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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Vincennes (I)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal

Boston class Sloop-of-War:

The first of ten sloops-of-war authorized by Congress, 3 March 1825

Laid down in 1825 at New York Navy Yard

Launched, 27 April 1826

Commissioned USS Vincennes, 27 August 1826, Master Commandant William Bolton Finch in command

USS Vincennes departed New York, 3 September 1826, for a four year around the world cruise, the first US Navy ship to circumnavigate the globe

Decommissioned, 10 June 1830, at New York

Recommissioned in 1830-31, CDR. Edward R. Shubrick in command, assigned to the West Indies to protect American commerce from pirates

Decommissioned, 19 August 1832, at Portsmouth N.H Navy Yard

Recommissioned, 1 June 1833, CDR. Alexander S. Wadsworth in command, assigned to her second Pacific cruise, Vincennes was the first American warship to call at Guam, completing her second circumnavigation of the globe at Hampton Roads, VA., 5 June 1836

Decommissioned, 18 June 1838, Vincennes remained in ordinary at Norfolk, VA., for two years

Recommissioned, in 1836, as the flagship for Lt. Charles Wilkes' United States South Sea Surveying and Exploring Expedition to the Antarctic and South Pacific, a voyage of almost four years

Assigned to the Home Squadron, in June 1842, CDR. Franklin Buchanan in command

Vincennes next sailed for the Far East, 4 June 1845, under the command of CAPT. Hiram Paulding as part of Commodore James Biddle squadron as part of the United States first attempt at making official contact with the Japanese government

Decommissioned, 9 April 1847, at New York

Recommissioned, 12 November 1849, for assignment to the Pacific

Decommissioned, 24 September 1852, at New York

Recommissioned, 21 March 1853, as flagship for CDR. Cadwalader Ringgold's survey of the China Seas and the North Pacific

Vincennes completed her third circumnavigation of the globe arriving at New York, 13 July 1856

Decommissioned, 17 July 1856, at New York

Recommissioned, 3 November 1857, assigned to the African Squadron to aid in the suppression of the slave trade

Decommissioned, 3 April 1860, at Boston Navy Yard

Recommissioned, 29 June 1861

During the Civil War USS Vincennes was assigned to the Gulf Blockading Squadron and participated in the following campaigns/actions:

Assisted in the occupation of Head of Passes, Mississippi River, 3 September 1861, remaining there on occupation duty

Forced aground at Head of Passes by CSS Manassas, 12 October 1861, refloated the same day

Captured the blockade-running British bark Empress, 27 November 1861

Decommissioned and laid up in ordinary, 28 August 1865 at Boston Navy Yard

Sold at public auction, 5 October 1867

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications:
Displacement 700 t.
Length 127'
Beam 33' 9"
Draft 16' 6"
Speed 10 kts
Complement 80
Armament 18 guns
Propulsion sail

