USS Oneida ( 1861 ) The second USS " Oneida " was a screw sloop - of - war in the United States Navy . During the Civil War , she destroyed the CSS " Governor Moore " and served in blockade operations . She was attached to the Asiatic Squadron from 1867 – 1870 . She sank in 1870 outside Yokohama , Japan after the British steamer " City of Bombay " struck her and sailed off without rendering assistance . Japanese fishing boats saved 61 sailors but 125 men lost their lives . The American government made no attempt to raise the wreck and sold it to a Japanese wrecking company . The company recovered many bones from the wreck and interred them at the their own expense . The Japanese erected a memorial tablet on the grounds of Ikegami Temple in Tokyo and held a Buddhist ceremony in the sailor ' s memory in May 1889 . Construction . " Oneida " was authorized by Act of Congress , February 1861 , and built at the New York Navy Yard ; launched 20 November 1861 ; and commissioned 28 February 1862 , Captain Samuel Phillips Lee in command . Service history . Civil War , 1862 – 1865 . Shortly after commissioning " Oneida " sailed from New York and joined the West Gulf Blockading Squadron commanded by Flag officer David Farragut . On 24 April she participated in the attacks on Forts Jackson and St . Philip below New Orleans , Louisiana , and drove off the Confederate ram which sank steam gunboat . " Oneida " destroyed CSS " Governor Moore " in a following engagement , the same date . On 27 April " Oneida " destroyed obstructions in the Mississippi River above Carrollton , Mississippi , helping prepare the way for the Vicksburg campaign . In both passages of the Confederate works at Vicksburg , 28 June 1862 , and 15 July 1862 , by the Union Fleet under Admiral Farragut , " Oneida " was second in line . In August 1862 , under command of Commander George H . Preble , " Oneida " sank the steamer " Lewis Whitman " loaded with wounded troops . Early in the following month she failed in an attempt to stop the passage of CSS " Florida " into Mobile , Alabama . From 15 October 1863 to 23 August 1864 , under the command of Captain C . V . Gridley , " Oneida " served in blockade operations off Mobile , where on 5 August she participated in the Battle of Mobile Bay and the subsequent capture of CSS " Tennessee " . At a later date she witnessed the surrender of Fort Morgan at Mobile . " Oneida " decommissioned 11 August 1865 at New York . Seven sailors and one marine from " Oneida " were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions at the Battle of Mobile Bay . These men were : Asiatic Squadron , 1867 – 1870 . Recommissioned in May 1867 , she was attached to the Asiatic Squadron and continued in that capacity until January 1870 . Sailing out from Yokohama , Japan on 24 January 1870 , " Oneida " was struck by the British Peninsula & Oriental steamer " City of Bombay " , at 6 : 30 pm near Saratoga Spit . The starboard quarter was cut off " Oneida " and she was left to sink , as the " City of Bombay " steamed on without rendering assistance . " Oneida " sank at 6 : 45 pm in 20 fathoms ( 37 m ) of water with the loss of 125 men , 61 sailors being saved in two Japanese fishing boats . The British captain of " City of Bombay " was apparently suspended and the ship itself was libeled , meaning that steamer and other ships of the P . & O . Line kept away from American ports . The wreck of the " Oneida " was sold at public auction at Yokohama 9 October 1872 , to Mr . Tatchobonaiya . Inside the wreckage were found many of the bones of the dead sailors , which were interred , at the expense of the salvagers , on the grounds of Ikegami Temple in Tokyo . In " Jinrikisha Days in Japan " ( 1891 ) , Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore tells the story , writing : Current Status . According to records regarding the " Oneida " , it was leaving port carrying payment for sales of ammunition and gunpowder to the Japanese government . Around 1955 , Takeshita Hisao led an effort to salvage the loaded payment , as well as other artifacts from the " Oneida " wreck . Artifacts including coins , ammunition shells , rifles , and further bones from deceased sailors and passengers were found . The recovered steam gauge was later donated to the United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka . In 2010 , a special aired 9 November on Fuji Television made a further effort at salvage with the help of Takeshita ' s family and one of the divers from the 1955 effort . The show ' s salvage team located a shipwreck that matched descriptions of the " Oneida " , and efforts continue to discover more about the wreckage and remaining contents .