The Aquila (listed in some sources as Aquilla) was a wooden steamboat with a capacity of 59 tons. It was first enrolled in 1856 under ownership of Morgan L. Martin. Martin was a politician and land spectator who was very involved in the early development of the Fox-Wisconsin waterway. He reported that the Aquila was the first steamboat to pass through the continuous water route from the Mississippi River to Green Bay. It was captained by Captain John Nixon during the trip in June of 1856. Martin, with co-owners Albert G. Allen, and Hiram Barney, sold the Aquila in November of 1858 to William B. Ogden. Charles Green of Green Bay later bought the boat in Pittsburgh; he brought it down the Ohio River and up the Mississippi River to the mouth of the Wisconsin River, where it proceeded across Wisconsin on the same waterway. Later, the Aquila and the Pioneer, both owned in Green Bay, made regular trips between Green Bay and Fond du Lac.
The Aquila's machinery was reportedly removed in 1860 to be placed in a newly built steamer. The location and condition of the rest of the vessel has not been identified.
Under the ownership of William B. Ogden of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, it was planned to take the machinery out of the Aquila and remodel the hull into a barge. However, in the spring of 1859, an R. Schettler was advertising for sale of the boat, along with two other vessels Ajax and Buffalo. By April 1860, the Green Bay Advocate reported the Aquila as lying at-dock in Depere, Wisconsin, where it was having its machinery removed to be placed in the steamer Elwood.