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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Wabash (I)

1913 International Radio Call Sign:
Nan - Watch - Boy
NWB
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal

Wooden-hulled screw-frigate:
  • Laid down, 16 May 1854 at Philadelphia Navy Yard
  • Launched, 24 October 1855
  • Commissioned USS Wabash, 18 August 1856, CAPT. Frederick K. Engle in command
  • Upon commissioning USS Wabash was assigned as flagship of the Home Squadron
  • Decommissioned, 1 March 1858, at New York Navy Yard
  • Recommissioned, 25 May 1858, CAPT. Samuel Barren in command
  • USS Wabash was assigned as flagship of Mediterranean Squadron
  • Decommissioned, 20 December 1859, at New York Navy Yard
  • Recommissioned, 16 May 1861, CAPT. Samuel Mercer in command
  • USS Wabash was assigned as flagship of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron
  • Reassigned as flagship for the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in September 1861
  • Reassigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron in December 1864
  • Decommissioned, 14 February 1865, at Boston Navy Yard
  • Placed in ordinary from 1866 to 1869, overhauled in 1870 and 1871
  • Recommissioned, 24 October 1871, CAPT. Robert W. Shufeldt in command
  • USS Wabash was assigned as flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron
  • Decommissioned, 25 April 1874, at Boston Navy Yard
  • Placed in ordinary 1875
  • Served as a housed-over receiving ship from 1876 to 1912 at Boston Navy Yard
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 November 1912
  • Sold for scrapping, 15 November 1912, to Boston Iron and Metal Co., Boston MA.
  • Final Disposition, burned for scrapping, 26 June 1913, at Eastport, Maine
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4, 808 t.
    Length 301' 6"
    Beam 51' 4"
    Draft 23'
    Speed 9 Kts.
    Complement 477
    Armament
    two 10" Dahlgren smooth bore
    fourteen 8" Dahlgren smooth bore
    twenty-four 9" Dahlgren smooth bore
    Propulsion Sail and Steam

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Wabash 47k Wash drawing in grey tones by Clary Ray, circa 1900, showing the USS Wabash under steam and sail.
    US Navy photo #: NH 85568-KN (Color) from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command. Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, DC.
    US Naval History an Heritage Command
    Wabash 117k Color-tinted lithograph of USS Wabash by Major & Knapp, after a drawing by M.B. Woolsey, USN, published during the later 1850s. Tommy Trampp
    Wabash
    098600223
    107k "Last Gun from Fort Sumter" Phototype by F. Gutekunst, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa the later 19th Century. This print depicts a Civil War bombardment of Fort Sumter, in Charleston harbor, South Carolina, by U.S. Navy ships. USS Wabash is in the right foreground, with USS New Ironsides in the right distance. Two monitors are also present.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 51795.
    Robert Hurst
    Wabash
    098600224
    305k View of USS Wabash sometime in 1861. Tommy Trampp
    Narragansett 223k "The Great Expedition -- The Vessels at Anchor at Hampton Roads Previous to the Departure". Line engraving published in Harper's Weekly, July-December 1861 volume, page 725. It consists of two views of Flag Officer DuPont's squadron at Hampton Roads, VA., prior to leaving, 29 October 1861 to capture Port Royal, S.C. Ships and geographical features, as identified below the images, are (upper engraving, from left to right):
    ferry boats,
    store ship,
    steamer SS Marion,
    USS Seminole,
    steamer SS Ben Deford,
    tug Grapeshot,
    Fort Monroe,
    USS Narragansett,
    USS Alabama,
    USS Pawnee, and
    new ("90-Day") gunboats.

