USS Vesuvius (1846) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
United States
Ordered	as Saint Mary
Laid down	date unknown
Launched	in 1845
Acquired	1846
In service	circa 1846
Out of service	circa 1 August 1848
Stricken	1848 (est.)
Fate	sold, October 1848
General characteristics
Displacement	239 tons
Length	97 ft 0 in (29.57 m)
Beam	26 ft 0 in (7.92 m)
Draft	9' 8" (forward) 11' 4" (aft)
Depth of hold	10' 0"
Propulsion	sail
Speed	not known
Complement	not known
Armament	one 10-inch mortar

The USS Vesuvius (1845) was a special kind of ship called a steamer. It weighed 239 tons. The United States Navy got this ship to help in the Mexican–American War. This war happened between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It started after the U.S. took over Texas in 1845.

The Vesuvius had a powerful 10-inch mortar. This was a big gun used to fire shells high into the air. It was designed to attack and damage forts on land. The Navy sent Vesuvius to help in the battle areas of Mexico.

Building the Vesuvius

The Vesuvius was first built in 1845. It was a cargo ship meant for coastal travel. It was built in Williamsburg, New York. Its original name was Saint Mary.

The U.S. Navy bought the ship in 1846 in New York City. They wanted to use it with their ships blocking ports in the Gulf of Mexico.

Vesuvius in the Mexican-American War

We don't have many records about the ship's early time in the Navy. But reports say it worked near Vera Cruz. Some records say it was renamed Vesuvius on January 5, 1847.

In August 1846, many sailors on Vesuvius got yellow fever. This happened while the ship was near Vera Cruz. So, Vesuvius sailed to Bermuda and then north to help the crew recover.

Blockading Laguna del Carmen

The ship was likely fixed up in New York. Records show that Commander George A. Magruder took command. The Vesuvius left New York in late 1846 or early 1847. It arrived at Laguna del Carmen, Mexico, on March 7, 1847. Its job was to block the port.

Commodore Matthew C. Perry was in charge of the Gulf Squadron. He made Commander Magruder the military governor of Laguna del Carmen. Magruder was very helpful to Perry as an administrator. The Vesuvius spent most of its time in the Gulf at Laguna. It kept track of all the ships coming in and out of the harbor.

Attack on Tuxpan

In the spring of 1847, Commodore Perry planned an attack on Tuxpan. The Vesuvius left Laguna for a short time to help with this mission. Mexican forces had 650 men led by General Cos. They were in a good position to defend the town.

About 1,500 sailors from different ships attacked the Mexican defenses. Twenty-five officers and men from Vesuvius joined this attack. Commander Magruder led them. They were there when the U.S. flag was raised over the captured city.

Assault on Tabasco

Twelve days later, Perry launched a big attack on Tabasco. This was the last major port held by Mexicans on the Gulf coast. American forces had captured it before, but it had fallen back to Mexico.

Perry left guard ships at Coatzacoalcos and Tuxpan. He then arrived off Frontera on June 14, 1847. Frontera was at the mouth of the river leading to Tabasco.

Perry moved his flag to the Scorpion. His ships started moving up the winding river channels. At a place called "Devil's Bend," Mexican sharpshooters hidden in the thick bushes started firing. The Scorpion, Washington, Vesuvius, and flat-bottomed "surfboats" fired back. The Vesuvius' 10-inch mortar shells scattered the snipers. This allowed the ships to continue upriver.

At six in the evening, the ships stopped for the night. They set up barriers on their decks to protect the sailors from sniper fire. During the night, Mexican forces put things in the only clear channel to block it.

Taking Fort Iturbide

Meanwhile, landing parties from Perry's ships quietly climbed the steep cliffs by the river. They then suddenly attacked the Mexican defenses. This surprised the Mexican troops and made them run away.

During the attack, gunboats pushed their way up the river. Lieutenant David Dixon Porter commanded them. He later became famous during the American Civil War.

Fort Iturbide had six guns. It soon fell to a landing force led by Lt. Porter. This cleared the last obstacle on the way to Tabasco. On June 16, detachments from Scorpion and Spitfire took control of the fort.

Final Patrols and Sale

The Vesuvius stayed in the Gulf of Mexico, at Laguna, until the end of 1847. Lieutenant Sylvanus William Godon was in command. On October 10, 1847, the ship captured an American schooner named Wasp. This ship was involved in illegal trading. Later, Vesuvius captured four small boats called bungos.

The Vesuvius moved to Campeche on March 8, 1848. Then it went back to Laguna in late April. It worked there until it sailed north in mid-summer.

The ship arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, on August 1. It was sold there in October of that year.