| Minnesota, a wooden steam frigate, was laid down in May
18:54 by Washington Navy Yard; launched 1 December 1855; sponsored by Miss
Susan L. Mann; and commissioned 21 May 1857, Capt. S. F. Dupont in
command. |
| Minnesota, carrying William B. Reed, U.S. Minister to China,
departed Norfolk 1 July 1857 for the Orient. During her service with the
Fast India Squadron, she visited many of the principal ports of China and
Japan before departing Hong Kong to bring Mr. Reed home with a newly negotiated
Treaty of Commerce with China. Upon arrival in Boston 2 June 18 59,
Minnesota decommissioned at the Boston Navy Yard, 2 June 1859 and
remained in ordinary until the outbreak of the Civil War. |
| Minnesota recommissioned 2 May 1861, Capt. G. J. Van Brunt
in command, and became flagship of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron, commanded
by Flag Officer Silas Stringham. She arrived Hampton Roads 13 May and the
next day captured schooners Mary Willis, Delaware Farmer and
Emily Ann. Minnesota took bark Winfred on the 25th and
bark Sally McGee 26 June. Schooner Sally Blears became her
prize 1 July and bark Mary Warick struck her colors to the steam frigate
on the 10th. |
| Minnesota led a joint Army-Navy expedition against two
important Confederate forts, which had been erected at Hatteras Inlet, North
Carolina. The squadron opened fire on Fort Clark on the morning of 28 August
1861 forcing the Confederate gunners to abandon the fort at noon. The following
day, the fire of the squadron was concentrated on Fort Hatteras. The bombardment
was so effective the Confederates were compelled to seek cover in bomb shelters
and surrendered. |
| When Flag Officer Louis M. Goldsborough relieved Stringham in
command of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron 23 September, he selected
Minnesota as his flagship. |
| While blockading off Hampton Roads, 8 March 1862, Minnesota
sighted three Confederate ships, Jamestown, Patrick Henry,
and
Virginia
-- the former Merrimack, rebuilt and protected by iron plates -- rounding
Sewell's Point and heading toward Newport News. Minnesota slipped
her cables and got underway to engage the southern warships. When about 1
1/2 miles from Newport News, Minnesota grounded. |
| Meanwhile Virginia passed frigate Congress and rammed
sloop-of-war Cumberland. Virginia then engaged Congress
compelling her to surrender. Then Virginia, Jamestown and
Patrick Henry bombarded Minnesota killing and wounding several
of her crew before the Union warship's heavy guns drove them off.
Minnesota also fired upon Virginia with her pivot gun. Toward
twilight, the southern iron-clad withdrew toward Norfolk. |
| The recoil from her broadside guns forced Minnesota further
upon the mud bank. All night tugs worked to haul her off, but to no avail.
However, during the night Monitor arrived. Early the next morning
Virginia reappeared. As the range closed, Monitor, steaming
between Minnesota and the iron-clad, fired gun after gun, and
Minnesota returned fire with whole broadsides, neither with much apparent
effect. Virginia, finding she could not hurt Monitor, turned
her attention to Minnesota, who answered with all guns.
Virginia fired from her rifled bow gun a shell which passed through
the chief engineer's stateroom, through the engineers' mess room, amidships,
and burst in the boatswain's room, exploding two charges of powder, starting
a fire which was promptly extinguished. |
| At midday, Virginia withdrew toward Norfolk and the Union
Navy resumed its efforts to re-float Minnesota. Early the next morning
steamer S. R. Spaulding and several tugs managed to re-float the frigate
and she anchored opposite Fort Monroe for temporary repairs. |
| For the next few years, she served as flagship of the North Atlantic
Blockading Squadron. While anchored off Newport News 9 April 1864,
Minnesota was attacked by Confederate torpedo boat Squib who
exploded a torpedo charge alongside without causing damage and escaped. |
| On 24 and 25 December, Minnesota took part in amphibious
operations at Fort Fisher, which guarded Wilmington, North Carolina. During
the landings, she took a position about a mile from the fort and laid down
a devastating barrage on the Confederate stronghold. However, Gen. B. F.
Butler withdrew his troops nullifying the gains won by the joint Army-Navy
effort. Three weeks later, the Union Navy returned Federal Troops, now commanded
by the more vigorous General Terry, to Fort Fisher. A landing force of 240,
men from Minnesota, covered by a barrage from their own ship, participated
in the successful assault. This operation closed Wilmington, denying the
Confederacy the use of this invaluable port. |
| Ordered to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Minnesota decommissioned
16 February 1865. She recommissioned 3 June 1867, and made a cruise with
midshipmen to Europe. She was placed in ordinary at the New York Navy Yard,
13 January 1868. Recommissioned 12 June 1875, she remained at the New York
Navy Yard as gunnery and training ship for naval apprentices. In October
1895, she was loaned to the Massachusetts Naval Militia, continuing that
duty until August 1901 when she was sold to Thomas Butler & Co. of Boston.
She eventually was burned at Eastport, Maine. |
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