 "US Steam Ship 'Princeton' and "US Ship 'Raritan' | |
| History | |
|---|---|
.svg)  United States | |
| Name | USSRaritan |
| Builder | Philadelphia Navy Yard |
| Laid down | 1820 |
| Launched | 13 June 1843 |
| Fate | Destroyed, 20 April 1861 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Raritan-classfrigate |
| Tonnage | 1726 |
| Length | 174 ft 9 in (53.26 m) |
| Beam | 45 ft (14 m) |
| Draft | 22 ft 7 in (6.88 m) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Armament |
|
The firstUSSRaritan was a wooden-hulled, three-masted sailingfrigate of theUnited States Navy built at thePhiladelphia Navy Yard, laid down in 1820, but not launched until 13 June 1843, sponsored by CommodoreFrederick Engle. She was one of the last sailing frigates of theUnited States Navy.[1]
On 20 February 1844 the frigate, commanded by CaptainFrancis H. Gregory, clearedNew York Harbor and sailed for the South Atlantic where she served as CommodoreDaniel Turner'sflagship until she returned to the United States in November 1845.[1]
Based atPensacola, Florida,Raritan then operated with theHome Squadron as it blockaded the east coast ofMexico and supported Army forces during the war with Mexico. As CommodoreDavid Conner's flagship, she joinedUSSPotomac in landing 500 men atPoint Isabel to reinforce that military depot in May 1846. During 1847, she participated in the landings atVeracruz in March; atTuxpan in April; and atTabasco in June.[1]
Raritan then retired toNorfolk where she was laid up in ordinary during 1848. Active again in 1849, she served as flagship of theWest Indies Squadron, then as flagship for the Home Squadron, and in 1850 was transferred to the Pacific to cruise betweenPanama andCape Horn and as far west as theInternational Date Line.Raritan arrived atValparaíso in June 1851.[1] On 31 August, the British merchant shipGovernor Davis ran aground in the Bogueron Passage. Attempts byRaritan to refloat her were unsuccessful and she was abandoned.[2]Raritan returned to the United States in October 1852. On her arrival home, she was again laid up, in ordinary, at Norfolk.Raritan remained there until she was destroyed, 20 April 1861, by Union forces as they evacuated the navy yard.[1][3]
The Government vessels had been scuttled in the afternoon before thePawnee arrived, to prevent their being seized by the Secessionists … The following are the names of the vessels which were destroyed:Pennsylvania, 74 gun-ship; steam-frigateMerrimac, 44 guns; sloop-of-warGermantown, 22 guns; sloopPlymouth, 22 guns; frigateRaritan, 45 guns; frigateColumbia, 44 guns;Delaware, 74 gun-ship;Columbus, 74 gun-ship;United States, in ordinary; brigDolphin, 8 guns; and the powder-boat … [plus] line-of-battle shipNew-York, on the stocks … Large quantities of provisions, cordage and machinery were also destroyed — besides buildings of great value — but it is not positively known that the[dry] dock was blown up.
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.