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
	182k	Portrait of Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, Commander of the United States Exploring Expedition 1838-1842, by Thomas Sully, 19 January 1840. Courtesy of U.S. Naval Academy Museum.	Robert Hurst
	408k	A modern rendering of the six vessels of the U.S. Exploring Expedition assembled at Orange Bay, near Cape Horn, in February 1839. Shown from the left are the schooner *Sea Gull* at anchor; the flagship USS Vincennes in the foreground, hoisting out her launch; the schooner *Flying Fish* under way, shifting her anchoring ground; the sloop-of-war USS Peacock with her hands furling sail; the brig USS Porpoise standing in and shortening sail, preparing to anchor; and the store ship USS Relief in the distance with her upper yards sent down, preparing to distribute provisions. Artist unknown. From "Sea of Glory: The Epic South Seas Expedition 1838-42" by Nathaniel Philbrick.	Robert Hurst
	94k	Colored lithograph of USS Vincennes published by N. Currier, 2 Spruce Street, New York City, 1845. Courtesy of the Naval Art Collection, Washington, D.C. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 66524-KN (color).	US Naval History and Heritage Command
NH 83178	98k	Photographs of a painting (based on a sketch by Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, USN), depicting USS Vincennes in Disappointment Bay, Antarctica, circa January-February 1840, artist is unknown. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 83178. From collection of Captain Glenn Howell, 1974.	Tommy Trampp and Robert Hurst
	111k		Tommy Trampp and Robert Hurst
	100k	"Vincennes in Disappointment Bay". Line engraving by C.A. Jewett, after a sketch by Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, USN, depicting USS Vincennes in the Antarctic ice, circa January-February 1840. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 51494.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	120k	"View of the Antarctic Continent". Line engraving by Jorban & Halpin, after a sketch by Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, USN, depicting men and dogs of the U.S. Exploring Expedition "ashore" on the ice, with the Antarctic mountains in the distance, circa January-February 1840. USS Vincennes is amid the ice flows at right. The print is copied from "U.S. Exploring Expedition", Volume II. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 51495.	Robert Hurst
	141k	Painting by Alfred Agate, depicting USS Vincennes riding out a storm while cruising in the ice off Antarctica, circa January-February 1840. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 63631.	Robert Hurst
	137k	Sketch of the sloop-of-war USS Vincennes running before a gale amid the Antarctic ice. From The Narrative, courtesy Smithsonian Institution Libraries as found in "Sea Of Glory: The Epic South Seas Expedition 1838-42" by Nathaniel Philbrick.	Robert Hurst
	115k	Sketch of the sloop-of-war USS Vincennes at the San Francisco bar. After a night of being pummelled by seas that approached forty feet in height, the squadron's flagship joined the brig-of-war USS Porpoise, the newly acquired brig USS Oregon, and once they'd reached Hawaii, the schooner *Flying Fish* for the passage to New York via the Cape of Good Hope. From the Narrative, courtesy Smithsonian Institution Libraries, as found in "Sea Of Glory: The Epic South Seas Expedition 1838-42" by Nathaniel Philbrick.	Robert Hurst
	99k	Picture depicting the First U.S. Navy visit to Japan, July 1846. This is a copy made by Mr Renjo Shimo Oka from an original Japanese painting, depicting USS Columbus and USS Vincennes anchored in Edo (Tokyo) Bay, Japan, circa 20-29 July 1846. They were under the command of Commodore James Biddle, US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 63523.	Robert Hurst
	166k	"The U.S.S. Columbus and Vincennes in Japan". Contemporary lithograph published by Wagner & McGuigan, based on sketches by John Eastly. It depicts USS Columbus (right center), flagship of Commodore James Biddle, and USS Vincennes (left) anchored in Jeddo Bay, Japan, circa 20-29 July 1846. They are surrounded by a fleet of Japanese small craft, which acted to prevent the ships from communicating with the shore. Courtesy of Mrs. Macomb, Washington, D.C., circa 1920. Caption at the bottom of the sketch reads "On the 20th of July 1846, the U.S. Ships Columbus & Vincennes entered the Bay of Jeddo or (as the Japanese call it) Yeddo. The Ships stood well up the Bay until the Japanese, who had come on board, mentioned that they must not proceed further, and the Commodore not wishing to give offense anchored abreast a village, and about three miles from the shore. As soon as the Ships anchored they were surrounded by a large number of boats from whose warlike appearance much difficulty was not anticipated. Shortly after the sails were furled, the Commanders were politely requested to land their guns, ammunition, muskets & everything in the shape of a weapon, which request was as politely refused. The Anchorage was about 15 miles to the S(outh) and E(ast) of Yedo, which was hidden by a high point of land making out into the Bay. The Country around was beautifully green and the fields as well as could be distinguished from the ships were in fine order and to all appearance well cultivated. No person was allowed to land; and boats passing between one ship and the other were always followed by at least four Japanese armed boats to prevent their landing; and therefore there was no good opportunity of judging as to what the real state of the country might be. The visit altogether was one of the most novel kind. The people polite, amiable and exceedingly jealous of their customs, and adhered strictly to the long established one of not receiving the slightest remuneration for anything that they gave. The visitors were politely informed that as soon as their wants were made known they would be attended to and that done they were desired to leave and never return again. The Ships sailed from there on the 29th after an interesting stay of nine days, during which time hundreds of Japanese visited the Ships, and to hasten their departure, formed a line of several hundred boats to tow the vessels out to sea, and left rejoicing that they had rid themselves so easily of such a number of Barbarians." US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 54484.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	186k	USS Vincennes at anchor in Edo (Tokyo) Bay, Japan, circa 20-29 July 1846, surrounded by Japanese small craft. This image is cropped from a contemporary lithograph published by Wagner & McGuigan, based on sketches by John Eastly.	Tommy Trampp
	65k	USS Vincennes and an American crewman in Edo Bay in 1846, depicted by a Japanese artist.	Tommy Trampp
	140k	"The Battle at the Southwest Pass -- The Ram 'Manassas' attacking the 'Richmond.' -- Sketched by an Officer of the 'Richmond'." A line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", 1861, depicting CSS Manassas attacking USS Richmond near the Head of Passes, Mississippi River, on 12 October 1861. Other ships depicted include the U.S. sailing sloops of war USS Vincennes and USS Preble (in left center and at right). US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 59012.	Robert Hurst
	193k	Monument to Ships named USS Vincennes in Vincennes, Indiana's Patrick Henry Square. Image taken, 25 February 2008 by Mingusboodle (real name unknown).	Robert Hurst