USS ''Whitehead'', a screw steamer built in 1861 at New Brunswick, New Jersey, served as a

gunboat A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies. History Pre-ste ...

in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

. ''Whitehead'' was purchased by the Navy on 17 October 1861 at

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

from D. B. Martin, and commissioned on 19 November 1861, Acting Master Charles A. French in command.

Service history

North Carolina blockade, 1862

The following day, ''Whitehead'' reached Hampton Roads and joined the

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron The Union blockade in the American Civil War was a naval strategy by the United States to prevent the Confederacy from trading. The blockade was proclaimed by President Abraham Lincoln in April 1861, and required the monitoring of of Atlantic ...

. She sailed for the

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...

coast on 28 December 1861 and arrived at

Hatteras Inlet Hatteras Inlet is an estuary in North Carolina, located along the Outer Banks, separating Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island. It connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pamlico Sound. Hatteras Inlet is located entirely within Hyde County. History ...

on 4 January 1862. During the next few months, the steamer ''Whitehead'' carried out extensive operations against

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

vessels and shore installations in the sounds and rivers of North Carolina. On 7–8 February, she helped to capture Roanoke Island. On 10 February, ''Whitehead'' took schooner ''M. C. Etheridge'' on the

Pasquotank River The Pasquotank River
, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the

Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal The Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal was built by a corporation in 1856-1860 to afford inland navigation between the Chesapeake Bay and the Albemarle Sound. It is really two canals, thirty miles (50 km) apart, one eight and one-half miles (13. ...

with fill on 23–24 April. She captured schooner ''Eugenia'' in Bennett's Creek on 20 May and took ''Ella D'' off Keel's Creek two days later. Late in September, ''Whitehead'' briefly left North Carolina waters to participate in a Federal assault upon Confederate forces gathered at

Franklin, Virginia Franklin is the southwesternmost independent city in Hampton Roads, Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,180. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Franklin with Southampton County for statisti ...

. On 3 October, , and ''Whitehead'' entered the

Blackwater River A blackwater river is a type of river with a slow-moving channel flowing through forested swamps or wetlands. As vegetation decays, tannins leach into the water, making a transparent, acidic water that is darkly stained, resembling black tea ...

and fired on Rebel troops for over six hours before a barricade placed across the channel necessitated retreat. One of ''Whitehead'' sailors, Ordinary Seaman Edwin Smith, was awarded the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...

for his actions during this engagement. ''Whitehead'' soon returned to

Pamlico Sound Pamlico Sound ( ) is a lagoon in North Carolina which is the largest lagoon along the North American East Coast, extending long and 15 to 20 miles (24 to 32 km) wide. It is part of a large, interconnected network of lagoon estuaries that i ...

but was ordered north on 16 November 1862 for repairs at the

Washington Navy Yard The Washington Navy Yard (WNY) is the former shipyard and Weapon, ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast, Washington, D.C., Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy. The Yard currently serv ...

. At this time, 3-inch iron plate was placed over her guns and around her pilot house. Back in fighting trim, ''Whitehead'' returned to North Carolina late in December 1862.

River campaign, 1863

Her first noteworthy action came early in the spring of 1863 when she helped to lift the Confederate siege of

Washington, North Carolina Washington is a city in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States, located on the northern bank of the Pamlico River. The population was 9,744 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Beaufort County. It is commonly known as "Original W ...

, which lasted from 31 March to 16 April. On 6–7 July, ''Whitehead'', ''Commodore Perry'', and bombarded and occupied

Williamston, North Carolina Williamston is a town in Martin County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,511 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Martin County and is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region. The closest major city is Greenvill ...

. ''Whitehead'' captured several prisoners during an expedition up the

Pasquotank River The Pasquotank River
, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the

Chowan River The Chowan River (cho-WAHHN)
, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the

USS ''Bombshell'' from her encirclement by Confederate shore batteries.

CSS ''Albemarle'', 1864

''Whitehead'' encountered the formidable Confederate ram CSS ''Albemarle'' on three occasions. In the early morning hours of 19 April 1864, , , ''Southfield'' and ''Whitehead'' engaged the ram in the Roanoke River. All received damage, and ''Southfield'' was sunk. Darkness prevented ''Whitehead'' from returning ''Albemarle''s fire. As a result of this costly Union naval defeat,

Plymouth, North Carolina Plymouth is the largest town in Washington County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,878 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Washington County. Plymouth is located on the Roanoke River about seven miles (11 km) upr ...

fell to Confederate troops the next day. Union vessels, including ''Whitehead'', again fought ''Albemarle'' on 5 May 1864. This three-hour

Battle of Albemarle Sound The Battle of Albemarle Sound was an inconclusive naval battle fought in May 1864 along the coast of North Carolina during the American Civil War. Three Confederate warships, including an ironclad, engaged eight Union gunboats. The action end ...

was inconclusive, and the ram withdrew up the Roanoke. ''Whitehead'' battled ''Albemarle'' a third time on 24 May 1864. A shell from ''Whitehead'' exploded near the ram's stern and caused the dreaded Confederate warship to withdraw.

Continuing the blockade, 1864–1865

''Whitehead'' resumed routine patrol and reconnaissance duty soon after this. On 12 July 1864, she ascended the Scuppernong River to

Columbia, North Carolina Columbia is a town in Tyrrell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 891 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Tyrrell County. Geography The Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula is located in northeastern North Carolina, insho ...

, and burned a bridge used to transport supplies to Southern troops at Plymouth. ''Whitehead'' and steamers ''Thomas Colyer'' and ''Massasoit'' joined in an expedition up the Chowan River on 28 July 1864, capturing steamer ''Arrow'' and a large quantity of cotton and tobacco on 29 July at

Gatesville, North Carolina Gatesville is a town in Gates County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 321 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Gates County. History The area which presently encompasses Gatesville was originally known as Bennetts Creek ...

. ''Whitehead'' proceeded to the

Norfolk Navy Yard The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard and abbreviated as NNSY, is a U.S. Navy facility in Portsmouth, Virginia, for building, remodeling and repairing the Navy's ships. It is the oldest and largest industrial facility tha ...

for repairs on 20 August 1864. She completed these in time for her to participate in the recapture of Plymouth on 31 October 1864. For the closing months of the Civil War, ''Whitehead'', but for occasional runs to Norfolk, Virginia for supplies, patrolled the inland waters of North Carolina. She was decommissioned at the

Philadelphia Navy Yard The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard was an important naval shipyard of the United States for almost two centuries. Philadelphia's original navy yard, begun in 1776 on Front Street and Federal Street in what is now the Pennsport section of the ci ...

on 29 June 1865 and was sold at public auction there on 10 August 1865. Re-documented as ''Nevada'' on 7 October 1865, the steamer remained in mercantile service until she was destroyed by fire on 1 September 1872 at

New London, Connecticut New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States, located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut. It was one of the world's three busiest whaling ports for several decade ...

References