Of the Milwaukee-class wit as sister ships the Chickasaw, Milwaukee and the Winnebago designed by Eads. Fitted out with two turrets, one of Eads design and the other of Ericsson. Laid down in 1862 at the yard of G.B. Allen&Co. at St. Louis, Missouri, launched on 18 February 1864, commissioned on 8 July of the same year, renamed Cyclops on 15 June 1869 and after two months renamed Kewaydin on 10 August and finally bought on a public auction at New Orleans by Schickels, Harrison&Co. 12 September 1874.
With a displacement of 1,300 long tons/1,321 tons/970 tons burden tonnage were her dimensions 70 x 17,27 x 1,8 metres or 229’ (over all) x 56’8” x 6’. The two 2-cylinder horizontal steam engines and 7 boilers allowed a speed of 9 knots. Her crew numbered 123-138 men. She was armed with 2x2-11” smoothbore Dahlgrens in two turrets which were protected by 8” armour just like the pilothouse. Her hull was protected by 4” thick armour and furthermore had she a 1.5” thick protected deck.
