Nita SwStr

Nita
A former name retained.
(SwStr: t. 210; 1. 146'; b. 22'4"; dph. 7'; dr. 5'; cpl. 46;
a. 1 12 pdr. how., 2 heavy 12-pdr. sb.)

Nita, a wooden sidewheel steamer built in 1856 at Mobile Ala., was captured while carrying food and medicine from Havana toward Mobile by Union blockading schooner De Soto 17 August 1863. Taken to Key West, under a prize crew Nita was condemned by a prize court; transferred to the Navy 10 September 1863; and commissioned 8 January 1864, Aetg. Vol. Lt. Robert B. Smith in command.

Assigned to the East Gulf Blockading Squadron, Nita patrolled the west coast of Florida for the remainder of the (,ivil War, operating primarily between the mouth of the Suwanee River and the Anelote Keys. On the morning of 24 February, Lt. Smith, alerted by Union intelligence agents in Cuba, epotted steamer Nan-Nan, laden with cotton, attempting to slip to sea through the east pass of the Suwanee River. Nita at once gave chase. Twiee she ran aground in the shallow coastal waters, but forced Nan Nan to throw her cotton over board in attempting to escape. The blockade runner then stranded on the beach where her crew burned her to prevent capture.

Boats from Nita took her next prize, schooner Three Brothera, 11 April, at the mouth of the Homosassa River after a chase of three hours. The schooner had been attempting to slip into the river laden with supplies from Havana. Nita took her final ship on the morning of 24 October when two of her boats boarded abandoned and burning schooner Unknown off Clearwater Harbor. They promptly put out the fire and sent the prize to Key West for adjudication.

On 12 November Nita and Herulriek Hudeon steamed to Tampa Bay on a reconnaissance mission and landed a party to destroy Confederate salt works near Roeky Point, Fla. However, the sailors were driven back by Southern cavalry. Early on 3 December, Nita and four other Union ships returned and destroyed the salt works.

The effieieney of the Union Navy throughout the war made prizes searee during the eonfliet's final months. Nita continued patrolling along the coast until she decommissioned at Key West 3 May 1865, and was sold at public auction the same day.