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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Whitehead

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal

Screw Gunboat:

A screw steamer built in 1861 at New Brunswick, N.J

Purchased by the Navy, 17 October 1861, at New York City from D. B. Martin

Commissioned USS Whitehead, 19 November 1861, Acting Master Charles A. French in command

During the Civil War USS Whitehead was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron in the sounds and rivers of North Carolina

Participated in the capture of Roanoke Island, 7 and 8 February 1862

Took as prizes schooners Comet and J.J. Crittendon, and schooner America 10 April, Schooner Eugenia, 20 May and schooner Ella D, 22 May 1862

Participated in the attack at Franklin, 3 October on the Blackwater River

Participated in lifting the Confederate siege of Washington N. C., 31 Mary to 16 April 1863

Participated in the bombardment and occupation Williamston, N.C., 6 and 7 July

Destroyed a Confederate corn mill on the Roanoke River, 22 February 1864

Participated in the battles with the Confederate ram CSS Albemarle in April and May 1864 on the Roanoke River

Captured steamer Arrow, 28 July 1864, at Gatesville, N.C.

Participated in the recapture of Plymouth, N.C., 31 October 1864

Decommissioned, 29 June 1865, at Philadelphia Navy Yard

Sold at public auction, 10 August 1865

Re-documented as SS Nevada, 7 October 1865, for mercantile service

Final Disposition, destroyed by fire, 1September 1872, at New London, CT.

Specifications:
Displacement 136 t.
Length 93' 1 ½"
Beam 19' 9"
Depth unknown
Draft 8'
Speed 8 kts
Complement unknown

Armament

one 30-pdr Parrott rifle

Propulsion steam

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Source
098653601	77k	Sketch by artist Alfred R. Waud, 1828-1891, of broadside views of USS Whitehead, *Cohasset, and USS Young America, circa 1860s Library of Congress - Morgan collection of Civil War drawings Digital Id ppmsca 20424 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.20424*		John Spivey
	91k	19th Century photograph of a painting by Acting Second Engineer Alexander C. Stuart, USN, 1864. Depicting USS Commodore Hull (at left) leading the "Double-Ender" gunboats USS Tacony, USS Shamrock, USS Otsego and USS Wyalusing in engaging Confederate batteries at Plymouth, North Carolina, 31 October 1864. Small vessels lashed to the gunboats' unengaged sides include USS Whitehead (beside *Tacony), Bazely* (beside *Shamrock) and USS Belle* (beside *Otsego). US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 58943* from the collection of Surgeon H.P. Babcock, USN. Donated by his son, George R. Babcock, 1939.		Bill Gonyo

USS Whitehead
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 18 November 2022