USS Isaac Smith USS " Isaac Smith " was a steamer acquired by the Union 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 . In 1863 , she became the only warship in the Civil War to be captured by enemy land forces . " Isaac Smith " was built by Lawrence & Foulks in 1861 for passenger - cargo service on the Hudson River . She was purchased by the Navy in New York City from E . J . Hamilton 9 September 1861 . Assigned to the South Atlantic Blockade . On 16 October she was assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in time to join Flag Officer Samuel F . Du Pont ' s assault against Port Royal , South Carolina . An intense hurricane occurred during the voyage south compelling the ship to jettison her guns . Nevertheless , she gallantly ignored her own distress and attempted to assist the Marine Corps transport " Governor " , which foundered off Cape Hatteras . During a reconnaissance in force on 4 and 5 November , she engaged and repelled three attacking Confederate steamers and silenced batteries at Hilton Head and Bay Point , South Carolina . Two days later she towed sailing sloop into action during the landings which wrested Port Royal , South Carolina , from Confederate hands providing the Union a splendid base for the fleet and combined operations that steadily destroyed the Confederacy . Georgia and Florida operations . " Isaac Smith " participated in operations against the coast of South Carolina until 21 January 1862 when she sailed to join the expedition to Savannah , Georgia , led by Captain C . H . Davis , USN , and Brig . Gen . H . G . Wright of the Army . This operation was primarily a diversionary effort to cover up a projected attack on Fernandina , Florida ; but it also provided valuable information about Confederate defenses of the water approaches to Savannah , Georgia , and it interrupted communications between Fort Pulaski and Savannah . During the latter half of March and all of April , " Isaac Smith " was active in the vicinity of St . Augustine , Florida . She took possession of the post office there 18 March and two days later mounted a gun upon the ramparts of in a position to command the main road to the city . Her boats captured blockade runner " British Empire " 3 April . " Isaac Smith " stood out of St . Augustine and entered St . Johns River 4 May to begin a period of 3 months ' service in the vicinity of Jacksonville , Florida . Her presence there helped tighten the blockade , provided sanctuary for refugees , drew Southern troops away from more active fronts , and facilitated Union intelligence activity . Caught in the cross fire and captured by Confederate forces . In need of repair , " Isaac Smith " sailed for New York City 10 August for " beaching , breeming , and improvements " which kept her away from her squadron until 11 October . Then Rear Admiral Du Pont ordered her to the Stono River where she served until 30 January 1863 . That day she was caught in a cross fire from masked shore batteries . Disabled by accurate fire and with her deck covered with wounded men , her captain surrendered the ship rather than risk their lives . Eight men were dead and 17 were wounded . Service with the Confederate Navy and eventual sinking . " Isaac Smith " served the Confederate Navy in Charleston waters under the name " Stono " until she was wrecked on the breakwater near Fort Moultrie , South Carolina , while attempting to run the blockade with a load of cotton on 5 June 1863 . ( q . v . " Confederate Appendix " , DANFS II , 569 . ) No data on salvage operations for " Stono " has been found , but the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion state that she was " burned by the Confederates at the evacuation of Charleston in 1865 . " External links .