- USS Lancaster (1858)
The first USS "Lancaster" was a screw
sloop-of-war in theUnited States Navy during theAmerican Civil War through theSpanish-American War .The first "Lancaster" was laid down by the
Philadelphia Navy Yard in December 1857; launched20 October 1858 ; sponsored by MissHarriet Lane , niece and official hostess of PresidentJames Buchanan ; and commissioned12 May 1859 , Captain John Rudd in command.1859 – 1867
The new screw sloop-of-war departed
Delaware Bay 27 July 1859 for thePacific . After roundingCape Horn she reachedPanama Bay 6 December . Two days later,Flag Officer John B. Montgomery hoisted his flag above "Lancaster", and she served asflagship of thePacific Squadron until 1866, cruising along the coast of South andCentral America ,Mexico , andCalifornia to protect American commerce and the Pacific mail steamers. On23 February Rear Admiral Charles H. Bell reported an incident which typified her service during the Civil War: "Such is the present state of affairs atAcapulco , that it is believed by both native and foreign populations that the presence of man-of-war alone prevented an attempt to sack and destroy the town by the Indians in the interior, encouraged by governor, General Alvarez..." Far from the main theaters of the Civil War, a U.S. naval vessel was carrying out the traditional mission of protecting U.S. interests and keeping the peace.On
11 November 1864 , a secret expedition of boats from the ship captured a party of Confederate officers in passenger steamer "Salvador", outside theBay of Panama . They had planned to seize "Salvador" for the Confederate Government and convert her into a raider to capture Union gold shipments fromCalifornia .In the spring of 1866, "Lancaster" received extensive repairs at the
Mare Island Navy Yard and on27 June sailed fromSan Francisco, California for the east coast, viaPanama Bay ,Callao ,Valparaíso ,Barbados , and Nassau. She arrivedNorfolk Navy Yard 8 March 1867 and decommissioned on the 19th.1869 – 1889
Recommissioned
26 August 1869 , "Lancaster" sailed for the South Atlantic viaFunchal, Madeira . She arrived atRio de Janeiro 6 January 1870 and served asflagship of the squadron until 1875. From January to May 1874, she took part in fleet drills in the North Atlantic and was in the force concentrated atKey West lest war withSpain break out over the "Virginius affair ". Spanish officials atSantiago de Cuba had seized American filibustering steamer "Virginius" and executed a part of her crew. After diplomatic efforts resolved the controversy peacefully, "Lancaster" returned to the South Atlantic until she departed Rio de Janeiro21 May 1875 for home, arriving atPortsmouth, New Hampshire ,12 July . The ship decommissioned31 July 1875 , and laid up for repairs at thePortsmouth Navy Yard ."Lancaster" recommissioned
26 August 1881 and on12 September sailed from Portsmouth, viaNew York , forEurope . Arrived atGibraltar 9 November , she became flagship of theEuropean Squadron and during the following years cruised extensively in theMediterranean , northern European waters, and on the coast ofAfrica , protecting American citizens and commerce and promoting friendly relations with other countries. From27 June to20 July 1882 the flagship was atAlexandria, Egypt , during a series of riots and was present when the British fleet bombarded the forts11 July . Rear Adm.James W. Nicholson , commanding the U.S. squadron, welcomed on board both American and foreign refugees for protection, and landed a force of 100 men to guard the American consulate and assist in extinguishing fires, in burying the dead, and in preserving order. Rear Adm. Charles H. Baldwin relieved Rear Adm. Nicholson of command of the squadron10 March 1883 . Acting under instructions from the Navy Department, Admiral Baldwin proceeded in "Lancaster" toKronstadt, Russia , and on27 May he and his staff attended the coronation of Tzar Alexander III atMoscow .Early in 1885 "Lancaster" cruised down the west coast of Africa and arrived in the
Congo River 28 April en route toBrazil . She arrived Rio de Janeiro1 July and served as flagship of the squadron until 1888, cruising along the coasts of South America and Africa conducting squadron drills and exercises."Lancaster" sailed
18 January 1888 fromMontevideo for Europe arrivingGibraltar 6 April . As flagship of the European Squadron she cruised in the Mediterranean until she departed Gibraltar2 July 1889 and returned to the United States viaFunchal, Madeira , arriving at New York8 August . She decommissioned at theNew York Navy Yard 7 September 1889 and was towed to the Portsmouth yard for repairs.1891 – 1897
Recommissioned
19 March 1891 , "Lancaster" proceeded to New York where Rear Adm.David B. Harmony broke his flag in her23 June . She departed New York13 July en route to the Far East via Madeira,Cape Town , andSingapore . She arrived atHong Kong 4 January 1892 and served as flagship of theAsiatic Squadron until 1894, cruising extensively on the coast of China and in Japanese waters. She sailed fromHong Kong 15 February 1894 for the United States, via theSuez Canal , and arrived at New York8 June . The ship decommissioned at the New York Navy Yard on30 June 1894 ."Lancaster" recommissioned
12 September 1895 and was ordered to theSouth Atlantic Squadron . On22 October she proceeded toNewport, Rhode Island , and on4 November stood out for the South Atlantic, viaMadeira and theCape Verde Islands . The ship arrived atMontevideo, Uruguay ,13 February 1896 . She operated on the coast of South America until the following year, based at Montevideo, and serving part time as flagship of the squadron. On5 September 1897 she sailed from base for the United States, arrivedBoston 18 November , and decommissioned there31 December 1897 .1898 – 1915
After the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, "Lancaster" recommissioned
5 May 1898 , sailed on the 19th, and arrived on the 31st atKey West, Florida , where she served as station ship during the conflict. Departing Key West18 August the ship arrived at Portsmouth3 September . Assigned to duty as a gunnery training ship, "Lancaster" departed Portsmouth8 January 1899 and cruised along the Atlantic coast and in theWest Indies . From3 June 1900 to4 March 1901 she made a cruise to European waters, returning to the United States via the West Indies andLa Guaira, Venezuela . She continued cruising the Atlantic training landsmen until she decommissioned at thePhiladelphia Navy Yard 1 May 1902 . "Lancaster" served as receiving ship at the Philadelphia Navy Yard,16 November 1903 to31 March 1912 , and was transferred to the Treasury Department's Bureau ofPublic Health Service , on1 February 1913 . Her name was stricken from the Navy list on31 December 1915 ."Lancaster" served the
U.S. Public Health Service as a quarantine detention ship atReedy Island, Delaware , Quarantine Station until 1920, then was transferred to the New York Quarantine Station for similar use. Her hulk was broken in 1933.References
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l3/lancaster-i.htm
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