The force included the gunboats Ottawa and Seneca; armed Steamers Isaac Smith, Potomska, and Ellen; and transports Cosmopolitan, Delaware, and Boston carrying over 2,400 troops under the command of Brigadier General H. G. Wright.

The Union flotilla repulsed an attack by five Confederate vessels on 28 January and the next day completed invaluable survey work.

On the 6th, Western World called briefly at St. Johns River, Florida, to reprovision Union ships on blockade duty there.

On 25 June 1862, Western World, Andrew, and E. B. Hale entered the North Santee River, South Carolina, intending to destroy an important railroad bridge inland.

During an expedition in Winyah Bay, South Carolina, Western World captured the British schooner Volante on 2 July.

However, she soon left the squadron base for blockade duty off Doboy Sound, Georgia, which occupied the ship until the end of October when she sailed north to the New York Navy Yard for extensive overhaul.

Western World departed New York on 16 February 1863 and arrived at Newport News, Virginia, on 11 March for duty with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

Late in the month, Western World returned to Hampton Roads where she picked up mail for delivery to blockade ships off Wilmington, North Carolina.

She patrolled the Virginia coast between the Nansemond River and Lawn's Creek and, on 15 December 1864, helped to refloat the grounded monitor Saugus.