USS Richmond

USS Richmond

Caribbean Service & Blockade of the Mississippi River

She was launched on January 26th, 1860 by the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia. It departed the shipyard on October 13th, 1860 heading for the Mediterranean Sea. Upon her arrival back at New York City in July 1861, the nation had already plunged into the Civil War and so she was immediately readied for sea. Her first war service began on July 31st, 1861 when she sailed for Kingston, Jamaica to search for a Confederate raise called the Sumter. She left Trinidad on September 5th and cruised along the souther coast of Cuba and around Cape San Antonio but, however, the Sumter reached New Orleans and by August 22nd, the Richmond was at Kingston filling up on coal again. Departing on the 25th of August, she arrived at Key West to join the Gulf Blockading Squadron. After cruising before Fort Pickens, she was ordering to the Head of the Passes at the mouth of the Mississippi River where she patrolled the mouth to maintain the blockade. Her captain became commander of a small flotilla, which included the sloop of war, USS Preble, and the despatch vessel, USS *Water Witch*. The ships were taken across the bar at the Head of the Passes during the first week of October. In the morning darkness of October 12th, 1861, the Confederate ram, CSS Manassas and three other armed steamers of the Mosquito Fleet attacked the Richmond in an attempt to break the blockade in what became the Battle of the Head of Passes. Steaming under cover of darkness, the Confederate ships took the Union squadron by surprise. *Richmond* was taking on coal from the schooner, *Joseph N. Toone*, when the CSS Manassas rammed *Richmond* tearing a hole in the sloop's side. Passing aft, the ram tried but failed to hit *Richmond* again before disappearing astern. *Richmond*'s gunners got away one complete broadside from the port battery though, somewhat evening the score. While USS *Vincennes* and USS Preble retired down the southwest Pass, *Richmond covered* their retreat. Three Confederate fire rafts were then sighted floating down river, and several large steamers were seen astern of them. In attempting to cross the bar, both *Vincennes* and *Richmond* grounded and were taken under fire by Confederate gunners afloat and ashore. Fortunately, the army transport, *McClellan*, arrived with long range rifled guns on loan from Fort Pickens; and halted the second Confederate attack. *Richmond* then cruised off the mouth of the river, blockading Confederate forces and aiding Army engineers erecting batteries on the banks of the South and Southwest passages. In mid-November 1861, she returned to Pensacola Bay for temporary repairs. On 22 November *Richmond* joined the steam sloop of war *Niagara* and the guns of Fort Pickens to bombard Pensacola Navy Yard, the Confederate defenses at Fort McRee, and the town of Warrington. On the second day of firing *Richmond* had one man killed and seven wounded when hit twice by shore fire. One shell hit forward, destroying railing and hammock nettings, and one aft on the starboard side glanced under her counter, exploding four feet (1.2 m) underwater, damaging her bottom and causing serious leaks. *Richmond* retired to Key West, Florida, and stood out from that port 27 November 1861 for repairs at the New York Navy Yard. Richmond left New York on February 13th, 1862. She joined the West Gulf Blockading Squadron off Ship Island on March 5th as flag officer David Farragut prepared to seize New Orleans. Richmond crossed the bar on the 24th of March with the fleet and began making preparations. Farragut’s fleet moved to position below Fort Jackson and St. Phillip. Mounting over 100 guns, these forts were the principal shore defenses of New Orleans. The Confederates had also gathered a flotilla of requisitioned gunboats and were trying to complete the powerful casemate ram *Louisiana* as well. They further counted on using fire ships to disrupt the large Union squadron. “ Hidden by intervening woods, the Union mortar flotilla under Commander David D. Porter began a six-day bombardment of the Confederate forts on 18 April 1862. The Confederates began sending fire rafts downstream, and *Richmond* reported dodging one in the early morning of 21 April which "passed between us and the *Hartford*, the great flames shooting as high as the masts." On 24 April