USS Adams (1874)

A screw sloop of the "Enterprise" class launched in 1874, the "USS Adams" was the last sailing ship to see active duty in the US Navy. For more than 50 years, the hull of the original "USS Adams" lay bleaching and forgotten after being scuttled in September 1814 to prevent its capture by British forces who occupied Maine during the last months of the War of 1812. After the Civil War ended, a new building program was launched by Congress and in 1874 attention again turned to the "Adams". It was found that her hull was still intact, which had been built of wood, part of which was solid oak 32 inches thick. The "Adams" was recommissioned on July 21 1874 [From a Los Angeles area newspaper article, "Last of Those Sailing Men o' War", 1953.] . William Harrison Standley was a young lieutenant on the "Adams" during the Philippine insurrection. In 1907 she was ordered home to the Atlantic Coast and was the only square rigger to sail through the Strait of Malacca.

"Adams" was turned over to Pennsylvania on 20 August 1908 and served as school ship for the Public Marine School at Philadelphia until returned to Navy custody on 6 February 1914. On 1 May 1914 she was loaned to the State of New Jersey to be used in training that state's naval militia. The warship continued to train New Jersey naval militiamen until after the United States entered World War I in 1917. Recommissioned on 27 August 1917, "Adams" served as station ship in the Delaware River through the end of the war and for some months thereafter. Decommissioned on 5 August 1919, "Adams" was sold to Mr. Joseph N. Tobin, 25 Church Street, New York City, in August 1920. The former warship operated briefly in mercantile service with a Polish company as Stefan Batory before being broken up in 1921 or 1922.

Notes

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References

*cite book|author=Canney, Donald L|title=The Old Steam Navy. Volume One: Frigates, Sloops, and Gunboats|location= Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1990|id=ISBN 0870210041