Union ships first arrived at Havana on 15 May and were reinforced over the course of the month, to include the monitors and . Page decided to turn "Stonewall" over to the Spanish Captain General of Cuba for the sum of $16,000 to pay the crew's wages. The vessel would then turned over to United States representatives in return for reimbursement of the same amount. The Americans did not pay until 2 November and "Stonewall" required some repairs before she could put to sea again. Escorted by the paddle steamers and , the ironclad departed Havana on 15 November and arrived at the Washington Navy Yard on 24 November. While sailing through Chesapeake Bay on the night of 22/23 November, "Stonewall" accidentally rammed and sank a coal schooner off Smith Island, Maryland; no lives were lost. She was subsequently paid off and laid up at the Washington Navy Yard.