USS Whitehead USS Whitehead , a screw steamer built in 1861 at New Brunswick , New Jersey , served as a gunboat in the United States Navy during the American Civil War . " Whitehead " was purchased by the Navy on 17 October 1861 at New York City 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 . She sailed for the North Carolina coast on 28 December 1861 and arrived at Hatteras Inlet on 4 January 1862 . During the next few months , the steamer " Whitehead " carried out extensive operations against Confederate 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 . On 10 April , she made prizes of schooners " Comet " and " J . J . Crittendon " and of sloop " America " in Newbegun Creek . Together with the , , and , " Whitehead " blocked the mouth of the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal 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 . On 3 October , , and " Whitehead " entered the Blackwater River and fired on Rebel troops for over six hours before a barricade placed across the channel necessitated retreat . One of " Whitehead " ' s sailors , Ordinary Seaman Edwin Smith , was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during this engagement . " Whitehead " soon returned to Pamlico Sound but was ordered north on 16 November 1862 for repairs at the Washington Navy Yard . 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 , which lasted from 31 March to 16 April . On 6 – 7 July , " Whitehead " , " Commodore Perry " , and bombarded and occupied Williamston , North Carolina . " Whitehead " captured several prisoners during an expedition up the Pasquotank River on 14 August 1863 and destroyed a Confederate corn mill on the Roanoke River on 22 February 1864 . On 1 – 2 March 1864 , " Whitehead " and " Southfield " sailed up the Chowan River and freed 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 fell to Confederate troops the next day . Union vessels , including " Whitehead " , again fought " Albemarle " on 5 May 1864 . This three - hour battle 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 , 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 . " Whitehead " proceeded to the Norfolk Navy Yard 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 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 .