral John A . Dahlgren ' s South Atlantic Blockading Squadron . Arriving 4 November , for the next 6 months she operated as a picket boat and was frequently employed as a dispatch boat and light transport to such diverse stations as Ossabaw Sound , South Carolina , and St . Johns River , Florida . Occasionally , she transported Admiral Dahlgren during visits to various ships of his squadron . Expedition to cut off the Charleston and Savannah Railroad . Between 3 and 10 July 1864 , " Geranium " participated in a diversionary expedition up the Stono and North Edisto Rivers south of Charleston , South Carolina , to divert Confederate attention from the Charleston blockade and to cut the important Charleston and Savannah Railroad . She supported the movement of troops under General Birney up the North Edisto River , towing and transporting supplies for the expedition . On 3 July she contacted and engaged a strong Confederate battery at the mouth of the Dawhoo River , a bombardment which Admiral Dahlgren reported was " done very handsomely . " After completing demonstration operations , she supported the withdrawal of Federal troops from the tidewater islands south of Charleston . Supporting the Bull ' s Bay operations . Continuing her picket , dispatch , and transport duties from 12 to 17 February 1865 , " Geranium " participated in joint Army - Navy operations at Bull ' s Bay north of Charleston , and on the 16th and 17th she supported diversionary amphibious landings which hastened the Confederate evacuation of Charleston the following day . Admiral Dahlgren then ordered her to the mouth of the Santee River , where she supported naval operations against Georgetown , South Carolina , before departing 28 February on a reconnaissance mission up the Santee . With launches " Lilly " and " Eva " in tow she ascended as far as Black Oak Island and gained valuable information about the depth and navigability of the river . As a result of this intelligence , General William Tecumseh Sherman ' s troops could be supplied from transports on the Santee rather than solely by railroad . Final operations of the war . " Geranium " remained along the South Carolina coast until after the end of the war . Departing Charleston 17 June , she steamed with and ( Admiral Dahlgren embarked ) and arrived Washington , D . C . 21 June . Post - war decommissioning and disposal . " Geranium " decommissioned there 15 July and was sold 18 October to the U . S . Treasury Department for use In the Lighthouse Service .