The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-13
RELATES HISTORY OF
THE OLD MINNESOTA
David L. kInasbury REEVES
Memories of the Famous
Steam Frigate

AT a meeting of the Minnesota His
torical society at the capitol last night
very interesting paper was read by
David L. Kingsbury on the history of
the old steam frigate Minnesota. In
describing the life of the warship he
said in part:
The ship was built in accordance with
an act of congress passed April 6, 1854.
IL required year, seven months and
tWenty-four days to build the vessel at
the Washington navy yards. Her princi
pal dimensions were; Length, 284 feet;
beam, 81 feet. and depth of hold &c feet.
she was gallant appearing ship, with
lofty spars, but the main part of her mo-
tive power was furnished by two engines
that We're very costly at that period. Her
displacement was about 5000 tons.
The Minnesota was considered to be
one OF the finest warShips af1oat when
she was first.put into commission, and her
type was widely copied by European pow
ers. Accounts differ as to who christen
ed Mad the 81 ship Bos One paper says that Miss
Best" ovef~ her cutwater when she slipped
from the ways; but another fails to name
the sponsor, and as the records of the
navy department do not specify who did
it, there will always be some doubt about
the identity of the person.
Became a Flagship
The ship cruised in the Orient a good
part of the time prior to the Civil war
and was the object of much curious in
Spect1on by the Eastern potentateS. In
1861 command of the vessel was given
to Capt: Sfias H. Stringer, and when she
was rented, for sea duty she was made
flagship of the Atlantic blockading squad
ron On this station she took part In
the capture of blockade runners and pri-
vateers and the bombardment of Forts
Hatteras and Clark.
After this action Stringer was relieved
of the command of the squadron and
Louis M. Goldsborough was placed in
charge: Then Then the command Of the ship
was with the ship during. the stirring ac-
ton at Hampton roads. March 8. 1852.
While the Minnesota could not take
part in the fight with the Confederate
ironclad Virginia because she was
aground and helpless, her name will al
ways be connected with those of the
Cumberland. Congress and little Monitor,
who. saved her from destruction.
Her after-history was. not very excit-
ing except for the second action at Forts
Hatteras and Clark and the capture of
Fort Fisher.
She was used as cruiser at intervals
after the close Of hostilities. and later as
a training ship. In 1882 she was stricken
later was loaned to Massachusetts as
training ship.
Sold for Old Junk in 1901
In 1901 she was sold for old junk to a
Boston concern, and at present is proba-
ply resting In fragments in dozen diff
ACt Cil Juilh ydiQS.
The paper. was the result of the re-
cent donation of the steering wheel of
the old ship to the historical society.
Beside the paper, a poem was read en-
titled ''The Nation and the Ship" by
Oscar W. Fidkins, instructor at the uni
yersity. s.s@,.id.= -. ~.
A short business session preceded the
delivery of the address. The vacancy
in the presidency of the Society caused
by the death of Gen. Sanborn was filled
by the election Of Greenleaf Clark,-who
has acted as second vice president.
Gen. L. f. Hubbard was chosen to
fill Gen. Sanborn's place in the execu-
tive council.
The foliewiugs committee was named
to represent the society in the st. Paul
semi centennial celebration: Gen.
James II. Baker. n. S. Fairchild and
John A. Stees.
At the October meeting of the society
Gen. III. w. Childs will deliver melno-
rial address in the senate chamber on
the late Gen. Sanborn.
Warren Upham, secretary of the or
ganization, was authorized to represent
it at the worlds fair next Friday. The
following were selected to life member
ship:
Frank L. Randall, st. Cloud; Thorn
as Empron, Winona; Willis M. West,
Minneapolis; Charles L. Greene,
CharlessW. Gordo, Jared Howe and Al
bert r. StarlSey.