USS Nipsic USS " Nipsic " was a gunboat in the Union Navy . The ship was laid down on 24 December 1862 by Portsmouth Navy Yard ; launched on 15 June 1863 ; sponsored by Miss Rebecca Scott ; and commissioned on 2 September 1863 , Lieutenant Commander George Bacon in command . Service history . 1863 – 1873 . " Nipsic " arrived off Morris Island , South Carolina , on 5 November 1863 to join in the blockade of Charleston , where she served until the end of the American Civil War . On 27 June 1864 , she took schooner " Julia " as the blockade - runner attempted to enter port . On 26 June 1865 , three sailors deserted from the " Nipsic " . They were Henry May , Ordinary Seaman ; Julius Bergan , Seaman ; and John Partington , Seaman . The three had served together on three vessels : " Allegheny " , " Mahaska " , " Nipsic " . " Nipsic " served primarily with the South Atlantic Squadron off the coast of Brazil , and in the West Indies , protecting American commerce and interests until 1873 when she was decommissioned and subsequently broken up . 1879 – 1889 . Rebuilt as a new , and substantially larger , " Adams " - class gunboat , " Nipsic " recommissioned on 11 October 1879 . She served again in the West Indies until March 1880 when she sailed for the European Station . After three years service in the Mediterranean and along the north and west coasts of Africa , " Nipsic " returned to the South Atlantic Squadron in June 1883 . She served there until March 1886 when she sailed to the Washington Navy Yard for overhaul . In January 1888 she sailed for Cape Horn and Callao , Peru , whence she departed on 23 September for duty as station ship in Apia Harbor , Samoa . On 15 March 1889 , " Nipsic " rode at anchor in Apia Harbor with , , , and three German naval vessels , " Adler " , " Olga " , and " Eber " , along with six merchantmen . Gale - force winds arose , and preparations for leaving harbor were begun , but departure was delayed in the hope that conditions next morning would be more favorable for the sortie . However , by early morning on 16 March the harbor was a mass of foam and spray as hurricane - force winds battered the ships in the 1889 Apia cyclone . Only " Calliope " , larger and more strongly powered than the others , was able to leave the harbor . " Vandalia " , " Trenton " , the three German ships , and the merchantmen were all sunk ; " Nipsic ' s " captain , Comdr . D . W . Mullin , was able by superb seamanship to beach his ship . While severely damaged by the pounding she received on the beach , " Nipsic ' s " hull was intact , although much of her topside structure was battered , all of her propeller blades damaged , two boilers spread and useless , and eight of her crew lost . Refloated and her engines repaired , " Nipsic " cleared Apia on 9 May for Auckland , but was turned back by heavy seas . On 15 May she again sailed , for Pago Pago , Fanning Island , and Honolulu , arriving on 2 August . 1890 – 1913 . " Nipsic " was completely rebuilt in Hawaii , her length and beam extended and her tonnage increased . From 3 January 1890 she cruised in the Hawaiian Islands guarding American interests . She arrived in San Francisco Bay on 30 September , and decommissioned at Mare Island Navy Yard on 2 October 1890 . In 1892 she sailed to Puget Sound Navy Yard to serve as receiving ship and prison . On 13 February 1913 she was sold . References .