USS Iroquois (1859)

The first USS "Iroquois" was a sloop of war in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.

"Iroquois" was launched by the New York Navy Yard 12 April 1859 and commissioned 24 November 1859, Commander J. S. Palmer in command.

"Iroquois" got underway from New York 19 January 1860 for duty in the Mediterranean. Her service came at a time of political unrest in Europe, with the movement for Italian unification in its beginning stages. "Iroquois" sailed for Palermo, Sicily, to protect American lives and property as Giuseppe Garibaldi began his campaign to capture the island for Piedmont-Sardinia. The Italian patriot came on board "Iroquois" 20 June 1860 and conferred with Comdr. Palmer.

The ship operated in the Mediterranean into 1861, but the impending Civil War brought greater demands on the Navy and she was recalled. Arriving 15 June 1861 at New York, she was immediately sent to the Caribbean to search out and destroy southern commerce raiders. At Martinique she found CSS "Sumter" anchored in the harbor. But the Confederate ship, under command of Raphael Semmes, with the assistance of French authorities slipped out 23 November to resume attacks on Union shipping. "Iroquois" continued her patrol in the Caribbean. On 14 January 1862 she stopped British sloop "Rinaldo". On board were Confederate ministers James M. Mason and John Slidell, captured earlier by Union ships but released; Comdr. Palmer allowed them to proceed under surveillance.

"Iroquois" was sent later in 1862 to join Flag Officer David Farragut at the mouth of the Mississippi River, in preparation for his attack on New Orleans, Louisiana. Arriving off Ship Island 28 March, the ship moved to a position below Forts Jackson and St. Philip, guarding New Orleans, 16 April. Comdr. David Dixon Porter's mortar boats then began a devastating bombardment, and by 24 April the ships were ready to attack. "Iroquois" moved abreast the forts as part of the 3d Division under Captain Henry H. Bell and, after a spirited engagement, passed them and pressed on for the capture of New Orleans, the South's largest and wealthiest city, and key to the Mississippi Valley.

After the great victory "Iroquois" advanced up the river with Farragut, with the aim of eventually joining Flag Officer Andrew Hull Foote, who was driving southward. A landing party was sent ashore at Baton Rouge, Louisiana 8 May 1862 and Comdr. Palmer received the surrender of the Louisiana capital that day. "Iroquois", along with "Oneida", also took possession of Natchez 13 May as the fleet moved steadily toward the Southern stronghold at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Within a week they were below the city and preparing to pass the formidable batteries.

After periodic shelling Flag Officer Farragut, supported by the mortar boats, passed the Vicksburg batteries 28 June after a heavy exchange of gunfire. "Iroquois" survived the action virtually unscathed. With the rest of the fleet she met Flag Officer Charles Davis and his Western Flotilla above Vicksburg. This was but the first step of Abraham Lincoln's order to "clear the river." "Iroquois" remained in the Vicksburg area until late July, helping in the bombardments and preparations for expeditions into the surrounding marshlands. In early September she again entered the Gulf of Mexico to take part in the strangling blockade of Southern commerce, but boiler trouble sent her north 21 September. She arrived New York 2 October and decommissioned 6 October 1862 for repairs.

"Iroquois" recommissioned 8 January 1863, Comdr. Henry Roland in command, and got underway later that month to convoy monitor "Weehawken" to Newport News, Virginia. Joining the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron off North Carolina, she captured blockade runner "Merrimac" 24 July and helped in the capture of "Kate" 12 days earlier. After several more months on arduous blockade, she steamed to Baltimore, Maryland for repairs, decommissioning 8 October 1863.

The ship recommissioned 31 March 1864, Comdr. Christopher R. P. Rodgers in command. After serving briefly in the North Atlantic, "Iroquois" steamed to the Mediterranean to protect American commerce and- interests. She also took part in the giant search for the Confederate raider "Shenandoah", finally arriving Singapore in May 1865 after a long voyage around South America and across the Pacific. With the war over, she sailed in July for the United States, arriving New York 1 October 1865. She decommissioned there 6 October 1865.

Upon recommissioning 7 January 1867, Comdr. Earl English in command, the veteran ship sailed 3 February for duty with the Asiatic Squadron. She was present at Osaka, Japan, when that port and neighboring Hyōgo were opened to foreign commerce 1 January 1868; and she took part in the rescue operations following the overturning of Rear Admiral Henry H. Bell's boat in the harbor 11 January. Despite the best efforts of the ships present, the squadron commander and 11 others were drowned. During the local conflicts which engulfed the ports during January, "Iroquois" stood by to protect American interests, and carried the foreign ministers to Hyōgo 1 February when they were expelled from Osaka. She remained on this critical duty with the Asiatic Squadron until returning to the United States in February 1870. She decommissioned at League Island, Pennsylvania, 23 April 1870.

"Iroquois" recommissioned 23 August 1871 under Comdr. H. A. Adams. She operated on the East Coast until 18 March 1872. She then sailed for another cruise with the Asiatic Fleet, making the long voyage via the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal, and the Indian Ocean. The ship remained off China and Japan until returning to San Francisco, California 1 July 1874. She again decommissioned for repairs 23 July 1874.

Following a long period of inactivity, "Iroquois" recommissioned 12 April 1882, Comdr. James H. Sands in command. With the Pacific Squadron, she patrolled to South America, Hawaii, Australia, and Pacific islands protecting American interests and commerce. She took part in naval action in Panama in the spring of 1885, helping to land Marines to protect American commerce during the revolution. After 10 years of service on the Pacific Station, "Iroquois" arrived Mare Island 24 April 1892 and decommissioned there 12 May 1892.

The ship was transferred to the Marine Hospital Service and served until she recommissioned 13 December 1898, Lt. Charles Pond in command. She cruised in the Pacific for 6 months before decommissioning at Honolulu, Hawaii 30 June 1899. "Iroquois" was then transferred again to the Marine Hospital Service. Her name was changed to "Ionie" 30 November 1904. Her name was struck from the Navy List 26 August 1910.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/i3/iroquois-i.htm