| Alabama -- a wooden-hull sidewheel steamer
built in 1838 at Baltimore, Maryland -- apparently operated under the aegis
of the War Department during the War with Mexico (1846-1848), carrying troops
that participated in the capture of Vera Cruz. After the close of hostilities,
the War Department transferred Alabama to the Navy Department pursuant
to the Act of Congress of 3 March 1849. The latter, however, found the ship
"unsuitable for naval purposes" and sold her at public auction, at New Orleans,
Louisiana, in October 1849. Records of her naval service (if any) have not
been found. It does not appear that she did in fact serve in the United States
Navy, since her name does not appear in any contemporary listings of naval
vessels, nor do any deck logs exist. She was ultimately lost, stranding on
Gun Key, in the Bahamas, on 12 July 1852. Fortunately, no lives were
lost. |
| Addendum: Michael A. Jendrossek, Marine Transportation Specialist
notes that Alabama was in fact as U.S. Revenue Cutter which served
with the U.S. Navy during the Mexican War but was never "in" the Navy, the
U.S. Revenue Marine being the forerunner of the U.S. Coast Guard. This would
explain the lack of naval records noted in the Dictionary of American Naval
Fighting Ships extract above. |
Tonnage 676 |
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