Wamsutta—a screw steamer built in 1853 at Hoboken, New Jersey—was purchased by the Union Navy on 20 September 1861 at New York City from H. Haldrege; and commissioned on 14 March 1862, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant William L. Stone in command.

On 27 April, while on an expedition to destroy a brig believed to be near Dorchester, Georgia, Wamsutta and Potamska engaged a company of dismounted Confederate cavalry on Woodville Island in the Riceboro River.

By 1 May, Wamsutta lay off Charleston, South Carolina, but spent the remainder of May and the first two weeks of June repairing and re-provisioning in Port Royal.

Wamsutta was reactivated on 24 April 1864 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was ordered back to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

On 14 July, Wamsutta returned to duty in Charleston and carried out frequent operations against Confederate vessels from her anchorage off Morris Island, South Carolina.

On 22 October, she helped chase the blockade runner Flora aground near Fort Moultrie, South Carolina.

On 4 February 1865, Wamsutta and Potomska ran another schooner aground, but the crew of the potential prize burned the ship before the Federals could take possession of her.