USS Whitehead (1861)

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 October 17, 1861 at New York City from D. B. Martin, and commissioned on November 19, 1861, Acting Master Charles A. French in command.

The following day, "Whitehead" reached Hampton Roads and joined the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. She sailed for the North Carolina coast on December 28, 1861 and arrived at Hatteras Inlet on January 4, 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 February 7-February 8, she helped to capture Roanoke Island. On February 10, "Whitehead" took schooner "M. C. Etheridge" on the Pasquotank River. On April 10, she made prizes of schooners "Comet" and "J. J. Crittendon" and of sloop "America" in Newbegun Creek. Together with USS|John L. Lockwood, USS|General Putnam, and USS|Shawsheen, "Whitehead" blocked the mouth of the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal with fill on April 23-April 24. She captured schooner "Eugenia" in Bennett's Creek on May 20 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 October 3, USS|Commodore Perry, USS|Hunchback and "Whitehead" entered the Blackwater River and fired on Rebel troops for over six hours before a barricade placed across the channel necessitated retreat.

"Whitehead" soon returned to Pamlico Sound but was ordered north on November 16, 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.

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 March 31 to April 16. On July 6-July 7, "Whitehead", "Commodore Perry", USS|Southfield and USS|Valley City bombarded and occupied Williamston, North Carolina. "Whitehead" captured several prisoners during an expedition up the Pasquotank River on August 14, 1863 and destroyed a Confederate corn mill on the Roanoke River on February 22, 1864. On March 1-March 2, 1864, "Whitehead" and "Southfield" sailed up the Chowan River and freed USS "Bombshell" from her encirclement by Confederate shore batteries.

"Whitehead" encountered the formidable Confederate ram CSS "Albemarle" on three occasions. In the early morning hours of April 19, 1864, USS|Ceres, USS "Miami", "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 May 5, 1864. This three-hour battle was inconclusive, and the ram withdrew up the Roanoke. "Whitehead" battled "Albemarle" a third time on May 24, 1864. A shell from "Whitehead" exploded near the ram's stern and caused the dreaded Confederate warship to withdraw.

"Whitehead" resumed routine patrol and reconnaissance duty soon after this. On July 12, 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 July 28, 1864, capturing steamer "Arrow" and a large quantity of cotton and tobacco on July 29 at Gatesville, North Carolina. "Whitehead" proceeded to the Norfolk Navy Yard for repairs on August 20, 1864. She completed these in time for her to participate in the recapture of Plymouth on October 31, 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 June 29, 1865 and was sold at public auction there on August 10, 1865. Re-documented as "Nevada" on October 7, 1865, the steamer remained in mercantile service until she was destroyed by fire on September 1, 1872 at New London, Connecticut.

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