USS Augusta Dinsmore ( 1863 ) USS " Augusta Dinsmore " ( 1863 ) was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War . She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat in support of the Union naval blockade of Confederate waterways . Because of her relatively large size , she was also sometimes used as a cargo ship . Operating as a commercial cargo ship . By February 1863 , " Augusta Dinsmore " — a screw steamer completed in 1863 at Mystic , Connecticut — was operating for the Adams Express Company , moving up and down the Atlantic coast between Northern ports and the Union Navy ' s blockaders off Charleston , South Carolina , engaged primarily in carrying mail , passengers , and supplies to and from the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron . " Augusta Dinsmore " chartered by the Union Navy . Sometime in the late spring or early summer , she was chartered by the Navy for the use of that squadron and departed New York City on the morning of 30 June , carrying Rear Admiral John A . Dahlgren — who was to relieve Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont in command of the squadron — and new commanding officer s for several warships assigned to the blockade . The steamer arrived off Port Royal , South Carolina , shortly after daybreak on 4 July . Two days later , the formal change of command took place on board , Du Font ' s flagship . Meanwhile , the Navy Department chose to buy the ship outright instead of using her for a protracted period under a charter and wrote to Dahlgren on 9 July informing him of the decision . " Augusta Dinsmore " is purchased by the Navy . The transaction transferring title to the ship from William B . Dinsmore to the United States Government was completed on 17 July ; and , four days later , Dahlgren detached Acting Master William Hamilton from the monitor so that he might assume command of " Augusta Dinsmore " . Although the steamer ' s commissioned service dates from Hamilton ' s taking command , she had already served as Dahlgren ' s flagship during most of the time since she had brought him from New York City ; and , but for a few brief interruptions when he temporarily embarked in other warships , she continued to carry out this duty through the remainder of July and most of August . Dahlgren flies his flag from " Augusta Dinsmore " . While his flag flew above " Augusta Dinsmore " , the admiral directed the naval aspects of joint Army - Navy operations against the defensive works which protected Charleston , South Carolina ’ s harbor , particularly against Fort Wagner . These attacks finally forced the Confederate garrison to evacuate the fort secretly on the night of 6 September . While this unrelenting Union pressure was approaching its victorious climax , the iron - hulled , side - wheel steamer had arrived off Morris Island late in August and relieved " Augusta Dinsmore " as flagship , freeing her for other duty . " Augusta Dinsmore " take the place of " Madgie " in the blockade . Dahlgren had only recently learned that the screw gunboat in Saint Catherine Sound — just south of Savannah , Georgia — was low on coal and in need of repairs . As a result , he sent " Augusta Dinsmore " to that station to take " Madgie ' s " place on guard there , and she blockaded those waters until 5 October when she was relieved by the side - wheeler . Before sailing north at mid - month , " Augusta Dinsmore " embarked 149 men whose enlistments had expired . She stopped en route at Newport News , Virginia , for brief repairs and then continued on to New York City . Reassigned to the West Gulf blockade as a supply ship . After the completion of her repairs there , " Augusta Dinsmore " was reassigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron and sailed for Key West , Florida , on 12 December 1863 . When she reported to Rear Admiral David Farragut , he put her to work as a dispatch and supply ship and , for most of her remaining service , she operated out of New Orleans , Louisiana , carrying information and materiel to warships blockading on various stations along the Texas coast . Occasionally , her discharge of this duty was interrupted by temporary blockade duty when one of the regular blockaders became disabled , and no other replacement was available . However , she always soon returned to her regular logistical work and carried out this duty faithfully . " Augusta Dinsmore " captures blockade runner " Scio " . On occasion , chance encounters with blockade runner s broke the monotony of her tedious , but highly important assignment . On 16 February , Acting Master Hamilton — having learned that the cotton - and - hide - laden " Scio " was preparing to depart Brazos Santiago , Texas , in violation of the blockade — seized that British brig and placed a crew from " Augusta Dinsmore " on board the prize . A dispute with the Union Army over seizure of " Scio " . However , before Hamilton could tow " Scio " across the bar to begin the voyage to a prize court , a Union Army officer " . . . informed him that he [ the Army man ] had orders not to allow the vessel to proceed to sea . " On 25 February , after protracted correspondence on the subject , Hamilton received a letter from Major General Francis Jay Herron " . . . ordering him to release the " Scio " , which . . . ( Hamilton ) , not wishing to have a collision with the Army , did . . . under protest . . . . " The matter was ultimately brought to the attention of both the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of War , but records of the final disposition of the case have not been found . " Augusta Dinsmore " seizes British blockade runner John . In the spring of 1864 , Hamilton became ill and , sometime in June , Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Miner B . Crowell relieved him in command of " Augusta Dinsmore " . About daybreak on 11 September , as the steamer was proceeding generally southwest along the gulf coast from Galveston , Texas , she " . . . fell in with a schooner , with sails lowered down , drifting . " Since the vessel — the British schooner " John " — was carrying 81 bales of cotton , Crowell " . . . seized her as a prize and sent her to New Orleans for adjudication . . . . " Assisting in the capture of British runner " Cora Smyser " . On 28 October 1864 , " Augusta Dinsmore " was making another supply run when she found herself in position to help Union screw gunboats and to capture another British schooner , " Cora Smyser " , which was attempting to slip into San Luis Pass , Texas , with an assorted cargo . " Augusta Dinsmore " continued to carry supplies to blockaders along the Texas coast through the end of the Civil War . Post - war decommissioning , sale and subsequent maritime career . Following the Confederate collapse , she departed Pensacola , Florida , on 5 August and sailed north . She was decommissioned at New York on 28 August 1865 and sold at public auction there on 5 September 1865 . Redocumented as " Gulf City " on 16 September 1865 , the steamer remained in merchant service until she ran aground off Cape Lookout , North Carolina , on 11 January 1869 . The wreck cost the lives of 23 persons .