- USS Gloucester (1891)
USS "Gloucester" was a
gunboat in theUnited States Navy . FormerlyJ. P. Morgan 's yacht "Corsair", "Gloucester" was built in1891 byNeafie & Levy inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania and acquired by the Navy on23 April 1898 . "Gloucester" was commissioned16 May 1898, withLieutenant Commander Richard Wainwright in command."Gloucester" served in
Cuba n waters in 1898 with theNorth Atlantic Fleet , Blockading Station. She participated in theBattle of Santiago de Cuba 3 July 1898 against Cervera's fleet. The victory came with no casualties, which was attributed to "The accuracy and rapidity of her fire, making the proper service of the guns on the Spanish ships impossible."On
25 July 1898, she entered the harbor before the fleet atGuánica, Puerto Rico , and captured the place for theUS Army in what is known as thePuerto Rican Campaign . The handling and fighting of "Gloucester" merited the commendation of the Navy Department. As the Army was anxious to transfer the place of disembarkation to the harbor of Ponce, the Fleet was directed to proceed to Ponce to reconnoiter; capture all lighters found there; and occupy such positions necessary for holding the port until the arrival of the Army. On1 August 1898, with assistance of USS "Wasp", "Gloucester" took possession of Arroyo, and hoisting the US flag, Wainwright held it until arrival of the Army, a day later.Subsequently "Gloucester" cruised along the Eastern seaboard fromNew York toProvincetown in the fall of 1898, and from1899 to1902 served as a schoolship atAnnapolis, Maryland . Recommissioned atNorfolk, Virginia 15 November 1902, she served as tender to the Commander in Chief,South Atlantic Squadron , and cruised to ports in theWest Indies and along the east coast ofSouth America .Decommissioned
8 February 1905 , atPensacola, Florida , the ship was on duty with the Massachusetts andNew York Naval Militia s atNew York City until recommissioned7 April 1917 at theBrooklyn Navy Yard ."Gloucester" conducted harbor patrols at New York City until her name was struck from the
Naval Vessel Register 12 August 1919 , and she was sold21 November 1919.References
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