USS Cincinnati ( C - 7 ) USS " Cincinnati " ( C - 7 ) was a protected cruiser of the United States Navy and was launched on 10 November 1892 by New York Navy Yard ; sponsored by Miss S . Mosby ; and commissioned on 16 June 1894 , Captain Henry Glass in command . She was the second ship to be named after Cincinnati , Ohio . Spanish - American War . " Cincinnati " s first cruise , along the east coast , and then in the Caribbean , found her enforcing neutrality laws at Tampa and Key West during the Cuban Revolution from September 1895 - January 1896 . From September 1896 - July 1897 , she served in the eastern Mediterranean , returning to the South Atlantic Station in September 1897 . In April 1898 , opening month of the Spanish - American War , " Cincinnati " , commanded by Captain Colby Mitchell Chester joined the blockade off Havana , Cuba , and bombarded Matanzas . The next month , she scouted throughout the West Indies searching for the Spanish fleet known to be approaching Cuba . At the close of May , " Cincinnati " came north for repairs , returning to the Caribbean for occupation duty in August . She convoyed troops from Guantanamo Bay to Puerto Rico , patrolled off San Juan , made a reconnaissance of Culebra Island , and escorted the captured Spanish flagship " Infanta Maria Teresa " until the prize of war sank " en route " to Norfolk from Cuba . On 8 – 9 August , " Cincinnati " provided illumination with her searchlights and naval gunfire to support bluejackets defending the Cape San Juan Light from a Spanish ground assault in the Battle of Fajardo . After joining in salvage operations at Santiago in November , she sailed north , and from 14 February 1899 – 2 December 1901 was out of commission at New York Navy Yard for extensive repairs . Pre - World War I . Between May 1902 - January 1903 , " Cincinnati " protected American citizens and property in the Caribbean during political disturbances at Haiti , Santo Domingo , and Panama , and brought relief supplies to Martinique after the devastating eruption of Mount Pelee . From January – May 1903 , the cruiser sailed in the Mediterranean , then passed through the Suez Canal for four years of duty on the Asiatic Station , based in the Philippines . Target practice , maneuvers , and goodwill cruises took her to many ports in China , Japan , and the Pacific islands , and from time to time she patrolled off Korea . She returned to Mare Island Navy Yard on 10 September 1907 , and was decommissioned there on 12 October . World War I and beyond . Recommissioned in reserve on 8 March 1911 , " Cincinnati " was in full commission in 11 October 1911 , and two months later returned to the Asiatic Station for a six - year tour of duty similar to her earlier employment there . She returned to San Diego on 16 December 1917 , and while bound for the east coast took part in humanitarian relief at San Jose , Guatemala after severe earthquakes . She arrived in Hampton Roads on 16 January 1918 . As flagship of the American Patrol Detachment , Atlantic Fleet from 1 February 1918 – 28 March 1919 , " Cincinnati " patrolled the Gulf of Mexico from Key West , protecting the movement of vital oil supplies . She was decommissioned at New Orleans on 20 April , and sold on 4 August 1921 .