The second USS ''Savannah'' was a frigate in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

. She was named after the city of

Savannah, Georgia Savannah ( ) is the oldest city in the U.S. state of Georgia and is the county seat of Chatham County. Established in 1733 on the Savannah River, the city of Savannah became the British colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later t ...

. ''Savannah'' was begun in 1820 at the New York Navy Yard, but she remained on the stocks until 5 May 1842, when she was launched. She was one of nine frigates to be built from a prototype design by naval architect William Doughty. ''Savannah'', with Captain Andrew Fitzhugh in command, joined the

Pacific Squadron The Pacific Squadron was part of the United States Navy squadron stationed in the Pacific Ocean in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Initially with no United States ports in the Pacific, they operated out of storeships which provided naval s ...

as flagship in 1844. As the prospect of war with

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

became imminent, the Squadron moved into position off the

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

coast. On 7 July 1846, the Squadron captured

Monterey Monterey (; es, Monterrey; Ohlone: ) is a city located in Monterey County on the southern edge of Monterey Bay on the U.S. state of California's Central Coast. Founded on June 3, 1770, it functioned as the capital of Alta California under bot ...

without firing a shot. On 8 September 1847, ''Savannah'' returned to New York for repairs. She served as flagship for the Pacific Squadron again from 1849–52. Repairs at Norfolk, Virginia took her into 1853, and on 9 August of that year, she sailed for a three-year cruise on the Brazil Station. In November 1856 she was inactivated, and in 1857, razeed, or reduced to a 24 gun sloop of war. She then served as flagship for the

Home Squadron The Home Squadron was part of the United States Navy in the mid-19th century. Organized as early as 1838, ships were assigned to protect coastal commerce, aid ships in distress, suppress piracy and the Atlantic slave trade, make coastal surveys, ...

on the east coast of Mexico during 1859 and 1860. USS ''Savannah'', and two charted steamers fought the small Battle of Anton Lizardo in 1860. Two armed Mexican vessels were captured by the Americans after they were deemed pirates by the Mexican government. With the outbreak of the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

in 1861, ''Savannah'' was deployed off the coast of

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

, where she shared in the capture of two

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

prizes, the schooner, ''E. J. Waterman'', and the ship, ''Cheshire''. On 11 February 1862, ''Savannah'' was taken out of active service and placed in use as an instruction and practice ship at the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...

. While in service as a practice ship, one of ''Savannahs commanding officers, Captain Edward Gabriel André Barrett, wrote and published two texts, still available at present, known for rapid education of voluntary officers: "NAVAL HOWITZER""Naval Howitzer", Edward Barrett 1863, reprint of 2005 – Wind Canyon Books (Brawley-CA 92227) and "GUNNERY INSTRUCTIONS" In 1870, after conducting her last training cruise to

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

and

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

, she was laid up at the

Norfolk Navy Yard The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard and abbreviated as NNSY, is a U.S. Navy facility in Portsmouth, Virginia, for building, remodeling and repairing the Navy's ships. It is the oldest and largest industrial facility tha ...

. She remained there until sold to E. Stannard and Company of

Westbrook, Connecticut Westbrook is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,769 at the 2020 census. The town center is classified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place (CDP). Geography Westbrook lies in the shorel ...

, in 1883.

References

External links

Log Book of the U.S.S. ''Savannah'', 1865, MS 138
an
Log Book of the U.S.S. ''Savannah'', 1868, MS 139
held by Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library at the United States Naval Academy {{DEFAULTSORT:Savannah (1842) Sailing frigates of the United States Navy Mexican–American War ships of the United States Ships of the Union Navy Ships built in Brooklyn American Civil War patrol vessels of the United States United States Naval Academy Training ships of the United States Navy 1842 ships

See also

References

External links