USS Sabine (1855)

The first USS "Sabine" was a sailing frigate built by the United States Navy in 1855. The ship was among the first ships to see action in the American Civil War. In 1862, a large portion of the "Monitor" crew were volunteers from the "Sabine".

She was built at the New York Navy Yard. Her keel was laid in 1822, but she was not launched until 3 February 1855. During this period, she underwent various alterations, the most extensive being a lengthening of her hull by twenty feet. Built essentially from "Brandywine" plans, she was commissioned on 23 August 1858, Capt. Henry A. Adams in command.

Her first cruise took the frigate to Montevideo and Buenos Aires in October 1858 with the Paraguay expedition, a task force commanded by Flag Officer William B. Shubrick, after that country's firing on "Water Witch". She conveyed Commissioner Bowlin and served as flag-ship during the voyage to South America, but was not officially considered part of the expedition fleet, "as she was not designed to act against Paraguay, not being able to ascend the river" [Expenses of the Paraguay Expedition - House of Representatives, 36th Congress, 1st Session, Mis. Doc. No. 86 (May 11, 1860), p. 142] . The expedition won the United States an indemnity, an apology, and a renewed treaty. "Sabine" then operated out of New York with the Home Fleet until July 1861.

Through July and August, she was out of commission at Portsmouth Navy Yard. Recommissioning on 30 August, she was ordered to join the Atlantic Blockading Squadron on 9 September.

During the Civil War, "Sabine" was actively employed along the east coast searching for Confederate raiders. She participated in the relief and reinforcement of Fort Pickens, Florida, in April 1861, under command of Capt. Adams; the rescue of 500 marines and the crew of chartered troop transport "Governor" during a violent storm off South Carolina on 2 and 3 November 1861; the search for "Vermont" in March 1862, after the ship-of-the-line had been badly damaged by a storm while sailing to Port Royal, South Carolina; and the hunt for CSS "Alabama" in October 1862 and CSS "Tacony" in June 1863.

"Sabine" returned to New York for blockade duty with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron until ordered in August 1864 to Norfolk, Virginia as a training ship for Navy apprentices and landsmen. After the war, she was transferred to New London, Connecticut for the same purpose until 1868. During 1869 and 1870, she conducted midshipman training cruises to European and Mediterranean ports. In 1871 "Sabine" was repaired at Boston; and, from 1872 to 1876, she served as a receiving ship at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In 1877, she was laid up until she was sold on 23 September 1883 at Portsmouth to J.L. Snow of Rockland, Maine.

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Article taken from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Department of the Navy, Naval Historical Center.

See USS "Sabine" for other Navy ships of the same name.

"DANFS"