She helped transport maritime pilots between inbound or outbound ships coming into the New York Harbor.

The pilot boat Blossom discovered the ship on August 21, 1839, but fled when the captives attempted to board her.

Two days later, the pilot-boat Gratitude came across the La Amistad when she was twenty-five miles east of Fire Island.

A few hours later, the Gratitude was caught up in a severe hurricane that swept the coast from South Carolina to Maine on August 28 and 30.

The names of the pilots that were lost were: Enah Harris, Joseph Hendarchott, Owen Wilson, and Sydney Waite.