Farragut's fleet ran past the forts, engaged and defeated the Confederate flotilla, and continued upriver for about 12 miles (19 km). Though *Richmond* was hit 17 times above the waterline, her chain armor kept out many rounds and limited her casualties to two killed and three wounded. *Richmond* landed her marine detachment at New Orleans to help keep order until General Benjamin Franklin Butler's Army troops arrived. *Richmond* helped take possession of military installations at Baton Rouge, Louisiana on 10 May 1862. Four days later she cruised upriver, first to a point 12 miles below the juncture of the Red River, thence off Natchez River and finally to a position below the Confederate stronghold at Vicksburg on 18 June 1862.” -Wikipedia. The Richmond and Farragut’s Squadron successfully passed Vicksburg and exchanged heavy fire on June 28th, 1862. The Richmond again suffered multiple deaths and damage during he New Orleans campaign. On July 15th, the Confederate case ate ram Arkansas came out of the Yazoo River and ran past the Union fleet above Vicksburg. Farragut's fleet again raced past Vicksburg and *Richmond* continued to provide escort for supply steamers and shore bombardment support. In one of the fiercest engagements of the war, Farragut's squadron attempted to pass the Confederate fortifications at Port Hudson about 15 miles upriver from Baton Rouge on March 14th, 1863. Only USS *Hartford* and USS *Albatross* succeeded in running the gauntlet, the remainder of the fleet having to turn back. *Richmond*, lashed alongside USS *Genesee*, found she could make no headway against the strong current as she came under fire from the shore batteries. *Richmond* was struck soon afterward by a 42-pounder shell which ruptured her steam lines, filling the engine room and berth deck with live steam. As *Genesee* was unable to tow *Richmond* against the current, the two ships reversed course, passing again through heavy shore fire. Attempts by General Banks to capture Port Hudson on the 27th of May were not successful so they went afloat to shore after a long siege. Meanwhile, strenuous efforts to take Vicksburg finally forced that city to surrender to General Grant on 4 July 1863. Five days later, *Richmond* and other ships below Port Hudson helped Union ground forces to take possession of that last Confederate bastion on the Mississippi. The Richmond departed New Orleans on July 30th, 1863 for an overhaul at the New York Navy Yard. On October 12th, she sailed south, calling at Port Royal, South Carolina and Key West, Florida. Fort Morton began firing but the action was soon general. Fifteen minutes later as the monitors were preparing to meet the defending Confederate casemate ram Tennessee, USS Tehcumseh struck a moored "torpedo" or mine and sank in seconds. Then USS Brooklyn, just ahead of *Richmond*, backed athwart *Richmond's* bow in order to clear "a row of suspicious looking buoys." *Richmond* and *Port Royal* in turn went hard astern, causing the entire line of wooden ships to fall into disarray. Admiral Farragut in *Hartford* decided the boldest course through the torpedo fields was the only one possible and gave his famous command "Damn the torpedoes ... full speed ahead!" Moving into the bay, *Richmond* opened fire on the Confederate steamers Selma, Morgan, Gaines, and *Tennessee*. At the same time the gunboat USS Metacomet, cast off from *Hartford*, captured *Selma*. Soon afterward *Port Royal* was sent after the disabled *Gaines*. Tennessee attempted in vain to ram the Brooklyn. Capable of very small speed, the Tennessee was subject to heavy fire from the Richmond and the Hartford. *Tennessee* passed astern toward Fort Morgan as Farragut's fleet proceeded into the bay away from the fort's fire. Farragut attacked the Tennessee with his strongest ships. The Richmond preceded in line with the Hartford and the Brooklyn. For over an hour, the Tennessee was rammed and battered by even the Hartford. By mid morning, Buchanan could see that his ship was a floating hulk and was surrounded by much stronger forces. Accordingly, a white flag was raised and the twin-turret monitor USS *Chickasaw* went alongside. *Richmond* suffered no casualties in the action and only slight damage. Fort Morgan still put up determined resistance and Richmond joined the squadron in a steady day and night bombardment. The fort then capitulated on August 