Alexandra, a bark-rigged screw steamer, was built at Liverpool, England, with the intention of using her as a Confederate Navy cruiser. Launched in March 1863, she was seized by the British Government the following month, while fitting out. Her status remained in litigation for a year. Released in 1864, she was renamed Mary, reputedly for use as a merchant vessel. Under her new name, she crossed the Atlantic, stopping in Nova Scotia, Bermuda and Nassau, Bahamas. Mary was again seized at the latter port in December 1864 and held until May 1865, by which time the American Civil War had ended.