USS Hetzel ( 1861 ) USS " Hetzel " ( 1861 ) was a steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War . She was used by the Navy to patrol navigable waterways of the Confederacy to prevent the South from trading with other countries . " Hetzel " , a sidewheel steamer , was built in 1861 at Baltimore , Maryland , for the U . S . Coast Survey and was transferred to the Navy Department 21 August 1861 . Her first commanding officer was Lt . H . K . Davenport . Assigned to the North Atlantic Blockade . " Hetzel " was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron , and arrived Newport News , Virginia , 18 November 1861 . Her first taste of action came 2 December , when Confederate steamer " Patrick Henry " stood out into Hampton Roads and engaged several Union gunboats , including " Hetzel " . The Federal ships succeeded in damaging " Patrick Henry " in a 2 - hour engagement . North Carolina operations . The ship was next sent to the coast of North Carolina to participate in a series of successful moves by joint forces in that area . Arriving 4 January 1862 off Hatteras Inlet , " Hetzel " got underway with the fleet 5 February for the joint amphibious assault on Roanoke Island . She took part in the initial bombardment of the Confederate works 7 February , and , after the landing of troops under cover of naval guns , helped to consolidate the Union victory next day . Commander Rowan ' s forces quickly capitalized on their important victory by pursuing the retreating Confederate squadron up the Pasquotank River . At Elizabeth City , North Carolina , " Hetzel " and the other ships engaged Confederate batteries and destroyed or captured five Southern gunboats 10 February as Union forces strengthened their hold on the sounds of North Carolina . As the joint operations in North Carolina continued . " Hetzel " took part in the attack on New Bern , 13 and 14 March 1862 . Getting underway and steaming up the Neuse River at night , the gunboats under Commander Rowan supported the landings by Army and Marines at the town , passed obstructions in the river , and carried troops for the occupation . This combined operation behind the big guns of the Navy captured the key depot at New Bern with a veritable arsenal of supplies . " Hetzel " was assigned to the sounds of North Carolina following this victory , and spent much of the rest of the war on blockading duty in that area . She participated in an expedition to Hamilton , North Carolina , and Williamston , North Carolina , 2 – 9 November 1862 to look for ironclads rumored to be building by Confederates in the area , but found none . In March 1863 the ship assisted in the defense of Fort Anderson , opposite New Bern , when it was threatened by Confederate troops . They attacked 13 – 14 March and the accurate fire of " Hetzel " , " Hunchback " and other gunboats was credited with saving the fortification from capture . End - of - war operations . " Hetzel " was active in the sounds of North Carolina , at New Berne and Washington , until November 1864 . She acted during this time as command ship for the area , as her commander was senior officer of the sounds . During the course of the war she shared in the capture of five steamers , six schooners , and one sloop , as Union blockaders effectively shut off the Confederacy from outside trade . " Hetzel " returned to Hampton Roads in November 1864 for much - needed repairs , sailing for North Carolina and her former blockading station again 29 May 1865 . " Hetzel " returned to the U . S . Coast Survey . She finally returned north in October 1865 and was returned to the Coast Survey during that month .