USS New Hampshire (1864) facts for kids
USS New Hampshire housed over
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Quick facts for kids History |
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  United States |
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| Laid down | June 1819 |
| Launched | 23 April 1864 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard |
| Commissioned | 13 May 1864 |
| Out of service | 23 May 1921 |
| Stricken | 1921 (est.) |
| Fate |
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| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 2633 |
| Length | 203.7 ft (62.1 m) |
| Beam | 51.3 ft (15.6 m) |
| Draft | 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Speed | Unknown |
| Complement | 820 officers and men |
| Armament |
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The New Hampshire
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 Location in Massachusetts
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| Nearest city | Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts |
| Area | 9350 mi. sq. |
| Built | 1819 |
| Architect | Doughty, William |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000261 |
| Added to NRHP | 29 October 1976 |
The USS New Hampshire (1864) was a large sailing ship of the United States Navy. It weighed 2,633 tons. This ship was first planned to be a powerful warship called a "ship of the line." It was supposed to have 74 guns and be named Alabama.
However, the ship stayed unfinished for nearly 40 years! By the time it was ready, steamships were becoming popular. So, it was launched in 1864 as a storeship and depot ship. This means it acted like a floating warehouse and supply base. It served during the American Civil War. Later, its name was changed to USS Granite State.
The ship was laid down, or started, in June 1819 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine. Even though it was ready to launch by 1825, the Navy decided to keep it on the stocks. This saved money because they didn't have to pay for a crew or maintenance.
Contents
Launching for the Civil War
The ship was renamed New Hampshire on October 28, 1863. It was finally launched on April 23, 1864. It was then set up as a storeship and depot ship for the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. This squadron was part of the Union Navy that blocked Southern ports during the Civil War.
The New Hampshire was officially put into service on May 13, 1864. Commodore Henry K. Thatcher was its first commander. The ship sailed from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on June 15. On July 29, 1864, it took over from its sister ship Vermont at Port Royal, South Carolina. It stayed there as a supply ship until the Civil War ended.
Life After the Civil War
After the war, the New Hampshire returned to Norfolk, Virginia, on June 8, 1866. It served as a receiving ship there. A receiving ship is where new sailors live before they are assigned to other ships.
In 1876, it sailed back to Port Royal. It returned to Norfolk in 1881. Soon after, it moved to Newport, Rhode Island. There, it became the main ship for Commodore Stephen B. Luce's new Apprentice Training Squadron. This was a special program to train young sailors for the Navy.
Brave Actions and Medals
Four sailors from the New Hampshire earned the Medal of Honor for their bravery. They jumped overboard to save fellow sailors from drowning in 1882.
- On January 4, 1882, Quartermaster Henry J. Manning and Ship's Printer John McCarton saved a shipmate.
- On April 21, 1882, Boatswain's Mate James F. Sullivan and Chief Boatswain's Mate Jeremiah Troy also rescued a sailor.
The New Hampshire was towed to New London, Connecticut, in 1891. It continued as a receiving ship there until it was taken out of service on June 5, 1892.
The next year, the ship was loaned to the New York Naval Militia as a training ship. The Naval Militia was a group of civilian sailors who could be called upon to serve the Navy. This group provided almost a thousand officers and men to the Navy during the Spanish–American War.
Renamed Granite State
On November 30, 1904, the New Hampshire was renamed Granite State. This was done to free up the name "New Hampshire" for a new, modern battleship New Hampshire (BB-25).
The Granite State was stationed in the Hudson River. It kept training sailors right up to World War I. During the war, these State naval militia members were very important. They were often the only trained sailors available for immediate service. They joined the Navy as National Naval Volunteers.
Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels wrote about their importance:
Never again will men dare ridicule the Volunteer, the Reservist, the man who in a national crisis lays aside civilian duty to become a soldier or sailor—they fought well. They died well. They have left in deeds and words a record that will be an inspiration to unborn generations.
The Ship's Final Days
The Granite State served the New York State Militia until it caught fire. It sank at its pier in the Hudson River on May 23, 1921. The ship's hull, which is the main body of the ship, was sold for salvage on August 19, 1921. Salvage means recovering a ship or its parts from a wreck.
The ship was refloated, or brought back to the surface, in July 1922. It was being towed to the Bay of Fundy. However, during a storm, the towline broke. The ship caught fire again and sank off Half Way Rock near Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, on July 26, 1922.
Exploring the Shipwreck Today
The shipwreck lies in about 30 feet (9 meters) of water. It is a popular spot for scuba diving. Most of the ship's hull is buried in the sand. However, divers can still find small artifacts and copper spikes from the old ship. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 29, 1976.
