USS Dixie ( 1893 ) The first USS " Dixie " ( later AD - 1 ) was a United States Navy auxiliary cruiser and later a destroyer tender . The " Dixie " was the first ship of the United States Navy to have this name . She was built as the steam brig " El Rio " in 1893 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co . , Newport News , Virginia , purchased by the Navy 15 April 1898 , converted to an auxiliary cruiser by her builder , and commissioned 19 April 1898 , Commander Charles Henry Davis in command . Service history . Spanish - American War , 1898 – 1899 . " Dixie " stood out of Hampton Roads , 11 June 1898 , and arrived at Santiago de Cuba on 19 June . Attached to Eastern Squadron , North Atlantic Fleet , she cruised in the West Indies during the Spanish - American War on blockade duty and convoying Army transports . During 27 and 28 July , she participated in the capture of Ponce , Puerto Rico , landing an armed force which received the surrender of the towns of Ponce and La Playa . She sailed from Guantánamo Bay , Cuba , 24 August and arrived at Philadelphia 22 September , where she was placed out of commission 7 March 1899 . Between 15 March and 15 July she was on loan to the War Department for use as a transport . Training ship , 1899 – 1902 . Recommissioned 15 November 1899 , " Dixie " began service as a training ship for recruits . From 17 December 1899 to 8 August 1900 , she sailed to the West Indies , the Mediterranean , through the Suez Canal to the Philippines , where she transferred men to the base at Cavite , returning to the United States by the same route . Another training cruise was made from 29 September 1900 to 28 February 1901 , during which she visited the Azores , Madeira , Gibraltar , and Mediterranean ports returning by way of the West Indies and La Guaira , Venezuela , to Norfolk . She transferred men and stores to the South Atlantic Station between 7 May and 3 July 1901 , then made another training cruise to northern European waters and the Mediterranean between 24 July 1901 and 7 May 1902 . From 14 May to 6 June 1902 she was on special duty , transporting provisions and supplies for the relief of victims of the volcanic eruptions of Soufrière , Martinique and Mount Pelée , St . Vincent in the West Indies . She went out of commission at New York Navy Yard on 21 July 1902 . Caribbean Squadron , 1903 – 1907 . " Dixie " was recommissioned 1 October 1903 and joined the Caribbean Squadron , North Atlantic Fleet . She served principally as a transport on the east coast , in the Caribbean , and the Panama Canal Zone , carrying Marines , recruits for training , and drafts of men for other vessels as well as engaging in target practice for her crew and Reserves . Assigned to the Special Service Squadron she steamed from Philadelphia 26 June 1905 to carry a party of scientists to the Mediterranean to observe the solar eclipse of 30 August . She arrived at Bone , Algeria , 21 July , and established Eclipse Station No . 2 for these observations . Returning to Philadelphia 13 October , she was returned to a noncommissioned status 10 days later . In commission again from 2 June 1906 to 1 November 1907 , she transported Marines and stores to the Caribbean and cruised in that area to protect American interests . Destroyer Tender , 1909 – 1922 . She remained out of commission until 2 February 1909 when she was assigned as tender to Atlantic Torpedo Flotilla and Destroyer Squadron , Atlantic Fleet . She cruised on the east coast , in the Caribbean , and in the Gulf of Mexico in this service . In addition to her tender duty , she towed submarine s ; transported Marines and crews for other ships ; carried the Nicaraguan expeditionary force to Colón , C . Z . , and took part in the operations off Mexico during April and May 1914 , transporting supplies and refugees from 1914 to 1915 . She returned to Philadelphia 16 December 1915 . From 18 June 1916 to 6 May 1917 , " Dixie " served as tender for Destroyer Force , Atlantic Fleet ; engaged in gunnery exercises with destroyers and maneuvers with the fleet ; delivered stores and mail ; transported refugees from Mexico to Galveston , Texas , and served as tender to Squadron 4 , Patrol Force , at Key West . With American entry into World War I , " Dixie " departed Philadelphia 31 May 1917 to join U . S . naval forces operating in European waters . Arriving at Queenstown , Ireland , 12 June , she served as tender for American destroyers based at that port until 15 December 1918 , except for a period of similar duty at Berehaven ( 21 June - 27 August 1917 ) . Returning to Philadelphia 22 February 1919 , " Dixie " served as tender to destroyer flotillas operating on the east coast , and in the Caribbean . On 24 February 1919 , " Dixie " ran aground shortly after putting out of Kingston , Jamaica . She was pulled free by , and was able to continue on with the destroyer force to Guantánamo Bay . Classified AD - 1 on 17 July 1920 she arrived at Philadelphia 16 July to tend the destroyer s in reserve at Philadelphia Navy Yard . From 6 April 1921 to 17 May 1922 she was again tender to Destroyer Squadron s Atlantic Fleet , cruising along the east coast from New York to Charleston , South Carolina . " Dixie " was decommissioned 30 June 1922 and sold 25 September of the same year .