 This operation was primarily a diversionary effort to cover up a projected attack on Fernandina, Florida, but it also provided valuable information about Confederate defenses of the water approaches to Savannah, and it interrupted communications between Fort Pulaski and Savannah.During the latter half of March and all of April 1862, "Isaac Smith" was active in the vicinity of St. Augustine, Florida.She took possession of the post office there on 18 March 1862 and two days later mounted a gun on the ramparts of "[missing word]" in a position to command the main road to the city.