USS Juniata ( 1862 ) The first USS " Juniata " was a sloop of war in the United States Navy during the American Civil War . " Juniata " was named for the Juniata River . She was launched at Philadelphia Navy Yard on 20 March 1862 ; sponsored by Miss Angela Turner ; and commissioned there on 4 December , Commander John M . B . Glitz in command . " Juniata " was one of four sister ships which included , and . Service history . North Atlantic Blockading Squadron . Scheduled for service in the West Indies , " Juniata " was temporarily assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron and stationed at Norfolk , Virginia , where her guns could help defend the area while machinery defects were corrected at the Navy Yard . She departed Hampton Roads for the West Indies on 26 April 1863 and four days later captured schooner " Harvest " bound for Nassau , New Providence , with a cargo of cotton . She joined the West Indies Squadron at Havana on 5 May . She captured English steamer " Victor " about 8 miles off Morro Castle , Cuba on 28 May , and on 13 June took the schooner " Fashion " , loaded with chemicals critically needed by the Confederacy . The next day she captured the English schooner " Elizabeth " , and the " Don Jose " on 2 July . " Juniata " continued to cruise in the West Indies convoying California - bound ships to safe waters and alertly watching for signs of Confederate cruisers and blockade runners until she sail for New York on 24 November , arriving there 2 December . Under repairs at Philadelphia during the first half of 1864 , " Juniata " departed on 12 August in search of Confederate cruiser " Tallahassee " reported off Sandy Hook , New Jersey . Five days later she anchored in Hampton Roads and joined the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron . She operated out of Hampton Roads until steaming to Wilmington early in December in preparation for forthcoming offensive operations against that powerful stronghold and blockade running center . She was in the thick of the fighting during the first attack on Fort Fisher , closing Southern batteries to get in position for effective bombardment . Her daring upon this occasion , which cost her two officers and three men killed and 11 men wounded , was again displayed during the second attack on Fort Fisher between 13 January and 15 January 1865 . Five more of her men were killed and 10 wounded in this assault which wrestled Wilmington from Southern hands , sealing off the Confederacy from effective foreign aid . South Atlantic Blockading Squadron . " Juniata " was transferred to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron on 18 January 1865 and arrived Charleston Roads the next day . After a brief visit to Port Royal , South Carolina , to repair some of the damage sustained in the furious action at Fort Fisher , she participated in the expedition to Bull ' s Bay in support of General William Sherman ' s drive north through 17 February . " Juniata " received orders on 23 February to cruise along the coast of Brazil as far south as Buenos Aires protecting American citizens and interests . After extensive repairs she departed Port Royal on this assignment on 17 June and arrived Bahia , Brazil , 8 August bringing that city its new United States consul . With the exception of a cruise to the coast of Africa from 12 June to 30 September 1866 , she remained in South American waters until 30 April 1867 when she sailed from Rio de Janeiro for home , arriving Philadelphia on 24 June . " Juniata " decommissioned at Philadelphia Navy Yard on 29 June and remained there until recommissioned 19 July 1869 and departed for Europe . She served , in European waters until 18 June 1872 when she sailed for the United States arriving Boston Navy Yard on 29 June . She decommissioned 10 July . " Polaris " search . " Juniata " recommissioned on 10 February 1873 serving on the northeast coast until 26 June when she got underway for St . John ' s , Newfoundland en route to the west coast of Greenland to assist in her quest for survivors of " Polaris " which had come to grief exploring the Arctic with Charles Francis Hall . " Juniata " steamed as far north as Upernavik some 250 miles above Godhaven , Greenland , where she supplied " Tigress " . She returned to New York 1 November 1873 . After a cruise to the Caribbean , " Juniata " sailed for the European Station on 6 May 1874 and remained on duty there until she returned to the United States , arriving Baltimore , Maryland on 6 February 1876 . While at Philadelphia , Pennsylvania on 21 August , Seaman John Osborne saved a shipmate from drowning , for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor . " Juniata " decommissioned at Norfolk on 1 September . Circumnavigation . " Juniata " recommissioned at New York Navy Yard on 30 October 1882 , Comdr . George Dewey in command , and departed on a voyage which took her around the World through the Strait of Gibraltar , the Suez Canal , to Bombay , Batavia , Singapore , and Hong Kong , among her many ports of call . She returned to New York on 10 December 1885 and operated from that port until she sailed for the Pacific on 16 August 1886 . She again returned to New York on 4 February 1889 and decommissioned 28 February 1889 . " Juniata " was sold at Navy Yard , Portsmouth , New Hampshire , 25 March 1891 , to Herbert H . Ives . There is an oil painting by Hector Leardie of the ship in a typhoon in the China Sea dated 29 and 30 September 1888 , Hector Leardie was master .