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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Bainbridge (I)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal

Bainbridge Brig-of-War:

Laid down early in 1842 by the Boston Navy Yard

Launched, 26 April 1842

Commissioned, USS Bainbridge, 16 December 1842, CDR. Zachariah F. Johnston in command

Assigned to the Home Squadron in January 1843

Reassigned to the Brazil Squadron in June 1844

Laid up at Norfolk for repairs, 10 October 1847

Reactivated, 13 March 1848, for patrol off the coast of Africa looking for ships with slaves as cargo

Decommissioned, at New York, 18 July 1850

Recommissioned, 8 October 1851 initially assigned Brazil but redirected to patrol off the African continent searching for slavers

Decommissioned, at New York, 30 August 1853 for yard work

Recommissioned, 19 October 1853, reassigned to the Brazil Squadron

In January 1855 with the commanding officer of Bainbridge mentally ill she sailed for home without permission

Bainbridge resumed her duties on the Brazil Station with a new commanding officer

Decommissioned, 18 September 1856, at Norfolk, for repairs

Recommissioned, 28 April 1858, reassigned to the Brazil Squadron

Decommissioned, 15 November 1858, at Boston, MA. laid up in Ordinary

Recommissioned, 15 May 1861

During the Civil War USS Bainbridge participated in the following actions:

Assigned to protect Union shipping at Panama after recommissioning

Assigned to the Gulf Blockading Squadron where she seized three Confederate blockade runners

Returned in May 1863 to New York for repairs, after storm damage near Aspinwall in November 1862

Final Disposition, capsized in severe weather off Cape Hatteras while enroute to her new assignment with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, all but one member of the crew was lost

Specifications:
Displacement 259 t.
Length 100'
Beam 25'
Draft 13' 6"
Depth of hold 11'
Speed unknown
Complement 80

Armament twelve 32-pdr carronades

Propulsion sail

Size	Image Description	Source
245k	Drawing showing the lines of the Brigs-of-War USS Bainbridge and USS Somers, 1842.	Robert Hurst
156k	Drawing showing the inboard details and deck plan of the Brigs-of-War USS Bainbridge and USS Somers, 1842.	Robert Hurst
96k	Wash drawing by R.G. Skerrett, 1903 of USS Bainbridge US Navy photo # NH 56661.	US Navy History and Heritage Command
105k	Sketch by George H. Rogers, depicting USS Bainbridge cruising off Cuba in 1862, when the artist served on board her. Note the dialogue written above the sketch: "Lookout at masthead - 'S-a-i-l O-h!' Officer deck - 'Where away?'. 'Three points off the Starboard bow Sir'. 'Can you make her out?'. 'No Sir'. 'Well keep a sharp lookout there'. 'Aye, Aye, Sir'" US Navy photo # NH 56662, courtesy of Charles Rogers Lord.	Tommy Trampp

USS Bainbridge (I)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 29 July 2016