    (lower engraving, from left to right):
    store ship,
    SS Vanderbilt,
    steam tug (foreground),
    store ship,
    steamer Winfield Scott,
    steamer Atlantic,
    USS Minnesota,
    steamer SS Baltic,
    USS Relief,
    USS Wabash,
    USS R.B. Forbes,
    steamer SS Oriental,
    steamer SS Matanzas,
    steamer SS Philadelphia,
    and the Rip Raps.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo #: NH 59317
    Robert Hurst
    Minnesota 146k "Departure of the Great Southern Expedition, under General Butler, from Fortress Monroe". Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", 1861". depicting the departure of the fleet, 26 August 1861, en route to attack Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina. Ships identified in the title line are (left to right):
    USS Harriet Lane;
    USS Wabash;
    USS Minnesota;
    USS Monticello and
    USS Pawnee and
    Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # 58130
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Cumberland 93k "Bombardment of Forts Hatteras & Clark, by the U.S. Fleet" "Under the command of Flag Officer Silas H. Stringham, on the 28th and 29th of August 1861" A colored lithograph by J.P. Newell after a drawing by Francis Garland, Seaman in USF Cumberland, published by J.H. Buford, Boston, Massachusetts, 1862. Features identified below the image are (from left to right):
    USS Susquehanna;
    tug Fanny;
    Fort Hatteras;
    USS Harriet Lane;
    Fort Clark;
    USS Cumberland;
    steamer Adelaide;
    USS Minnesota;
    steamer George Peabody;
    USS Wabash;
    USS Pawnee; and
    USS Monticello.
    Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # 66576-KN (Color)
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Wabash 170k "Portion of the Naval Expedition, as it appeared on the night of October 16, sailing to Hampton Roads. -- Sketched by an Officer on Board. 1861".
    Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", July-December 1861 volume, pages 712. It depicts Flag Officer DuPont's squadron en route to capture Port Royal, South Carolina. Ships, all U.S. Navy, as identified below the image bottom, are (from left):
    USS Wabash,
    USS Florida,
    USS Augusta,,
    USS Alabama,,
    USS Ottawa,,
    USS Seneca,
    and USS Pembina.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 59316
    Robert Hurst
    Wabash 100k "The Great Naval Expedition" to capture Port Royal, South Carolina, November 1861. Engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", July-December 1861 volume, pages 696-697, depicts Federal warships and transports, under Flag Officer Samuel F. DuPont, USN, departing Hampton Roads, Virginia, en route to Port Royal. Ships, as identified below the image bottom, are (from left): (illegible),
    Oriental,
    Baltic,
    USS O.M. Pettit,
    USS Gem of the Sea,
    Great Republic,
    USS Wabash (DuPont's flagship),
    USS Seneca,
    USS Pembina,
    USS Connecticut,
    USS Mercury,
    USS Unadilla,
    USS Augusta,
    USS Alabama and (illegible).
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo #: NH 59315
    Robert Hurst
    Issac Smith 75k "Bombardment and Capture of Port Royal, South Carolina, 7 November 1861" Engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", July-December 1861 volume, pages 760-761. It depicts Federal warships, under Flag Officer Samuel F. DuPont, USN, bombarding Fort Beauregard (at right) and Fort Walker (at left). The Confederate squadron commanded by Commodore Josiah Tattnall is in the left center distance. Subjects identified below the image bottom are (from left): tug Mercury,
    Fort Walker,
    USS Wabash (DuPont's flagship),
    steamer Screamer (?),
    USS Susquehanna,
    CSS Huntsville, Commo. Tattnall, (probably misidentified as no record exists that CSS Huntsville served in the defenses of Port Royal, S.C.
    USS Bienville,
    USS Pembina,
    USS Seneca,
    USS Ottawa,
    USS Unadilla,
    USS Pawnee,
    USS Mohican,
    USS Isaac Smith,
    USS Curlew; (probably misidentified as no record exists that USS Curlew served with South Atlantic Blockading Squadron),
    USS Vandalia,
    USS Penguin,
    USS Pocahontas,
    USS Seminole,
    Fort Beauregard,
    USS R.B. Forbes
    and "Rebel Camp".
    US Navy photo # NH 59256
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Wabash
    098600226
    172k The Union fleet bombards Confederate forts during the Battle of Port Royal. USS Wabash (in foreground).
    Image is from p 717 of the 1887 book Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, being for the most part contributions by Union and Confederate officers, based upon “the Century War Series"', volume 1. Taken from the Mechanical Curator collection, a set of over 1 million images scanned from out-of-copyright books and released to Flickr Commons by the British Library.
    Robert Hurst
    Wabash 126k Signaling the flagship, USS Wabash, during the expedition the Beaufort, S. C..
    "Harper's Weekly", November 30, 1861
    Tommy Trampp
    Montgomery (III) 158k Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", July-December 1861, pages 456-457, depicting a large number of Navy ships off the New York Navy Yard, early in the Civil War. Vessels shown include (from left to right): USS Montgomery;
    USS Vandalia;
    USS Brandywine;
    USS North Carolina;
    USS Potomac;
    USS Savannah;
    USS R.R. Cuyler;
    USS Mount Vernon;
    USS Roanoke;
    USS Resolute
    and USS Wabash. A rowing launch is underway in the foreground.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 59308
    Bill Gonyo
    Maumee 94k "Bombardment of Fort Fisher" "Jan. 15th 1865"
    Lithograph after a drawing by T.F. Laycock, published by Endicott & Co., New York, 1865, depicting the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron bombarding Fort Fisher, North Carolina, in preparation for its capture. The print is dedicated to Commodore S.W. Godon, USN. Ships present, as named on the original print, are (from left to right in the main battle line):
