USS Cyane (1837) facts for kids
"USS Cyane Taking Possession of San Diego Old Town July 1846", by Carlton T. Chapman
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Quick facts for kids History |
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| Name | USS Cyane |
| Builder | Boston Navy Yard |
| Launched | 2 December 1837 |
| Commissioned | May 1838 |
| Decommissioned | 20 September 1871 |
| Fate | Sold, 30 July 1887 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Sloop-of-war |
| Tonnage | 792 |
| Length | 132 ft 4 in (40.34 m) |
| Beam | 26 ft 3 in (8.00 m) |
| Draft | 16 ft 6 in (5.03 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Complement | 200 officers and enlisted |
| Armament |
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The USS Cyane was a special kind of sailing warship called a sloop-of-war. It served in the United States Navy during an important time in history, the Mexican–American War.
This ship was built at the Boston Navy Yard and launched on December 2, 1837. It officially joined the Navy in May 1838, with Commander John Percival as its first captain.
Contents
Early Voyages and the Mexican War
The Cyane began its adventures by sailing to the Mediterranean Sea in 1838. After a few years, it returned home.
Then, in 1841, it headed to the Pacific Squadron, which was a group of ships protecting American interests in the Pacific Ocean. The ship returned in 1844.
Claiming California
The Cyane sailed to the Pacific again in 1845. It played a big role on the west coast during the Mexican–American War.
On July 7, 1846, the ship's captain, William Mervine, led a group of Marines and sailors ashore in Monterey, California. They raised the American flag at the Customs House. This act officially claimed the city and all of what is now California for the United States.
Taking San Diego
A few weeks later, on July 26, 1846, a group of soldiers called the California Battalion boarded the Cyane. The ship, now led by Commander Samuel Francis Du Pont, sailed to San Diego.
Marines landed near San Diego and were welcomed by the people living there. They used old cannons to help take control of Old Town San Diego. The American flag was raised, and the town was secured.
Battles in the Gulf of California
The Cyane then sailed to San Blas, Mexico. There, a landing party from the ship destroyed a Mexican gun battery on September 2.
Next, the Cyane entered the Gulf of California. It quickly took control of La Paz and burned a small fleet of enemy ships at Guaymas. In just one month, the Cyane cleared the Gulf of any enemy ships, capturing or destroying 30 vessels!
Later, working with two other U.S. Navy ships, the Cyane helped capture the town of Mazatlán, Mexico, on November 11, 1847.
Ending the Siege at San José del Cabo
On January 22, 1848, the Cyane arrived at San José del Cabo. A group of American soldiers there was surrounded by Mexican forces.
The Cyane landed about 100 men. These brave sailors and Marines fought the final battle of the siege, breaking the Mexican attack.
After all its important work, the Cyane returned to Norfolk, Virginia, in October 1848. The Secretary of the Navy praised the ship for its major contributions to the American victory in Mexico.
Protecting American Interests
Between 1851 and 1852, the Cyane sailed with the Home Squadron. This group of ships protected American citizens and their property along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean Sea. It sailed from Nova Scotia in Canada all the way to Aspinwall (now Colón) in Panama.
The Greytown Incident
On July 13, 1854, the Cyane had to take strong action. It bombarded and destroyed a town called Greytown (also known as San Juan del Norte) in the Miskito Kingdom. This was done in response to an incident where local protesters had thrown a bottle at an American diplomat.
In 1857, the Cyane helped rescue over 150 American adventurers who had surrendered in Nicaragua. Later that year, it protected fishing areas off the coast of Nova Scotia.
The ship also joined a special trip to explore the Isthmus of Darien. This was to see if it could be a good place to build a canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Later Years and Retirement
In August 1858, the Cyane returned to the Pacific Squadron. During the American Civil War in 1863, the Cyane stopped a Confederate ship from becoming a privateer. A privateer was a private ship allowed to attack enemy ships. The Cyane's armed crew took control of the ship, preventing it from being used by the Confederates.
The Cyane continued to serve along the coasts of North and South America. Finally, on September 20, 1871, it was taken out of service and stored at the Mare Island Navy Yard. The ship was later sold at an auction on July 30, 1887.
Today, there is an effort by The Center for Living History to build a full-scale replica of the Cyane in Monterey, California. You can find more information on their website at www.cyane.org.
