USS Lancaster ( 1858 ) The first USS " Lancaster " was a screw sloop - of - war in the United States Navy during the American Civil War through the Spanish - American War . The first " Lancaster " was laid down by the Philadelphia Navy Yard in December 1857 ; launched 20 October 1858 ; sponsored by Miss Harriet Lane , niece and official hostess of President James Buchanan ; and commissioned 12 May 1859 , Captain John Rudd in command . Service history . 1859 – 1867 . The new screw sloop - of - war departed Delaware Bay on 27 July 1859 for the Pacific , with Jordan Collins at the helm . After rounding Cape Horn she reached Panama Bay on 6 December . Two days later , Flag Officer John B . Montgomery hoisted his flag above " Lancaster " , and she served as flagship of the Pacific Squadron until 1866 , cruising along the coast of South and Central America , Mexico , and California to protect American commerce and the Pacific mail steamers . On 23 February Rear Admiral Charles H . Bell reported an incident which typified her service during the Civil War : " Such is the present state of affairs at Acapulco , that it is believed by both native and foreign populations that the presence of man - of - war alone prevented an attempt to sack and destroy the town by the Indians in the interior , encouraged by governor , General Alvarez . . . " Far from the main theaters of the Civil War , a U . S . naval vessel was carrying out the traditional mission of protecting U . S . interests and keeping the peace . On 11 November 1864 , a secret expedition of boats from the ship captured a party of Confederate officers aboard the passenger steamer " Salvador " , off the Bay of Panama . They had planned to seize the " Salvador " for the Confederate Government and convert her into a raider to capture Union gold shipments from California . In the spring of 1866 , " Lancaster " received extensive repairs at the Mare Island Navy Yard and on 27 June sailed from San Francisco , California for the east coast , via Panama Bay , Callao , Valparaíso , Barbados , and Nassau . She arrived Norfolk Navy Yard on 8 March 1867 and decommissioned on the 19th . 1869 – 1889 . Recommissioned on 26 August 1869 , " Lancaster " sailed for the South Atlantic via Funchal , Madeira . Under the command of William B . Cushing , she arrived at Rio de Janeiro on 6 January 1870 and served as flagship of the squadron until 1875 . From January to May 1874 , she took part in fleet drills in the North Atlantic and was in the force concentrated at Key West lest war with Spain break out over the " Virginius affair " . Spanish officials at Santiago de Cuba had seized American filibustering steamer " Virginius " and executed a part of her crew . After diplomatic efforts resolved the controversy peacefully , " Lancaster " returned to the South Atlantic until she departed Rio de Janeiro on 21 May 1875 for home , arriving at Portsmouth , New Hampshire , 12 July . The ship decommissioned 31 July 1875 , and laid up for repairs at the Portsmouth Navy Yard . At this time a figurehead of an eagle carved by John Haley Bellamy was installed . The figurehead is now on display at The Mariners ' Museum in Newport News , Virginia . " Lancaster " recommissioned on 26 August 1881 and on 12 September sailed from Portsmouth for Europe . Arrived at Gibraltar 9 November , she became flagship of the European Squadron and during the following years cruised extensively in the Mediterranean , northern European waters , and on the coast of Africa , protecting American citizens and commerce and promoting friendly relations with other countries . From 27 June to 20 July 1882 the flagship was at Alexandria , Egypt , during a series of riots and was present when the British fleet bombarded the forts 11 July . Rear Admiral James W . Nicholson , commanding the U . S . squadron , welcomed on board both American and foreign refugees for protection , and landed a force of 100 men to guard the American consulate and assist in extinguishing fires , in burying the dead , and in preserving order . Rear Adm . Charles Henry Baldwin relieved Rear Admiral Nicholson of command of the squadron 10 March 1883 . Acting under instructions from the Navy Department , Admiral Baldwin proceeded in " Lancaster " to Kronstadt , Russia , and on 27 May he and his staff attended the coronation of Tzar Alexander III at Moscow . On November 20 , 1883 , while " Lancaster " was in port in Marseille , France , a young Frenchman who was on a stone pier astern of the ship fell overboard , and disappeared below the water twice . John F . Auer , a sailor on the " Lancaster " , saw him and , realizing that the boy could not swim , jumped into the water together with Boatswain ' s Mate Matthew Gillick , and rescued the boy . For this act , both Auer and Gillick were awarded the United States ' highest military decoration , the Medal of Honor , on February 2 , 1884 . Early in 1885 " Lancaster " cruised down the west coast of Africa and arrived in the Congo River 28 April en route to Brazil . She arrived at Rio de Janeiro 1 July and served as flagship of the squadron until 1888 , cruising along the coasts of South America and Africa conducting squadron drills and exercises . " Lancaster " sailed 18 January 1888 from Montevideo for Europe arriving Gibraltar on 6 April . As flagship of the European Squadron she cruised in the Mediterranean until she departed Gibraltar 2 July 1889 and returned to the United States via Funchal , Madeira , arriving at New York 8 August . She decommissioned at the New York Navy Yard 7 September 1889 and was towed to the Portsmouth yard for repairs . 1891 – 1897 . Recommissioned 19 March 1891 , " Lancaster " proceeded to New York where Rear Adm . David B . Harmony broke his flag in her on 23 June . She departed New York 13 July en route to the Far East via Madeira , Cape Town , and Singapore . She arrived at Hong Kong 4 January 1892 and served as flagship of the Asiatic Squadron until 1894 , cruising extensively on the coast of China and in Japanese waters . It was during this time Fred J . Buenzle had served aboard the " Lancaster " , as noted in " Bluejacket ; An Autobiography " , a part of the " Classics Of Naval Literature " series . She sailed from Hong Kong 15 February 1894 for the United States , via the Suez Canal , and arrived at New York 8 June . The ship decommissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 30 June 1894 . " Lancaster " recommissioned 12 September 1895 and was ordered to the South Atlantic Squadron . On 22 October she proceeded to Newport , Rhode Island , and on 4 November stood out for the South Atlantic , via Madeira and the Cape Verde Islands . The ship arrived at Montevideo , Uruguay , 13 February 1896 . She operated on the coast of South America until the following year , based at Montevideo , and serving part - time as flagship of the squadron . On 5 September 1897 she sailed from base for the United States , arrived Boston 18 November , and decommissioned there 31 December 1897 . 1898 – 1915 . After the outbreak of the Spanish - American War , " Lancaster " recommissioned 5 May 1898 , sailed on the 19th , and arrived on the 31st at Key West , Florida , where she served as station ship during the conflict . Departing Key West 18 August the ship arrived at Portsmouth 3 September . Assigned to duty as a gunnery training ship , " Lancaster " departed Portsmouth 8 January 1899 and cruised along the Atlantic coast and in the West Indies . From 3 June 1900 to 4 March 1901 she made a cruise to European waters , returning to the United States via the West Indies and La Guaira , Venezuela . She continued cruising the Atlantic training landsmen until she decommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard 1 May 1902 . " Lancaster " served as receiving ship at the Philadelphia Navy Yard , 16 November 1903 to 31 March 1912 , and was transferred to the Treasury Department ' s Bureau of Public Health Service , on 1 February 1913 . Her name was stricken from the Navy list on 31 December 1915 . " Lancaster " served the U . S . Public Health Service as a quarantine detention ship at Reedy Island , Delaware , Quarantine Station until 1920 , then was transferred to the New York Quarantine Station for similar use . Her hull was broken in 1933 . Her majestic gold eagle figurehead is now displayed at the Mariners ' Museum in Newport News , Virginia .