USS Tacony ( 1863 ) USS " Tacony " ( 1863 ) was a double - ended , side - wheel steamboat acquired by the Union Navy during the third year of the American Civil War . She was outfitted as a heavy gunboat with powerful guns and used in the Union blockade of the waterways of the Confederate States of America . Built in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . Built by the Philadelphia Navy Yard , " Tacony " – the first ship to be so - named by the U . S . Navy – was launched on 7 May 1863 ; sponsored by Miss Ellie M . Wells , daughter of Lieutenant Commander Clark H . Wells , the captain of the yard at Philadelphia ; and commissioned there on 12 February 1864 , Lt . Comdr . William T . Truxtun in command . Civil War operations . Assigned to the East Gulf blockade . The double - ender was assigned to the East Gulf Blockading Squadron and sailed south from Philadelphia , Pennsylvania soon thereafter , bound for Key West , Florida . She reached Newport News , Virginia , on the 15th and entered the Norfolk Navy Yard for repairs to her steering machinery . While the steamer was undergoing this yard work , a dispatch arrived reassigning her to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron . Reassigned to the North Atlantic blockade . She departed Hampton Roads before dawn on the morning of 27 February , bound for the North Carolina sounds to strengthen Union forces afloat in those dangerous waters against the attacks by the Confederate ironclad ram " Albemarle " , then reportedly nearing completion up the Roanoke River . But for a brief run — via Norfolk , Virginia – to Washington , D . C . for repair , she served in the sounds until after the destruction of " Albemarle " on the night of 27 and 28 October . On 31 October 1864 , the ship participated in the capture of Plymouth , North Carolina . Four sailors from the " Tacony " were awarded the Medal of Honor for going ashore and disabling a Confederate artillery gun while under heavy fire during this action . The men were Landsman Henry Brutsche , Landsman Robert Graham , Landsman Michael C . Horgan , and Quarter Gunner James Tallentine . Supporting the attack on Fort Fisher . In December , " Tacony " left the sounds to join the force Rear Admiral David D . Porter was assembling to destroy the defenses of Wilmington , North Carolina ; and she participated in the abortive attack against Fort Fisher on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day . She was part of the powerful fleet which Porter led back to Fort Fisher in mid - January 1865 , and she supported the effort which finally compelled that valuable Confederate stronghold to surrender on the 15th . She also participated in the attack against Fort Anderson late in the month . The ship continued blockade duty through the collapse of the Confederacy and then sailed north . Post - war service and decommissioning . She was decommissioned at Boston , Massachusetts on 21 June 1865 for repairs . Recommissioned on 16 September 1865 , the ship served — but for another period out of commission undergoing repairs from 21 November 1866 to 12 February 1867 – until 7 October 1867 when she was decommissioned for the final time at Portsmouth , New Hampshire . " Tacony " remained in ordinary until 26 August 1868 when she was sold . No trace of her subsequent career has been found .