the next day, 1 december, du pont ordered "augusta" to charleston for blockade duty, and she spent much of the next year and one-half as the flagship of the senior union naval officer off that strongly defended city, the "birthplace of secession." on 6 december, she took the british blockade runner "cheshire" — of and from liverpool — some southeast of tybee light. she towed the captured vessel as far north as charleston and then sent her on to new york under a prize crew for adjudication.