Sacramento's first assignment was blockade duty off the North Carolina coast as part of the effort to eliminate Confederate shipping operations at Wilmington.

Ordered to European waters after refitting, Sacramento departed Boston on 2 February 1864, calling at the Azores, Cape Town, and the Canary Islands before arriving at Cherbourg, France on 5 July.

Sacramento embarked President Warner of Liberia, members of his government, and Maryland Senator John Marshall at Monrovia on 15 January for passage down the African coast to Cape Palmas.

Subsequently, Sacramento proceeded southward, calling at St. George del Mina, Dutch Guinea; St. Thomas; St. Paul Loando; Cape Town; and Madras, India.

Although battered into a total wreck, all hands from Sacramento were saved and eventually embarked aboard SS General Caulfield which arrived in New York on 19 November.