23rd. The Richmond continued to operate in the Mobile Bay and even in the Pensacola Bay for a time before arriving at the Southeast Pass of the Mississippi River on April 23rd, 1865. That same evening, the Confederate ram *Webb* dashed down river from the Red River in an attempt to reach the open sea. Successfully passing Union ships at the mouth of the Red River and at New Orleans, *Webb* ran out of luck some 25 miles (40 km) below New Orleans. Closely pursued by Union gunboats behind her, *Webb* found *Richmond guarding* the estuary leading to the Gulf of Mexico. Trapped, *Webb* was run ashore, set afire, and blown up by her crew. A total of 33 sailors and marines earned the Medal of Honor while serving aboard *Richmond* during the Civil War, more than on any other ship. The first medals went to four members of the ship's engineering department for their efforts after an engine room was damaged by shellfire during the 14 March 1863 attack on Port Hudson. The remaining medals went to three marines and twenty-six sailors for their actions at the Battle of Mobile Bay. *Richmond* departed New Orleans on 27 June, arrived at the Boston Navy Yard on 10 July, and was decommissioned there on the 14th. In 1866 she was fitted out with a new set of engines. Recommissioned at Boston on 11 January 1869, *Richmond* departed on 22 January for European waters. Arriving at Lisbon on 10 February, she called at various Mediterranean ports during the remainder of the year and during 1870 was stationed at Villefranche and Marsiellies to protect U.S. citizens potentially endangered by the Franco-Prussian War. After the peace was made at Versailles, *Richmond* cruised the Mediterranean again. She returned to Philadelphia on 1 November 1871 and decommissioned there on the 8th. She was then selected from service with the West Indies Squadron and was recommissioned on November 18th, 1872 and stood out on Hampton Roads on January 31st of 1873. Arriving at Key West 11 February, she surveyed shoals near Jupiter Inlet, then cruised in the West Indies. On 7 April she was at Santiago De Cuba to assist in securing the release of U.S. seamen held by the Spanish. She then called at Havana and Matanzas before returning to Key West at the end of the month. Ordered to the Pacific in May, the Richmond rounded Cape Horn and reached San Francisco on November 28th. After repairs he departed California in January of 1874 as flagship of the South Pacific Station. Throughout 1874 and 1875 she cruised the West coast of Latin America. In September 1876 she again doubled Cape Horn and, after cruising off Uruguay and Brazil, reached Hampton Roads on 22 August 1877. On 18 September she was decommissioned for repairs at the Boston Navy Yard. Recommissioned in Late 1878, her next duty was a flagship of the Asiatic Fleet. Departing Norfolk on January 11th, 1879. She passed into the Mediterranean and through the Suez Canal. For four years *Richmond* cruised among the principal ports of China, Japan, and the Philippines, serving as flagship until 19 December 1883 when *Trenton* relieved her. While at Shanghai on 17 November 1879, Landsman Thomas Mitchell rescued a shipmate from drowning, for which he was later awarded the Medal of Honor .Receiving a new crew at Panama in September 1880, *Richmond* remained on station until departing Hong Kong for the United States on 9 April 1884. Again transiting the Suez Canal, *Richmond* reached New York on 22 August and was decommissioned for repairs. She was completely overhauled and recommissioned on January 2nd, 1889. She was then assigned to the South Atlantic Station and served as a squadron flagship once again. She cruised of Uruguay and Brazil for almost a year, she then returned to Hampton Roads on June 28th, 1890. On October 7th she arrived at Newport, Rhode Island where she served as a training ship until 1893. The following year she steamed to Philadelphia and served as a receiving ship until 1900. Then she remained moored at League Island until ordered in 1903. At Norfolk, she served as an auxiliary to the receiving ship USS *Franklin* until after the end of World War I. *Richmond* was struck from the Navy list in June 1919 and sold to Joseph Hyman & Sons, Philadelphia, on 23 July. She was delivered to that firm on 6 August for breaking up. Beached at Eastport, Maine and burned to recover valuable metal sometime in the 1st half of 1920.