When word came that the South's famed cruiser CSS Sumter, under the brilliant master of seamanship, Captain Raphael Semmes, was in European waters, Ino sailed from Boston 5 February 1862 and reached Cadiz, Spain, only 13 days and 16 hours later.

An interesting side light to this operation occurred at Tangier, Morocco 26 February when Ino took two crewmen of Sumter from a threatening mob and turned the prisoners over to the Boston-bound American merchant ship Harvest Home.

Six days later she arrived at St. George, Bermuda, to obtain from the American consul the latest information on blockade running activity in that quarter.

Only 4 days later she set sail for New York to be prepared for a cruise in search of her old adversary, Semmes, who was now attacking northern merchantmen with his new raider, CSS Alabama.

Disguised as a merchantman to lure CSS Florida into action, she cruised in the North Atlantic Ocean 24 October when she arrived Portland, Maine.