The first USS Weehawken was a ironclad monitor in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She was named after Weehawken, New Jersey. History Weehawken was launched on 5 November 1862 at Jersey City, New Jersey by Zeno Secor & Company; sponsored by Ms. Nellie Cornstock; and commissioned on 18 January 1863, Captain John Rodgers in command. Weehawken was an improved and enlarged version of . Accompanied by and towed by , she departed New York on 18 January 1863, bound for Port Royal, South Carolina, and duty with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. The three vessels encountered gale-force winds and high seas off the New Jersey coast on 20 January. Iroquois and Boardman headed for sheltered waters; but Rodgers pressed on in Weehawken. The Passaic ironclads differed from the original Monitor in having less deck overhang and a rounded lower hull. This enabled Weehawken – unlike her famous prototype – to ride out a heavy sea with relative ease. Rodgers reported that "the behavior of the vessel was easy, buoyant, and indicative of thorough safety." Weehawken put into Norfolk for minor repairs, leaving on 1 February in tow of screw steamer . She arrived at Port Royal on 5 February, and deployed in the blockade off Charleston, South Carolina. On 7 April, Weehawken led the Union fleet in the first major naval assault against Confederate installations in Charleston harbor. The attack failed miserably, and the fleet withdrew after only 40 minutes. During the action, Weehawken took 59 hits and had a torpedo (naval mine) explode beneath her keel without suffering serious damage. Shortly after the attack, Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren replaced Rear Admiral Samuel Francis DuPont as commander of the squadron. After repairs, Weehawken proceeded to Wassaw Sound, Georgia, on 10 June to block the expected sortie of ironclad . The Confederate ram and two escort steamers showed themselves early on the morning of 17 June. Weehawken and weighed anchor to meet Atlanta which ran hard aground only moments after entering the sound. Weehawken commenced firing at 05:15 and ceased a quarter of an hour later when the Confederate vessel surrendered. With only five shots, Rodgers blew the roof off Atlantas pilothouse and pierced the grounded ram's casemate, putting two gun crews out of action. Capt. Rodgers became a national hero and received commendations from Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, President Abraham Lincoln, and Congress.