She made a spectacular 19-day raid off the Atlantic coast as far north as Halifax, Nova Scotia. The "Tallahassee" destroyed 26 vessels and captured 7 others that were bonded or released. Wood sailed the "Tallahassee" into Halifax Harbour on August 18 to take on bunker coal and water. Neutrality laws limited her stay in Halifax to 24 hours. "Tallahassee" was granted an extra 12 hours to fix a broken mast but was only allowed to load enough coal to take her to the nearest Confederate port. Two Federal war ships, the USS "Nansemond" and , were rumoured to be waiting for the "Tallahassee" at the harbour entrance. Wood hired legendary Halifax pilot John "Jock" Flemming, who guided the warship through the narrow and shallow Eastern Passage between Dartmouth and Lawlor Island, a route only suited for small fishing vessels. "Tallahassee" succeeded in negotiating the passage out of the harbour, although no Northern warships were in fact waiting. The first Northern warship, the gunboat USS "Pontoosuc", arrived at the harbour entrance several hours after the Confederate cruiser departed.