    USS Tacony;
    USS Maumee;
    USS Ticonderoga;
    USS Shenandoah;
    USS Tuscarora;
    USS Juniata;
    USS Wabash;
    USS Susquehanna;
    USS Colorado;
    USS Minnesotaa;
    USS Brooklyn;
    USS New Ironsides and
    USS Mohican.
    Ships in the foreground are (left to right, from the center of the view):
    USS Powhatan;
    USS Mackinaw;
    USS Vanderbilt and
    USS Malvern (Flagship of Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter).
    Monitors in the right middle distance are:
    USS Monadnock (with two turrets);
    USS Mahopac;
    USS Saugus and
    USS Canonicus.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # LC-USZ62-144 from the collections of the Library of Congress.
    Bill Gonyo
    Wabash 69k USS Wabash photographed from the deck of the monitor USS Weehawken, in Port Royal harbor, South Carolina, 1863.
    US Navy photo #: NH 44510 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Wabash 155k USS Wabash photographed in the Mediterranean, probably at Villefranche, France, circa 1871-73.
    Library of Congress photo # 4a14813v Detroit Photographic Co. collection
    Library of Congress
    Wabash 61k USS Wabash photograph by E. Decand, Rue Pastorelli and Rue Paradis, Nice, France, circa 1871-73 when Wabash was flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron. Probably taken at Villefranche, France.
    US Navy photo #: NH 44511 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command. Collection of Rear Admiral Ammen Farenholt, USN(MC).
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Wabash 124k USS Wabash at anchor with her open deck roofed over while serving as receiving ship at Boston, probably in the late 1870's. Robert Hurst
    Wabash 50k USS Wabash while serving as receiving ship at the Boston Navy Yard, MA., sometime after 1876. Note that she has been partially housed over, but retains her masts and spars.
    US Navy photo #: NH 44514 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command. Collection of Rear Admiral Ammen Farenholt, USN(MC).
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Wabash
    098600227
    147k USS Wabash off the Boston Navy Yard while serving as receiving ship there circa 1890s.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 92942. Courtesy of Paul H. Silverstone, 1981.
    Robert Hurst
    Wabash 194k Orders for Ship's Blacksmith Newell K. Earle USN to report to USS Pinta for duty at Norfolk, VA., signed by Commanding Office, Receiving Ship USS Wabash, 24 March 1883, Boston Navy Yard. Tommy Trampp
    Wabash 89k USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship in 1885. She is berthed off the Timber Dock of the Boston Navy Yard. Note the gate to the dock at the bow of the ship.
    US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-14941
    Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129
    Wabash 183k USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship, circa 1890s.
    US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-14574-4720.
    Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129
    Wabash 67k Winter view of USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship, circa 1898-1899.
    US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-14957-89-2.
    Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129
    Wabash 81k USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship, 15 May 1899. Construction of Dry Dock 2, which would replace the Timber Dock, has begun. As part of the work, Wabash would be moved to the east end of the yard's waterfront.
    US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-14574-401-6.
    Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129
    Wabash 164k USS Wabash serving as receiving ship at Charlestown (Boston Navy Yard), circa 1900.
    US Library of Congress photo # LC-D4-5589.
    Mike Green
    Wabash
    098600229
    161k USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, 18 July 1903, while serving as receiving ship. Note steam launch in foreground.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 9-N-19-4-13
    Robert Hurst
    Wabash 159k USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship, circa 1910-1912.
    US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-8769
    Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129
    Wabash 119k USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship, 4 July 1912.
    US Navy Bureau of Ships photo # 19-N-19-4-14, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-11621
    Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129
    Wabash 103k USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship, circa 1910-1912.
    US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-14574
    Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129
    Wabash
    098600225
    78k USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship, circa 1890.
    Historic New England Collections, Reference Code PC001.02.01.USMA.0560.0280.001
    Mike Green
    Wabash
    098600228
    122k USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship, after 1875. Note that her original masts have been replaced by light poles.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 44518 Courtesy Miss Preble, daughter of Rear Admiral Preble, USN, 1962.
    Robert Hurst
    Wabash 251k Post card image of USS Wabash at Charlestown, Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship, circa 1910-1912. Tommy Trampp
    Wabash 56k Ex-USS Wabash at Eastport, Maine, where she was burned for scrap on 26 June 1913.
    US Navy photo #: NH 44513 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center, Collection of Rear Admiral Ammen Farenholt, USN(MC).
    US Naval Historical Center

    USS Wabash (I)
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