Assigned with his "Wyalusing" shipmates to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Crawford and his fellow crewmen joined the U.S. Navy's forces which were stationed in Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, beginning on April 29, 1864. On May 5, the Wyalusing first engaged the "Albemarle", a Confederate States Navy warship which had previously rammed two Union Navy ships and caused havoc for federal land and sea forces along the Roanoke River. As the Union Navy gunboats "Mattabesset", "Sassacus", "Whitehead", and "Wyalusing" formed a line of battle that afternoon, they were supported by the "Miami", "Ceres" and "Commodore Hull". When the "Albemarle" appeared, the "Mattabesset", "Whitehead" and "Wyalusing" immediately opened fire. The "Wyalusing" then rounded the "Albemarle", but kept its distance from 150 yards away as it repositioned itself to attack the Confederate Navy's "Bombshell". When the "Wyalusing's" crew realized that the "Bombshell" had already surrendered, they renewed their attack on the "Albemarle". Although the fight was an intense one, it was brought to a close by darkness, enabling the "Albemarle" to escape along the Roanoke River. The "Wyalusing's" crew then resumed their blockate duties in North Carolina's Albemarle Sound region.