Laid down at the New York dockyard/Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1838, launched 9 April 1839 and commissioned March 1840 and finally sold 17 August 1865 at Mare Island, California. Dimensions 117’7” (between perpendiculars) x 32 x 15 and with a tonnage of 566 tons. Her armament consisted of 16 guns including 2-12pdrs and further 32-pdr carronades. Decommissioned at Mare Island, California in 1859 she was fitted out as a harbour battery (in service in 1863).
Emmons called her a 3rd class sloop armed 1 January 1850 with 16 guns, consisting of 16-32pdrs and a crew numbering 150 men. He mentioned New York as where she was built. Complete building costs were $ 117.483 while until 1850 another $ 46.093 were spent for repairs. While commissioned her annual expenses were about an average cost complete $ 118.000, divided as follows $ 39.529 for pay, $ 10.950 for provisions, $ 3.000 for ordnance, $ 800 for medicines, $ 10.000 for war and repair, $ 1.200 for contingent, totally $ 68.797. Ballast 24 tons, water 15.000 gallons and provisions for 3½ months. He provides us with a lot of details dealing with her seaworthiness. “Maximum draft 15½ feet; maximum speed 9½ knots per hour on a wind and 11 knots free; sailing best when trimmed about 10 inches by the stern. Sailing in company, generally beat the Potomac, Concord, Marion, and Enterprise; likewise beat the Delaware on a wind, under double-reefed topsails, but was beaten by her at all other points. ‘Is stiff; steers, veers, and stays well under all circumstances; lies to well; rolls very deep, but brings up easily,-1842.’’Steers and works well, rolls deep and easy; rides heavy at her anchors in a sea war; requires low sail and a good breeze,-1845”.
Sources
Donald L. Canney. Sailing warships of the US Navy. Rochester, 2001.
William Elliot. The Washington Guide. Washington, 1837.
George F. Emmons. The Navy of the United States from the Commencement 1775-1853. Washington [1853].
