Repairs at Norfolk, Virginia took her into 1853, and on 9 August of that year, she sailed for a three-year cruise on the Brazil Station.

With the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, Savannah was deployed off the coast of Georgia, where she shared in the capture of two Confederate prizes, the schooner, E. J. Waterman, and the ship, Cheshire.

On 11 February 1862, Savannah was taken out of active service and placed in use as an instruction and practice ship at the United States Naval Academy.

While in service as a practice ship, one of Savannah's commanding officers, Captain Edward Gabriel André Barrett, wrote and published two texts, still available at present, known for rapid education of voluntary officers: "NAVAL HOWITZER"[1] and "GUNNERY INSTRUCTIONS" [2] In 1870, after conducting her last training cruise to England and France, she was laid up at the Norfolk Navy Yard.

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