"Whitehall" saw her final action on 8 and 9 March 1862 against the Confederate ironclad CSS "Virginia", the former "Merrimack". On 8 March, federal gunboats, including "Whitehall", attempted to draw the Rebel vessel away from Union warships anchored off Newport News, Virginia. Failing this, "Whitehall" engaged Confederate steamers "Yorktown" and CSS "Jamestown", inflicting minor damage. During the Battle of the "Monitor" and "Merrimack" on 9 March 1862, "Whitehall" and the rest of the Union fleet abstained from direct battle, preferring to fire long-range, ineffective shots at "Virginia". "Whitehall" suffered three casualties and had parts of her upperworks burned by Confederate shot during the two days of activity.