USS Isaac N . Seymour ( 1860 ) USS " Isaac N . Seymour " ( 1860 ) 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 . " Isaac N . Seymour " ( also called " Seymour " , " I . N . Seymour " , and " J . N . Seymour " ) was built at Keyport , New Jersey , in 1860 and was purchased by the Navy at New York from Mr . Schultz 26 October 1861 . Assigned to the North Atlantic Blockade . She was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron 20 November and 3 days later was stationed in Hampton Roads , Virginia . While there she joined three other ships in engaging Confederate steamer " CSS Patrick Henry " and drove her back up stream . Bombardment of Roanoke Island . A month later Flag Officer Louis M . Goldsborough ordered " Isaac N . Seymour " to Hatteras Inlet for impending operations in the sounds of North Carolina . She participated in the combined operations which took Roanoke Island 8 February , and at the end of the action she was commended for being " conspicuously in the foreground throughout the bombardment . " One of her powdermen was killed and her chief engineer was seriously wounded in the fight . The next day " Isaac N . Seymour " steamed up Piankatank River to Elizabeth City , North Carolina , with Comdr . Rowan ' s expedition to destroy enemy gunboats and to break up communications between Albemarle Sound and Norfolk , Virginia . She continued mop - up operations in the sounds until she struck an abandoned anchor in Hatteras Inlet 20 February and sank before she could be run aground . Raised and repaired after accidental sinking . She was raised , repaired , and returned to service in May . She resumed her former duty and continued to give a good account of herself in the sounds until 24 August when she struck a bank and sank in the Neuse River some 3 miles above New Bern , North Carolina , while steaming upstream to cover a landing of troops . A month later she was reported raised and on the ways being readied for service . Raised and repaired after second accidental sinking . Back in fighting trim 23 October , she was ordered to tow schooner " Minnehaha " to Plymouth , North Carolina , to deliver provisions . Five days later she made the return passage towing damaged steamer to New Bern , North Carolina , for repairs . Similar duty maintaining communications and lines of supply between Navy units in the sounds continued until 12 December when " Isaac N . Seymour " ascended the Neuse River with four other ships to support an Army expedition to destroy railroad bridges and track near Goldsboro , North Carolina , but the mission was aborted by low water which prevented their advancing more than 15 miles beyond New Bern . Breaking the Confederate blockade on trapped Union troops . Confederate troops attacked the Union garrison at Washington , North Carolina , 31 March 1863 establishing a siege which threatened to starve the Northern troops into surrender . " Isaac N . Seymour " departed Plymouth , North Carolina , 2 April to play an active role in the naval operations which , despite well - served batteries ashore , brought the beleaguered soldiers food and ammunition . The Southern troops were finally forced to lift the blockade 16 April . Once again the daring and versatility of the Navy had been decisive in holding a hard - pressed position for the North . Demonstrating up the James River against Richmond . " Isaac N . Seymour " was a part of the task force which started up the James River 11 July to demonstrate against Richmond , Virginia . The high point of the expedition came 14 July when Rear Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee , flying his flag in " Isaac N . Seymour " , occupied Fort Powhatan , the last Confederate defense on the river below Chaffin ' s and Drewry ' s Bluff . " Isaac N . Seymour " continued to serve in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron — maintaining Union control of North Carolina ' s inland waters and supporting Army operations from the James and York Rivers as General U . S . Grant supplied and supported by water , relentlessly pressed toward Richmond and victory . Seymour decommissioning and civilian maritime career . " Isaac N . Seymour " was detached in March 1865 and decommissioned at Washington , D . C . 16 May . She was transferred to the Lighthouse Board 20 June which she served as " Tulip " until sold and redocumented " Magnolia " 7 June 1882 . " Magnolia " was sold to a foreign owner in 1888 .