| The first Mississippi, a side-wheel steamer, was laid down
by Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1839; built under the personal supervision of
Commodore Matthew C. Perry; commissioned 22 December 1841, Capt. W. D. Salter
in command; and launched several weeks later. |
| After several years of service in the Home Squadron, during which
she performed experiments crucial to development of the steam Navy,
Mississippi joined the West Indian Squadron in 1845 as flagship for
Commodore Perry. During the Mexican War, she took part in expeditions against
Alvarado, Tampico, Panuco and Laguna do los Terminos, all successful in
tightening American control of the Mexican coastline and interrupting coastwise
commerce and military supply operations. |
| She returned to Norfolk for repairs 1 January 1847, then arrived
Vera Cruz 21 March carrying Perry to take command of the American Fleet.
At once she and her men plunged into amphibious operations against Vera Cruz,
supplying guns and their crews to be taken ashore for the battery which fought
the city to surrender in 4 days. Through the remainder of the war,
Mississippi contributed guns, men and boats to a series of coastal
raids on Mexico's reads coast, taking part in the capture of Tobacco in
June. |
| Mississippi cruised the Mediterranean during 1840-51, then
returned to the United States to prepare for service as flagship in Commodore
Perry's momentous voyage to Japan. The squadron cleared Hampton Roads 24
November 1852, for Madeira, the Cape of Good Hope, Hong Kong, and Shanghai,
which was reached 4 May 1853. |
| The squadron now approached Japan by calls in the Ryukyus and
Bonins, and entered Tokyo Bay 8 July 1853. Commodore Perry proceeded, in
one of the most difficult, skillful, and significant naval diplomatic missions
ever recorded, to negotiate a trade treaty with the Japanese, hitherto absolutely
opposed to opening their country to Western trade and influence. After further
cruising in the Far East, Mississippi and the squadron returned to Japan
12 February 1854 and 31 March the Treaty of Kanagawa was signed. |
| Mississippi returned to New York 23 April 1855, and again
sailed for the Far East 19 August 1857, to base at Shanghai and patrol in
support of America's burgeoning trade with the Orient. As flagship for Commodore
Josiah Tatnall, she was present during the British and French attack on the
Chinese forts at Taku in June 1859, and 2 months later she landed a force
at Shanghai when the American consul requested her aid in restoring order
to the city, torn by civil strife. She returned to ordinary at Boston in
1860, but was reactivated when the Civil War became inevitable. She arrived
off Key West to institute the blockade there 8 June 1861, and 5 days later
made her first capture, schooner Forest King bound with coffee from
Rio de Janeiro to New Orleans. On 27 November, off Northeast Pass, Mississippi
River, she joined Vincennes in capturing British bark Empress,
again carrying coffee from Rio to New Orleans. The following spring she joined
Farragut's squadron for the planned assault on New Orleans. After several
attempts, on 7 April 1862 she and Pensacola successfully passed over
the bar at Southwest Pass, the heaviest ships ever to enter the river to
that time. |
| As Farragut brought his fleet up the river, a key engagement was
that with Forts Jackson and St. Philip 24 April, during which
Mississippi ran Confederate ram Manassas ashore, wrecking her
with two mighty broadsides. The city was now doomed, and Mississippi,
her heavy draft making her less suitable to river operations than lighter
ships, remained off New Orleans for much of the next year. |
| Ordered upriver for the operations against Port Hudson,
Mississippi sailed with six other ships, lashed in pairs while she
sailed alone. On 14 March 1863, she grounded while attempting to pass the
forts guarding Port Hudson. Under enemy fire, every effort was made to refloat
her by her commanding officer Capt. Melancton Smith, and his executive officer,
later to be famed as Admiral George Dewey. At last her machinery was destroyed,
her battery spiked, and she was fired to prevent Confederate capture. When
the flames reached her magazines, she blew up and sank. She had lost 64 killed,
the ships in company saving 223 of her crew. |
Displacement, 3,220; Length, 229'; Beam, 40'; Draft,
19'; Armament (in 1841) two 10", eight 8" |
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