 She was launched on 17 February 1863 and commissioned on 13 September 1864, Lieutenant Commander Joseph E. DeHaven in command.As "Tallapoosa" was being fitted out, Confederate cruiser "Tallahassee" was cruising off the Atlantic coast destroying Union shipping from the Virginia Capes to Nova Scotia.Hence, the Union double-ender got underway late in October and spent her first days at sea in seeking the Southern commerce raider.