USS Naugatuck, a 192-ton twin screw steamer built at New York City in 1844, was converted to a gunboat early in the Civil War by Edwin A. Stevens to demonstrate the merits of his ongoing "Stevens Battery" project. Turned over to the Treasury Department and taken into the Revenue Cutter Service, she was loaned to the Navy in the spring of 1862.

Naugatuck played an active role in operations in the vicinity of Hampton Roads, Virginia, both to counter local Confederate Navy forces and to support the Union Army's Peninsular Campaign. She engaged enemy ships and shore batteries on a number of occasions. During the 15 May 1862 battle at Drewry's Bluff, on the James River, her single large rifled gun blew up, effectively disarming her, and Naugatuck was returned to the Revenue Cutter Service shortly afterwards. She continued in use as the USRC E.A. Stevens until sold in 1890 and was afterwards the merchant vessel Argus.