On 24 April 1861, Union sloop-of-war USS Cumberland captured Young America in Hampton Roads, Virginia, as that Confederate tug attempted to help blockade-running schooner George M. Smith enter the James River laden with munitions for the Confederacy.

After patrol and reconnaissance assignments, Young America proceeded to the Baltimore Navy Yard on 13 October 1861 for further repairs and returned to duty in Hampton Roads late in November.

On 8 March, Young America towed USS Roanoke to an anchorage off Sewell's Point, Virginia, enabling the frigate to bombard Confederate batteries ashore.

On 30 November 1862, Zouave and Young America towed the monitor USS Passaic to the Washington Navy Yard for repairs but returned to Newport News, Virginia, early in December and, but for occasional runs north, operated in the vicinity of Hampton Roads and the James River through the end of the Civil War.

Young America was decommissioned on 9 June 1865 at the Norfolk Navy Yard and was sold at public auction at New York City on 12 July 1865 to Camden & Amboy Railroad Co.