With a tonnage of 700 tons or 636 tons burden and as dimensions 204’ x 29’ x 10’ built at Glasgow, Scotland in 1863 (other sources claimed 1859) made she a year later with success one voyage in March-May from Wilmington to Bermuda and back captured by the USS Fort Jackson east of Charleston captured on 4 June underway to run to blockade off Wilmington again. She was acquired via the Boston Prize Court a month later by the US Navy which converted her into a gunboat and a month later she was commissioned (13 August) as the USS Dumbarton. On 17 February 1865 decommissioned although not earlier sold as on 15 October 1867. Later she was British-flagged and renamed City of Quebec (1868) and was lost on 28 April or 1 May 1870 in Canadian waters after colliding with another ship.
The above mentioned details are usually to found on several website. There is at least one exception. Robert Bennet Forbes published in 1864 at Boston a publication titled The prize steamer “Cherokee” formerly the “Thistle” and which was captured by the Canandaigua arriving at Boston in or around 19 May. On 29 May was the Cherokee investigated. Her dimensions were c. 190’x 25”5’x 12’9”, elsewhere 194’6”x 25’10” (maximum0 x 12’11” (hold) and height between decks 6’8” and built of iron. Fitted out with two beam-engines and built in 1859. ‘Her deck is too lightly framed for mounting cannon’. There were several investigations, the report of Mr. Wood said that she was built in 1859 at A.&J. Inglis, White-hall Foundry, Glasgow. Built for Laurence Hill&Co. of Glasgow. On 30 August 1859 she left on her maiden voyage towards Londonderry. A letter dated London 15 August 1859 reported Thistle, iron screw-steamer… built in 1859. The Thistle which was captured by the USS Fort Jackson was a side-wheel steamer!
