CSS Fanny CSS " Fanny " was a small propellor - driven steamer used by the Confederate Navy to defend the sounds of northeastern North Carolina . Originally operated by the Union , she was captured early in the war by the Confederate Navy , and later lost at the battle for Elizabeth City . " Fanny " is sometimes credited with being the first self - propelled aircraft carrier . Union Service . The " Fanny " was originally operated by the United States Army Quartermaster Corps . On August 3 , 1861 , while on the James River , ballonist John La Mountain made an ascent from the deck of the " Fanny " to observe Confederate positions , making the " Fanny " a balloon carrier . Previous water - launched balloon flights had taken place on barges . Capture & Confederate Service . After the Federals captured Hatteras Inlet the " Fanny " was used to supply a Union army outpost at Chicamacomico , an Outer Banks settlement north of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse . While at anchor there it was surprised by a Confederate gunboat squadron on 1 October 1861 . This squadron consisted of the CSS " Curlew " , CSS " Raleigh " , and CSS " Youngalaska " . The " Curlew " closed first while the other two gunboats circled around to cut off any escape attempt . After a brisk half - hour engagement the " Fanny " was run aground and surrendered . A large quantity of commissary and quartermaster ' s stores was captured with the steamer . Also captured were members of Twentieth Indiana and the New York Zouaves . However , the " Fanny ' s " captain , J . H . Morrison , and his crew escaped , having essentially abandoned ship once the Confederate steamers approached . Refloated and taken into the Confederate Navy , it was placed in command of Midshipman J . L . Tayloe , CSN . Chicamacomico Incident . Four days later the " Fanny " participated in a relatively large Confederate naval and army effort to 1 ) encircle and attack the Union encampent at Chicamacomico , 2 ) take and destroy the Cape Hatteras lighthouse , and 3 ) attempt to recapture the forts at Hatteras Inlet . The initial landing effort was successful , and the Union encampment at Chicamacomico was abandoned . However , the encirclement effort failed , and the Union troops were able to retreat back to the Hatteras Lighthouse . The next day Union reinforcements came up from Hatteras Inlet and chased the Confederate troops back to their transports . Both sides then retreated back to their base camps , the Union troops to Hatteras Inlet and the Confederate troops to Roanoke Island . Battles at Roanoke Island and Elizabeth City . The " Fanny " spent the next four months patrolling Pamlico Sound , reconnoitering Hatteras Inlet , and towing supply schooners to Roanoke Island . On 7 - 8 of February 1862 the " Fanny " engaged the Union invasion force in the battle of Roanoke Island . The " Fanny " eventually retreated to Elizabeth City with the other surviving members of its gunboat squadron when ammunition supplies ran low . On February 10 the " Fanny " and the other gunboats were attacked by Federal gunboats advancing from Roanoke Island . In the ensuing battle it was run aground and blown up by her captain who escaped with his crew to shore .