CSS Appomattox CSS " Appomattox " was a small propellor - driven steamer used early in the war by the Confederate Navy to defend the sounds of northeastern North Carolina . After participating in the battle for Roanoke Island it was burned to prevent capture on February 10 , 1862 , near Elizabeth City , North Carolina . Early Service . The " Appomattox " was originally named the " Empire " when launched in Philadelphia in 1850 . Details of her prewar career are unknown . In May 1861 she was chartered by the Virginia State Navy under Captain Milligan , towing blockships into position to obstruct the channels of the Elizabeth River around Norfolk . ( DANFS ) In that same month she twice sailed as a flag - of - truce boat under Captain Thomas T . Hunter of the Virginia Navy to arrange exchanges of wounded Union prisoners and passage north from Norfolk of certain families wishing to return to their Northern friends . In the latter part of June 1861 she again served as the bearer of a flag - of - truce off Fortress Monroe , this time for Brigadier General Huger , CSA . ( ORN 5 : 799ff ) Confederate Service in North Carolina . Renamed " Appomattox " , she was armed with two guns and assigned to the waters along the North Carolina coast under the command of Lt . C . C . Simms , CSN . " Appomattox " was used to patrol Pamlico Sound in late January 1862 . She was also used to obstruct channels in the Croatan Sound area by towing block - ships to strategic points for sinking . ( ORN 6 : 787f ) On February 6 , the eve of Burnside ' s attack , the " Appomattox " was sent down Croatan Sound to reconnoiter the invasion force . Burnside allowed her to do this unhindered , because he wished for the Confederates to know what they were up against . ( ORN 6 : 789ff ) The " Appomattox " was one of 8 gunboats used to resist the Burnside Expedition ' s invasion of Roanoke Island on 7 – 8 February 1862 . However , she missed the actual battle , having been sent to Edenton on an unspecified mission . ( Parker 1985 : 247 ) She retreated with the surviving gunboats to Elizabeth City , N . C . On February 9 , the " Appomattox " and the " Sea Bird " steamed back to Roanoke Island to see if any further assistance could be given to the defenders , and to evacuate the garrison at Fort Forrest on Redstone Point . They encountered the Union gunboats advancing up the sound , and immediately fled back to Elizabeth City to organize a defense there . ( ORN 6 : 594ff ) The Confederate gunboats were attacked by the Federal gunboat fleet on February 10 . The " Appomattox " kept up a brisk fire from her bow gun until it was accidentally spiked . She then retreated to the entrance of the Dismal Swamp Canal , using the stern howitzer to fire at pursuers . Upon reaching the first lock it was discovered that her beam was 2 inches too great to let her into the canal . As a result Lieutenant Simms had to destroy the " Appomattox " by setting her on fire . ( Parker 1985 : 254 - 259 ) Rediscovery . On November 10 , 2009 it was announced by the state Underwater Archaeology Branch that the wreck of the " Appomattox " had been found . The four - member diving team , comprising Philip Madre , Eddie Congleton , Jason Forbes , and Jason Madre , discovered the shipwreck in August 2007 in the Pasquotank River . They had been searching for the " Appomattox " for more than 10 years . The divers found a silver - plated spoon inscribed with the name of a crew member from " Appomattox " , thus confirming the ship ' s identity . ( NC Dept Cultural Resources website , 2009 )