USS Saratoga (1842)
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USS Saratoga (known in Japan as one of Perry's Black Ships)
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History | |
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United States | |
Name | USS Saratoga |
Namesake | Battle of Saratoga , 1777 |
Builder | |
Laid down | 1841 |
Launched | 26 July 1842 |
Commissioned | 4 January 1843 |
Decommissioned | 10 December 1844 |
Recommissioned | 15 March 1845 |
Decommissioned | 7 January 1847 |
Recommissioned | early 1847 |
Decommissioned | 26 February 1848 |
Recommissioned | 10 April 1848 |
Decommissioned | 30 November 1849 |
Recommissioned | 12 August 1850 |
Decommissioned | 10 October 1854 |
Recommissioned | 6 September 1855 |
Decommissioned | early 1858 |
Recommissioned | early 1858 |
Decommissioned | 26 June 1860 |
Recommissioned | 5 November 1860 |
Decommissioned | 25 August 1861 |
Recommissioned | 24 June 1863 |
Decommissioned | 28 April 1865 |
Recommissioned | 1 October 1867 |
Decommissioned | 7 July 1869 |
Recommissioned | 16 May 1871 |
Decommissioned | 14 October 1871 |
Recommissioned | 1 May 1875 |
Decommissioned | 7 May 1876 |
Recommissioned | 19 May 1877 |
Decommissioned | 8 October 1888 |
Fate | Loaned to school ship 1890–1907;
Sold for scrapping 4 August 1907 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Sloop-of-war |
Tonnage | 882 |
Length | 146 ft 4 in (44.60 m) |
Beam | 35 ft 3 in (10.74 m) |
Draft | 16 ft 3.5 in (4.966 m) |
Propulsion | Sail |
Complement | 210 officers and men |
Armament |
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Notes |
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USS Saratoga, a
Service history
Ivory Coast Expedition
The ship sailed from
Perry's problem was one of reconciling the conflicting demands of protecting American interests on the African coast, of remaining aloof from African internal affairs, and encouraging the colonists in Liberia. The Commodore's prudence, firmness, fairness, and tact in reconciling these conflicting objectives was illustrated by his handling of two incidents soon after the squadron returned to Liberia in the early autumn. Reports greeted him upon arrival that the hostile tribes had been making trouble for the colonists in the colony of Sinoe and had killed two sailors from American schooner, Edward Burley.
Saratoga sailed from Monrovia on 21 November, and Perry followed two days later with the rest of the squadron bringing along as a guest Liberian Governor Joseph Jenkins Roberts. The American warships assembled at Sinoe on 28 November. The next day, a large force of sailors and Marines accompanied the Commodore and Governor ashore for a conference with an assembly of tribal kings. First on the agenda was the Edward Burley incident. Governor Roberts' questioning of a number of witnesses divulged the following story:
- After the schooner's skipper, Captain Burke, had paid a Krooman in advance for serving in the ship's crew, the native deserted. Burke retaliated by capturing two canoes and taking their crews prisoner. Then he dispatched two of his own men after a third canoe, but these sailors were themselves captured. After cruelly torturing the two Americans, they killed them. Once he felt sure of the story, Perry held that, while the homicides were unjustified, the Americans had been the aggressors. Perry then stated that the United States government wished to remain friendly with all African tribes but had sent him to protect American lives and property and to prevent Americans from wronging natives. He then dropped the matter, but remained in the area while Liberian colonists aided by friendly tribes drove trouble-making natives back into the hinterland.
In mid-December, the squadron sailed to Little Berebee to investigate the plundering of trading schooner, Mary Carver, and murder of her entire crew. During the ensuing palaver, when Perry refused to accept the far-fetched explanation of King Ben Krako, a native fired a musket at the American party. The king and his interpreter, who was known to be one of the murderers, attempted to escape. Commander Tattnall of Saratoga killed the interpreter with a rifle shot and the king was also killed in attempting to flee.
After demonstrating the determination and ability of the United States to control events along the coast of Africa, the squadron got underway late in the year for Madeira where it arrived on 18 January 1844. She returned to the African coast via the Cape Verdes and reached Monrovia on 2 March. The late spring was devoted to a cruise eastward along the coast to the Bight of Biafra. Yellow fever plagued the crew during the summer. The ship sailed for the Cape Verdes on 8 July and reached Porto Praia on 21 July. The ship returned to Liberia in September for a last visit before leaving the African coast in mid-October and heading home. She reached Norfolk, Virginia, on 22 November and decommissioned there on 10 December 1844.
Mexican–American War
Recommissioned on 15 March 1845 with Commander Irving Shubrich in command, Saratoga was assigned to a squadron commanded by Commodore
On 3 July,
The sloop-of-war cruised along the South American coast until mid-summer. Then, under orders to the Pacific for service under Commodore John D. Sloat on the California coast, she got underway on 24 August and headed south along the coast. However, after rounding Cape Horn, the sloop-of-war ran into a fierce storm which caused severe damage and forced her to turn back toward home. She reached Hampton Roads on 29 December and decommissioned on 9 January 1847.
Repaired at the
On 17 April, a week after recommissioning, the sloop-of-war departed New York City and proceeded via
Opening of Japan
Recommissioned on 12 August 1850, Saratoga got underway on 15 September and proceeded to the western Pacific for service in the
Reform War
The sloop-of-war was recommissioned on 6 September 1855 and, but for a period out of commission in ordinary at Norfolk early in 1858, cruised in the
African Slave Trade Patrol
Reactivated on 5 November 1860, she sailed from Philadelphia ten days later to return to the scene of her first cruise, the west coast of Africa. On 21 April 1861, she captured the slaver, Nightingale, off Cabinda freeing a cargo of numerous slaves. After word of the outbreak of the American Civil War reached Saratoga, she returned to the United States and decommissioned at Philadelphia on 25 August 1861.
American Civil War
Recommissioned on 24 June 1863, the ship was ordered to the
As the American Civil War was drawing to a close, Saratoga was detached on 4 April 1865, sailed north, and was decommissioned on 28 April. For the next decade, only two periods in commission for coastal operations (1 October 1867 to 7 July 1869 and 16 May to 14 October 1871) interrupted the veteran ship's rest in ordinary.
Training ship
Saratoga reactivated on 1 May 1875 for a year as a gunnery ship at
The ship served on loan to the state of Pennsylvania between 1890 and 1907, operating as a state marine school ship for the Pennsylvania Nautical School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, until sold there on 14 August 1907 to Thomas Butler & Company of Boston. The ship was burned as an attraction for the amusement of Revere Beach tourists in 1908.[2]
See also
References
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
- ^ "Medal of Honor Recipients – Interim Awards, 1871–1898". Medal of Honor Citations. United States Army Center of Military History. 5 August 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
- ^ Stanley, Robert C. (1980). Narrow Gauge – The Story of the Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn Railroad. Boston Street Railway Association. p. 116.