She was purchased at Dubuque, Iowa, 13 June 1863; fitted out at Cairo, Illinois, and commissioned 2 October 1863, Lt. Thomas E. Smith in command. Assigned to the Naval forces on the Tennessee River, Peosta departed Cairo 28 October and arrived at Paducah, Kentucky, 3 November.
She was acquired in Dubuque, Iowa, on June 13, 1863; outfitted at Cairo, Illinois, and commissioned on October 2, 1863, with Lt. Thomas E. Smith in command. Assigned to the Naval forces on the Tennessee River, Peosta departed Cairo on October 28 and arrived at Paducah, Kentucky, on November 3.