The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-01-26
THE DYING WARRIOR.
Flag Hauled Down for the Last Time
ON the Old Man of War Portsmouth.

Prominent Part Played by the Ship at the
Capture of the Forts at New Orleans
Records of the Sister Ship James
town.
With the hauling down of the flag at the
New York Navy Yard the other day the
old wooden maIi-of-war Portsmouth passed
away, and there was left but abandoned
hulk, deserted by her officers and crew, in
place of the proud warship which, 30 years
ago, forced her way past the forts at the
mouth of the Mississippi and followed Far
ragut into New Orleans.
The ships cruising days are over. She
went out of commission with much cere-
mony. The officers and crew, in full dress
uniform. were mustered on the quarter
deck.
Capt. John McGowa read the olders of
the Navy Department for the old ship to be
abandoned. The bugler sounded ''colors,"
while he men removed their hats in rever-
ence, and stood at attention while 'Old
Glory was hauled down from the peak
for the last time.
The officers and their baggage went away,
and the sailors, carrying their hammocks
and ditty-boxes on their shoulders. crossed
the ferry and took up their quarters on
the receiving ship Vermont.
The only person left on board was ship
keeper. Even the guns had been removed,
and the old craft, like an aged and intirm
man deserted by all his friends was towed
up the channel and left in the mud.
The Portsmouth has a sister ship, the
Jamestown Dullt the MAN.
though little smaller, whose appearance
aid presence is quite as familiar in these
waters. Then there is the Monongahela
and the Richmond and the New Hampshire,
which have been attached to the navy
stationary training ships at Newport at
diff erent times, the New Hampshire having
the distinction of being the first to be thus
used.
OF all these vessels the Monongahela has
the best war record, her service extending
over a long period and including some
very interesting episodes In the naval his
tory of that period. But they all
ployed during the struggle for the Union
and did good service for the Government
The jamestown and POI tsmouth are both
older than the Monongahela. The Ports
mouth was built in the early days of the
rebellion, and participated in some of the
notable naval battles of the war. being with
Farragut's squadron at Port Hudson and
New Orleans, and in other engagements of
less Importance. She is an old-fashioned
sloop-of-war, slightly larger than the
jamestown, being of 1922 tons buIthen and
carrying 20 guns. she was launched from
the Portsmouth Navy Yard in 1913. In 1859
she sailed on long cruise to the west
coast of Africa, but with other vessels in
that vicinity YVES summoned home upon
the outbreak of the rebellion.
She arrived in September, 1851 and her
first and only really important service in
the WAS in connection with the cap
ture of New Orleans by Farragut in the
following April. She was net attached
directly to the squadron which made the
passage of the forts, but was used to bonn
bard Fort jackson IN order to draw its fire
from the So uadron while they passed. 10
accomplish this she was obliged to submit
to heavy fire, which did much damage,
but she maintained her position in the face
of the fire until the squadron was well by
the forts.
The jamestown, her sister shir. is also a
sloop-of-war of the old style, of 985 tons
burthen and carrying 10 guns. he
built in 1874 at the Gosport Navy Yard. ~ o
had no active share in the naval engage
ments of the wtr, but TIN ougn all that time
was stationed in foreign seas, in the East
Indies and on the Asatic sts ton, with
quarters in Japanese waters, where she
did faithful service. In recent years she
has been included in the training squad
ron, having been assigned to it soon afte:
tue establishment OF the present Training
Station. While engaged in this service she
has, in common with the Portsmouth,, made
many voyages to foreign seas the tenn
porary abode and training school in sea-
ma ship for thousands of sailor boys.
For some time it has been known that the
Portsmouth had about ended her days of
usefulness in the service. She had been
repeatedly reported unofic ially as unsea-
worthy, and finally official condemna-
ton was made, and she was ordered to De
abandoned. That order was carried out
last week, and the old hulk was left to ED
her days in tie mud.