Little Ada, an iron screw steamer, was built in the Clyde, Scotland; captured and abandoned in the South Santee River 30 March 1864; recaptured at sea by Gettysburg 9 July 1864; purchased by the Union Navy from the Boston Prize Court 18 August 1864; and commissioned at Boston, Massachusetts, 5 October 1864.

She formed part of the separate line of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron 3 January landing provisions for the Union Army.

After being assigned to the Potomac Flotilla 10 March, she captured a large yard boat 9 April at Hooper Strait, Maryland.

She was sent to the Washington Navy Yard 31 May 1865, decommissioned 24 June 1865, and was transferred to the War Department 12 August 1865.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.