USS Levant (1837) facts for kids
The first USS Levant was a type of warship called a sloop-of-war in the United States Navy.
Quick facts for kids History |
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| Name | USS Levant |
| Builder | New York Navy Yard |
| Launched | 28 December 1837 |
| Commissioned | 17 March 1838 |
| Fate | Lost at sea, 1860 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Sloop-of-war |
| Displacement | 792 long tons (805 t) |
| Length | 132 ft 3 in (40.31 m) |
| Beam | 34 ft 3 in (10.44 m) |
| Draft | 15 ft 9 in (4.80 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Complement | 200 officers and enlisted |
| Armament |
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The Levant was built at the New York Navy Yard and launched on December 28, 1837. It officially joined the Navy on March 17, 1838, with Commander Hiram Paulding in charge.
The USS Levant: A Ship's Mysterious Journey
Early Years and First Missions (1838-1845)
The Levant began its first mission on April 1, 1838. For four years, it sailed with the West Indies Squadron. Its job was to protect American interests, like trade and citizens, in the Caribbean and South Atlantic. After this tour, the ship returned to Norfolk, Virginia, and was taken out of service on June 26, 1842. This means it was put into storage.
The ship was brought back into service on March 27, 1843, under Commander Hugh N. Page. It then sailed from Norfolk to join the Pacific Squadron. From 1843 to 1845, the Levant traveled between Panama and various ports in Latin America. It carried important people like diplomats and delivered official messages. This helped the United States carry out its policies in the region.
Role in the Mexican-American War (1846-1847)
As the Mexican–American War was about to begin, the Levant was sent to the California coast. Its mission was to protect American citizens and their belongings. Mexico declared war on May 12, 1846, while the ship was on its way.
The Levant arrived off Monterey, California, on July 1. Six days later, a group of sailors from the Levant, along with sailors from the Savannah and Cyane, landed ashore. They took control of the area that had recently been declared the Republic of California.
On July 23, Commodore John D. Sloat, who was in charge of the Pacific Squadron, stepped down due to illness. He sailed back to the east coast on the Levant on July 29. When the ship arrived in Norfolk on April 28, 1847, it was again put into storage.
Mediterranean Adventures (1852-1855)
The Levant was brought back into service on July 12, 1852, with Commander George P. Upshur in command. It then sailed to the Mediterranean Sea. Sadly, Commander Upshur died on board the Levant off Spezia, Italy, on November 3. Commander Louis M. Goldsborough, who later became famous in the American Civil War, took over command.
On April 7, 1853, at Leghorn, Italy, the Levant loaded statues created by American sculptor Horatio Greenough. One of these was a statue of George Washington, which was meant for the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.. The ship then picked up the U.S. Minister to Turkey and his family at Piraeus, Greece, on June 24. They sailed to Constantinople, arriving on July 5. The Levant returned to Hampton Roads, Virginia, on April 29, 1855, and was taken out of service at the New York Navy Yard on May 4.
Protecting Interests in Asia (1855-1858)
The Levant was recommissioned on October 31, 1855, with Commander William N. Smith in charge. It sailed on November 13 for Rio de Janeiro, then around the Cape of Good Hope, and finally to Hong Kong. It arrived in Hong Kong on May 12, 1856, to join the East India Squadron. On July 1, the ship took the U.S. Commissioner to China to Shanghai, arriving on August 1.
The Barrier Forts Battle
When fighting broke out between the British and the Chinese during the Second Opium War, the Levant arrived at Whampoa on October 28. Commander Andrew Hull Foote sent a group of sailors from the Levant and his own ship, the Portsmouth, to Canton. Their job was to protect American lives and property there.
On November 15, as Commander Foote was pulling his forces back, his small boat was fired upon. The shots came from the "Barrier Forts" on the Pearl River below Canton. The next day, the Levant was towed upriver to join the Portsmouth and San Jacinto. Their goal was to keep the Pearl River open for American ships. The forts were being made stronger, which went against American neutrality (meaning the U.S. was not taking sides). Because of this, Commodore James Armstrong, who commanded the squadron, ordered Foote to "take such measures as his judgment would dictate... even the capture of the forts."
Commander Foote carried out the order with great bravery. On November 20, he captured the first fort by leading an attack with 300 men who landed from the water. He then used cannons captured from the first fort to silence the second. The next day, he took the third fort. By November 24, all four forts were in American hands, and the Pearl River was safe again for American shipping.
The Levant was close to the action and took most of the Chinese attack. It had 22 shot holes in its hull and rigging. One sailor died, and six were injured. The forts were completely destroyed by December 5. The Levant then sailed between Hong Kong and Shanghai until it left Hong Kong on December 7, 1857, to return home. It arrived at the Boston Navy Yard on April 6, 1858.
Final Pacific Mission and Disappearance (1859-1860)
After repairs in 1859, the Levant, now under Commander William E. Hunt, sailed on June 15 for the Pacific Ocean. It arrived at Valparaíso, Chile, on October 11. There, it served as the main ship for the Pacific Squadron until December, with Commodore John B. Montgomery on board.
In January 1860, the Levant sailed to the coast of Nicaragua. For five months, it "showed the flag" off the coasts of Central and South America. This means it made its presence known to protect American interests.
In May 1860, the Levant was ordered to the Hawaiian Islands. The Secretary of State wanted it to investigate how money meant to help American merchant sailors was being used. After a visit from King Kamehameha IV at Honolulu on May 7, and investigations at Lahaina, Maui, and Hilo, Hawaii, the Levant sailed for Panama on September 18, 1860. However, it never reached port.
The Mystery of the Lost Ship
Commodore Montgomery reported that a powerful hurricane had hit the part of the Pacific Ocean where the Levant was supposed to be in September 1860. In June 1861, a mast and part of a lower yardarm, believed to be from the Levant, were found near Hilo. Spikes had been driven into the mast, as if someone had tried to make a raft. There were also rumors that the ship had hit a hidden reef off California.
In July 1861, a small bottle was found at Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia. It was sealed with a cork and contained a card that partly read: "Pacific Ocean" "Levant" "Written by the last remaining" "three" "in a boat" "God forgive us". Unfortunately, the card was damaged when it was taken out of the bottle, so parts of the message could not be read.
On July 24, 1861, the United States Congress passed a law to give money to the families of the officers, sailors, marines, and others who were lost with the Levant. The law also made sure that the ship's financial records were settled. The deaths of the officers of the Levant were officially recorded in the Navy Register of 1863 as happening on June 30, 1861. This date was likely chosen so that the families of the lost men could receive six months of their pay as compensation.
A Ship in a Story
In 1863, Edward Everett Hale wrote a famous short story called The Man Without a Country. In the story, the main character, Philip Nolan, is said to have died at sea aboard the USS Levant on May 11, 1863. However, in real life, the last time anyone heard from the Levant was in September 1860.
