Assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, "Princess Royal" participated in the engagement with Confederate forces at Donaldsonville, Louisiana, 28 June 1863. Then ordered to the Texas coast, she captured the British schooner "Flying Scud" near Matamoros, Tamaulipas 12 August, and assisted in seizing the schooner "Wave" 22 August. Continuing her patrols into 1864 she took "Neptune" off Brazos de Santiago, 19 November 1864; ran down the schooner "Flash" six days later; seized the schooner "Alabama", 7 December; and captured "Cora" off Galveston, 19 December.