USS Governor Buckingham The USS " Governor Buckingham " was a hermaphrodite brig in the United States Navy during the American Civil War . The ship was built under contract by Messrs Maxon Fish & Co . , Mystic , Conn . , and was offered for sale to the Navy while on the ways ; purchased at Stonington , Connecticut , 29 July 1863 by Isaac Henderson for $ 110 , 000 ; delivered at New York Navy Yard 30 September 1863 ; and commissioned 13 November 1863 , Acting Volunteer Lt . W . G . Saltonstall in command . She was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron , with instructions to report at Hampton Roads to Acting Rear Admiral S . P . Lee . The ship was probably named for the Governor of Connecticut , William Alfred Buckingham . Service . On 20 November 1863 she stood out to sea , arriving off Fortress Monroe on the 23d , thence to Norfolk Navy Yard . She departed Hampton Roads 5 December to join the Fleet off Wilmington , North Carolina , for active blockading duty . The crew of the " Governor Buckingham " rapidly gained experience with the problem of tracking blockade runners . On 20 December with the assistance of " Aries " she captured the notorious blockade runner " Antonica " of Nassau , which ran ashore . " Antonica " s captain and crew attempted to get away in two small boats ; but when fired upon they gave themselves up , and the 26 men were taken aboard as prisoners . After boarding and taking possession of the prize in early morning of 21 December , " Aries " and the tug " Violet " sent out boats to assist , without success , as the tide had left her fast . On 3 January 1864 , " Governor Buckingham " was with the flagship " Fahkee " when the blockade runner " Bendigo " ran aground during the chase ; after efforts at salvage failed on 11 January " Bendigo " was destroyed . That same day the British blockade runner " Ranger " was discovered after landing her passengers from Bermuda at Merrill ' s Inlet , 5 miles NE . She was intercepted by " Minnesota " , " Governor Buckingham " , " Daylight " , and " Aries " when she approached the Western Bar , and was beached and fired by her crew . Attempts by the squadron to extinguish the fire and haul her off were frustrated by Confederate sharpshooters , whose fire completely commanded her decks . Later " Governor Buckingham " proceeded to Norfolk Navy Yard , for overhaul . She sailed from Hampton Roads on 3 July 1864 to return to blockade duty off Wilmington , and soon after was attached to the 1st Division off New Inlet . From 11 to 25 September she was at Beaufort , S . O . , then back on her old station , she chased a blockade runner ashore on 25 September , firing five shots , three of which took effect as the target drove high and dry on the beach . One of the crew was killed , three wounded , and the steamer sent the surgeon and steward to their relief . Next day the blockade runner was set afire , but 20 bales of cotton , part of her cargo , were salvaged . On 30 September 1864 " Governor Buckingham " took part off Fort Fisher in the destruction of the British - based blockade runner " Black Hawk " . Having been damaged in several accidental collisions , she entered Norfolk Navy Yard for drydocking on 27 October , and returned off New Inlet on 3 December . Later that month she took part in the first engagement of the Fleet against Fort Fisher , renewing the engagement for 2 days ; then her boats were sent in to reembark troops . The second attack upon Fort Fisher ( 13 to 16 January 1865 ) resulted in its capture . On 13 January " Governor Buckingham " was stationed off Half Moon Battery , assisting troops from the transports to land ; she also landed provisions , ammunition and entrenching tools . After the battle on 16 – 17 January she was employed in carrying the wounded to the transports . On several occasions , in obedience to orders , she shelled the woods near Half Moon Battery . She remained in the area of Fort Fisher through January , dispersing bands of Confederate troops , and on the 19th shelled them out of entrenchments near the beach , allowing Union forces to advance and capture a number of prisoners . On 4 February " Governor Buckingham " stood out to sea , arriving Norfolk Navy Yard on the 8th . As her boilers and machinery were out of repair , she was decommissioned 27 March and on 12 July 1865 was sold at public auction at California .