designed and constructed by the noted american shipbuilder, william h. webb, the second "augusta" was completed in 1853 at new york city and operated out of that port carrying passengers and freight for the new york and savannah steam navigation company on runs to savannah, georgia and new orleans, louisiana. early in the civil war, as the union navy was expanding its fleet for the herculean task of blockading the confederate coast, the federal government purchased the side-wheeler at new york on 1 august 1861. she was fitted out for naval service by the new york navy yard and commissioned there on 28 september 1861, commander enoch greenleafe parrott in command.