USS Vandalia (1828) facts for kids
_sketch.jpg)
USS Vandalia in 1861
|
|
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
 United States |
|
| Name | USS Vandalia |
| Builder | Philadelphia Navy Yard |
| Laid down | 1825 |
| Launched | 1828 |
| Commissioned | 6 November 1828 |
| Decommissioned | 4 February 1863 |
| Fate | Broken up, between 1870 and 1872 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Sloop-of-war |
| Tonnage | 614 |
| Length | 127 ft 4 in (38.81 m) |
| Beam | 34 ft 6 in (10.52 m) |
| Draft | 16 ft 6 in (5.03 m) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Complement | 150 officers and enlisted |
| Armament |
|
The USS Vandalia was a sailing warship with 18 guns. It was part of the United States Navy. This ship was important during the Second Seminole War and the American Civil War. It was named after the city of Vandalia, Illinois.
Contents
The Vandalia's Journey
The Vandalia was built at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Its construction started in 1825. The ship was launched in 1828. It officially joined the Navy on November 6, 1828. Commander John Gallagher was its first captain.
Serving in South America, 1828–1831
The Vandalia left Philadelphia on December 16, 1828. It sailed to South America to join the Brazil Squadron. The ship spent three years off the coasts of Brazil and Argentina. This was a time of political changes in South America. The Vandalia returned to Norfolk, Virginia, on December 18, 1831. It was taken out of service the next day.
Protecting the West Indies, 1832–1839
The Vandalia was out of service until October 4, 1832. Then, it was brought back to join the West Indies Squadron. The ship returned to Norfolk in August 1834. It was taken out of service on August 24 for big repairs.
It was recommissioned on the last day of 1834. In January 1835, it rejoined the West Indies Squadron. The Vandalia helped land forces in Florida during the Second Seminole War. It also helped stop piracy and the illegal slave trade. After more repairs, the ship served for another year in the Caribbean. By November 1839, the ship was not safe to sail. It returned to Hampton Roads, Virginia. It was taken out of service again in Norfolk on November 23, 1839.
Home Squadron Duties, 1842–1845
After more than two years of repairs, the ship was put back into service on February 3, 1842. It joined the new Home Squadron that year. The Vandalia patrolled and explored areas from Newfoundland in the north to the Amazon River in the south.
In the spring of 1845, an illness called yellow fever broke out on the ship while it was visiting Haiti. The Vandalia quickly returned to Norfolk. It was taken out of service on April 30 and stored away.
Pacific Ocean Missions, 1849–1852
The Vandalia was repaired and made longer by 13 feet in 1848. The improved ship was put back into service on August 9, 1849. It joined the Pacific Squadron on September 5, 1849. This squadron was growing to serve the new territories the United States had gained on the Pacific coast. The ship visited the Hawaiian Islands several times in 1851. It then returned to the New York Navy Yard on October 6, 1852. It was taken out of service on October 14.
East Indies Squadron and Japan, 1853–1856
The Vandalia was put back into service on February 14, 1853. It soon joined Commodore Matthew C. Perry's East India Squadron. The ship was with Perry's forces during his second visit to Japan on February 13, 1854. This visit led to the Treaty of Kanagawa. This treaty opened Japanese ports to American ships. In 1855, the Vandalia helped protect American interests in China during the Taiping Rebellion. The Vandalia was taken out of service at the Portsmouth Navy Yard on September 30, 1856.
More Pacific Service, 1857–1860
The Vandalia was put back into service on November 11, 1857. It was assigned to the Pacific Squadron again. In 1859, the warship rescued people from the American ship Wild Wave. This ship had crashed off Oeno Island in the Pitcairn Islands. The Vandalia also went on an expedition to Waya Island, Fiji. This was after two American citizens were killed there. The Vandalia returned to the New York Navy Yard in early 1860. It was taken out of service on January 6 of that year.
Civil War Service, 1860–1863
The Vandalia was put back into service on November 8, 1860. It was assigned to the East Indies Squadron. When the American Civil War began in April 1861, the Vandalia was called back home. On May 31, it joined the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. It helped block the ports off Charleston and Bull's Bay, South Carolina.
There, it captured the schooner Henry Middleton on August 21. It also helped capture the sailing ship Thomas Watson on October 15. The ship also took part in a successful attack on Roanoke Island, North Carolina, on November 7 and 8. This victory cut off supply lines to the Confederate-held Norfolk Navy Yard. This helped lead to the Confederates leaving that important naval base six months later. The Vandalia went to New York on November 24. It delivered the officers and crew of the wrecked steamer Governor.
The Vandalia soon returned to duty with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. In December, it was stationed off Tybee Roads, Georgia. It stayed at Tybee until April 1862. Then, it was ordered to help with the blockade at Wassaw Sound, Georgia. The ship returned to Port Royal, South Carolina, in late June. In July, it began blockade duty off Charleston.
It served at Port Royal as a guardship in September. It was repaired and resupplied there in November. Later that month and in December, it sailed along the blockade line off Charleston and Port Royal Bay. It performed scouting duties. It also gave sailing experience to new Naval Academy graduates. On December 29, the ship was ordered north for major repairs in New York. It had a leak under its magazine.
The Vandalia was taken out of service at the New York Navy Yard on February 4, 1863. It then sailed to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on October 17. There, it was used as a receiving and guard ship. It stayed at Portsmouth until it was taken apart sometime between 1870 and 1872.
