USS Severn (1867)

The first USS "Severn" was a wooden screw sloop of war in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She was named for Severn River in Maryland.

"Severn" was laid down as "Masholu" in October 1864 by the New York Navy Yard, was launched on 22 December 1867 and commissioned on 27 August 1869, Commander Reigart B. Lowry in command.

Upon completion in December 1869, "Severn" was assigned to duty as flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron under Rear Admiral Charles H. Poor which then consisted of monitors "Ajax", "Dictator", "Saugus", and "Terror"; steamers "Congress", "Kansas", "Nantasket", "Nipsic", "Severn", "Swatara", "Tuscarora", and "Yantic"; tug "Pilgrim"; and the hospital ship "Pawnee". "Severn" called at Key West in January 1871 before cruising among West Indies ports into the following year. In April, she investigated alleged mistreatment of the United States consul at Santiago de Cuba, subsequently returning to Hampton Roads at the end of July. Departing Hampton Roads for Key West in December, "Severn" returned north to the Boston Navy Yard, decommissioning there on 31 December 1871.

Following repairs, "Severn" was transferred to New London, Connecticut, in 1875. Returning to New York in 1877, "Severn" was sold on 2 March 1877 to John Roach as part of his compensation for repairs made to the monitor "Puritan" and broken up.

References

*DANFS