▁prepared ▁to ▁res ume ▁the ▁off ensive ▁with ▁a ▁drive ▁through ▁Freder icks burg , ▁Virginia , ▁Sat ellite ▁depart ed ▁Washington ▁and ▁head ed ▁for ▁the ▁R app ah ann ock ▁River ▁to ▁help ▁ass ure ▁the ▁new ▁Northern ▁commander , ▁Major ▁General ▁Am bro se ▁Burn side , ▁control ▁of ▁that ▁river . ▁She ▁remained ▁on ▁the ▁R app ah ann ock ▁after ▁Lee ▁skill fully ▁par ried ▁Burn side ' s ▁thrust ▁at ▁Freder icks burg ▁in ▁mid - Dec ember . ▁On ▁ 2 ▁January ▁ 1 8 6 3 , ▁Sat ellite ▁and ▁three ▁other ▁Union ▁ships ▁ste amed ▁to ▁the ▁P ian k at ank ▁River ▁seeking ▁a ▁sch oon er ▁which ▁had ▁run ▁through ▁the ▁block ade ▁and ▁entered ▁that ▁stream . ▁However , ▁the ▁Confeder ates ▁learned ▁of ▁the ▁expedition ▁and ▁sc utt led ▁the ▁sch oon er ▁before ▁the ▁Northern ▁gun bo ats ▁could ▁reach ▁her . ▁In ▁mid - J anu ary , ▁Sat ellite ▁returned ▁to ▁the ▁Washington ▁Navy ▁Y ard ▁for ▁rep airs . ▁▁ ▁The ▁following ▁spring , ▁the ▁ship ▁res umed ▁activity ▁on ▁the ▁R app ah ann ock ▁hoping ▁to ▁support ▁the ▁Union ▁Army ' s ▁new ▁off ensive ; ▁but ▁again ▁Lee ▁ad roit ly ▁best ed ▁the ▁Northern ▁commander , ▁now ▁General ▁Joseph ▁Hook er , ▁and ▁won ▁an ▁all - but - de cis ive ▁victory ▁at ▁Chan cell ors ville . ▁Nevertheless , ▁Sat ellite ▁continued ▁to ▁operate ▁on ▁the ▁R app ah ann