USS Wanderer (1857)

USS "Wanderer" (1857) was a slave trade high speed schooner seized for service with the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a gunboat, a tender, and as a hospital ship in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways.

A tangled commercial ownership of a high speed schooner

"Wanderer" -- a schooner-rigged yacht built in 1857 in the shipyard of Joseph Rowland at Setauket, Long Island, New York, by Thomas B. Hawkins -- was originally owned by Col. John Johnson of New York City and Louisiana.

After a cruise down the Atlantic coast and to the Gulf of Mexico in which she visited Charleston, South Carolina; Brunswick, Georgia; Key West, Florida; and New Orleans, Louisiana, Wanderer returned to New York City where she was soon sold to William C. Corrie of Charleston, South Carolina.

Suspected, in New York City, of being converted into a slave ship

Her new owner had several alterations made to the ship, some of which -- particularly the installation of tanks which could hold 15,000 gallons of fresh water -- suggested that "Wanderer" was being fitted out as a slave ship. As she was attempting to leave New York harbor, she was seized as a suspected slaver on 9 June 1858 by the steam revenue cutter "Harriet Lane" and towed back to Manhattan Island and anchored near the battery.

The next morning, Federal officials inspected the schooner and found that -- while her extremely fast lines and her equipment and provisions would be valuable assets should she enter the "black gold" trade -- there was no conclusive evidence of evil intent on the part of her owner, her master, or crew.

Fully converted into a slave ship at Charleston, South Carolina

The yacht was thus free to clear port, and she sailed for Charleston, South Carolina, where she arrived on 25 June. There, her fitting out as a slave ship was completed before she got underway for [Port of Spain, Trinidad] , on 3 July.

500 captured Africans brought to Jekyll Island for sale

After a pleasant visit, she left that port on the 27th, crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Africa, and entered the Congo River on 16 September. Braving an epidemic of yellow fever which was then raging in the Congo, she took on board some 500 blacks and sailed for North America on 18 October. She was briefly chased by USS "Vincennes" as she left the mouth of the river but quickly outdistanced her American pursuer. At the end of a six-week voyage in which many of the captives died, "Wanderer" arrived at Jekyll Island on 28 November and delivered her human cargo.

Other voyages to Africa and a mutiny led by the first mate

Word of "Wanderer's" arrival quickly spread, and a great deal of litigation ensued -- both civil and criminal -- but resulted in no convictions. During the next two years, ownership of the vessel changed several times and, on one occasion, the ship was stolen and taken to sea on a piratical and slaving voyage. Near the coast of Africa, the first mate led a mutiny and left the pirate captain at sea in a small boat before bringing the ship back to Boston, Massachusetts, on Christmas Eve 1859 and turning her over to authorities there.

Seized by the Federal Government a week prior to start of war

A week before the outbreak of the Civil War, "Wanderer" arrived in Key West, Florida, from Havana, Cuba, under Southern registry on 5 April 1861. She was caught in that port during the bombardment of Fort Sumter on 12 April 1861 and confiscated in May 1861 to prevent her from being used by the Confederacy as a privateer.

Operating as a tender with the Gulf Blockading Squadron

Operating out of Key West from 27 June, she carried wood, coal, water, and mail to the vessels of the Gulf Blockading Squadron. On 30 November, she stopped the British schooner Telegraph off Key Vaccas, Florida. Upon examination of that vessel's papers, "Wanderer" released the British schooner, but the incident nevertheless prompted a diplomatic protest from the British government on 8 March 1862. When Union naval forces were divided on 20 January 1862, "Wanderer" was assigned to the newly formed East Gulf Blockading Squadron. She continued provisioning and dispatch duties, operating between Tortugas, Florida, and Havana, Cuba, and Cape San Antonio, Cuba.

In early July 1862, "Wanderer" patrolled off Indian River and Jupiter Inlet, Florida, in search of possible blockade running activity but found none. In October 1862, she was assigned to the blockade of St. Andrew Bay, Florida.

Capturing the sloop "Ranger" and the schooner "Annie B."

She had returned to Key West, Florida, by 1 January 1863 for re-coppering and cruised between Saint Marks, Florida and Cedar Key, Florida, in early March. Accompanied by "Ezilda", she captured the sloop "Ranger" off Cedar Keys on 25 March. "Wanderer" also captured the schooner "Annie B." and her cargo of cotton on 17 April 1863 off Egmont Key, Florida. On 30 April, "Wanderer" proceeded to Key West for extensive repairs to her hull and spars.

Prize court finally awards "Wanderer" to the Union Navy

Meanwhile, legal action against the ship was slowly taking place in the North; and the schooner was condemned by the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, prize court in May 1863 and was simultaneously purchased by the Union Navy.

Conversion into a hospital ship

"Wanderer" left Key West early in May for patrol duty west of Tortugas. She stopped in Tampa Bay, Florida, in June and had returned to Key West by 15 July for refit as a hospital ship. She remained in ordinary through the fall and winter undergoing alterations to prepare her for this new role, and she was ready in the spring.

Surviving the yellow fever epidemic

However, hot and humid weather brought an epidemic of yellow fever to Key West during June and July 1864. All crewmen on board "Wanderer" sickened, and one died. The vessel spent the remaining months of 1864 at Key West as a guard ship.

Post-war decommissioning, sale and subsequent commercial career

"Wanderer" deteriorated rapidly during her relative inactivity. On 1 June 1865, shortly after the end of hostilities, Rear Admiral Cornelius K. Stribling, commanding the East Gulf Blockading Squadron, advised that "Wanderer" not be sent north for disposal because of her unseaworthy condition. She was sold at public auction on 28 June 1865, at Key West, by A. Patterson to Packer & Watson. She subsequently entered the banana trade and operated in mercantile service until lost off Cape Maisi, Cuba, on 21 January 1871.

References

See also

* United States Navy
* American Civil War

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/w2/wanderer-i.htm USS Wanderer]