The Vilet was sent to Newport news, Virginia, and assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron as a tug boat. On March 27, 1863, the Violet was ordered to join the blockading squadron off Wilmington, N.C., but a storm off Cape Hatteras forced it to return to Hampton Roads in a sinking condition on March 28th.
It was repaired and went to Wilmington again. At Wilmington, it did double duty as a blockader and tug. On April 11, 1863, the Violet and USS Aries chased an unknown blockader-runner and on December 6th, found the runner Ceres aground and burning. The Ceres floated free during the night and the Violet seized her and put out the fires.
On December 20th, while attempting to refloat the runner Antonica, the Violet ran aground herself and remained there for two nights and a day. Only after throwing its guns overboard did the Violet float free.
Busy Ship. --Old B-R'er
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