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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Wabash (I)

1913 International Radio Call Sign:
Nan - Watch - Boy NWB

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal

Wooden-hulled screw-frigate:

Laid down, 16 May 1854 at Philadelphia Navy Yard

Launched, 24 October 1855

Commissioned USS Wabash, 18 August 1856, CAPT. Frederick K. Engle in command

Upon commissioning USS Wabash was assigned as flagship of the Home Squadron

Decommissioned, 1 March 1858, at New York Navy Yard

Recommissioned, 25 May 1858, CAPT. Samuel Barren in command

USS Wabash was assigned as flagship of Mediterranean Squadron

Decommissioned, 20 December 1859, at New York Navy Yard

Recommissioned, 16 May 1861, CAPT. Samuel Mercer in command

USS Wabash was assigned as flagship of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron

Reassigned as flagship for the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in September 1861

Reassigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron in December 1864

Decommissioned, 14 February 1865, at Boston Navy Yard

Placed in ordinary from 1866 to 1869, overhauled in 1870 and 1871

Recommissioned, 24 October 1871, CAPT. Robert W. Shufeldt in command

USS Wabash was assigned as flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron

Decommissioned, 25 April 1874, at Boston Navy Yard

Placed in ordinary 1875

Served as a housed-over receiving ship from 1876 to 1912 at Boston Navy Yard

Struck from the Naval Register, 15 November 1912

Sold for scrapping, 15 November 1912, to Boston Iron and Metal Co., Boston MA.

Final Disposition, burned for scrapping, 26 June 1913, at Eastport, Maine

Specifications:
Displacement 4, 808 t.
Length 301' 6"
Beam 51' 4"
Draft 23'
Speed 9 Kts.
Complement 477

Armament

two 10" Dahlgren smooth bore

fourteen 8" Dahlgren smooth bore

twenty-four 9" Dahlgren smooth bore

Propulsion Sail and Steam

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
	47k	Wash drawing in grey tones by Clary Ray, circa 1900, showing the USS Wabash under steam and sail. US Navy photo #: NH 85568-KN (Color) from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command. Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, DC.	US Naval History an Heritage Command
	117k	Color-tinted lithograph of USS Wabash by Major & Knapp, after a drawing by M.B. Woolsey, USN, published during the later 1850s.	Tommy Trampp
098600223	107k	"Last Gun from Fort Sumter" Phototype by F. Gutekunst, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa the later 19th Century. This print depicts a Civil War bombardment of Fort Sumter, in Charleston harbor, South Carolina, by U.S. Navy ships. USS Wabash is in the right foreground, with USS New Ironsides in the right distance. Two monitors are also present. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 51795.	Robert Hurst
098600230	696k	Deck of USS Wabash Wabash 1876-1912. Boston Public Library.	JOhn Spivey
098600224	305k	View of USS Wabash sometime in 1861.	Tommy Trampp
	223k	"The Great Expedition -- The Vessels at Anchor at Hampton Roads Previous to the Departure". Line engraving published in Harper's Weekly, July-December 1861 volume, page 725. It consists of two views of Flag Officer DuPont's squadron at Hampton Roads, VA., prior to leaving, 29 October 1861 to capture Port Royal, S.C. Ships and geographical features, as identified below the images, are (upper engraving, from left to right): ferry boats, store ship, steamer SS Marion, USS Seminole, steamer SS Ben Deford, tug *Grapeshot, Fort Monroe, USS Narragansett, USS Alabama, USS Pawnee, and new ("90-Day") gunboats. (lower engraving, from left to right): store ship, SS Vanderbilt, steam tug (foreground), store ship, steamer Winfield Scott, steamer Atlantic, USS Minnesota, steamer SS Baltic, USS Relief, USS Wabash, USS R.B. Forbes, steamer SS Oriental, steamer SS Matanzas, steamer SS Philadelphia, and the Rip Raps. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo #: NH 59317*	Robert Hurst
	146k	"Departure of the Great Southern Expedition, under General Butler, from Fortress Monroe". Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", 1861". depicting the departure of the fleet, 26 August 1861, en route to attack Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina. Ships identified in the title line are (left to right): USS Harriet Lane; USS Wabash; USS Minnesota; USS Monticello and USS Pawnee and Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # 58130	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	93k	"Bombardment of Forts Hatteras & Clark, by the U.S. Fleet" "Under the command of Flag Officer Silas H. Stringham, on the 28th and 29th of August 1861" A colored lithograph by J.P. Newell after a drawing by Francis Garland, Seaman in USF Cumberland, published by J.H. Buford, Boston, Massachusetts, 1862. Features identified below the image are (from left to right): USS Susquehanna; tug *Fanny; Fort Hatteras; USS Harriet Lane; Fort Clark; USS Cumberland; steamer Adelaide; USS Minnesota; steamer George Peabody; USS Wabash; USS Pawnee; and USS Monticello. Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # 66576-KN (Color)*	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	170k	"Portion of the Naval Expedition, as it appeared on the night of October 16, sailing to Hampton Roads. -- Sketched by an Officer on Board. 1861". Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", July-December 1861 volume, pages 712. It depicts Flag Officer DuPont's squadron en route to capture Port Royal, South Carolina. Ships, all U.S. Navy, as identified below the image bottom, are (from left): *USS Wabash,* USS Florida, USS Augusta,, USS Alabama,, USS Ottawa,, USS Seneca, and USS Pembina. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 59316	Robert Hurst
	100k	"The Great Naval Expedition" to capture Port Royal, South Carolina, November 1861. Engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", July-December 1861 volume, pages 696-697, depicts Federal warships and transports, under Flag Officer Samuel F. DuPont, USN, departing Hampton Roads, Virginia, en route to Port Royal. Ships, as identified below the image bottom, are (from left): (illegible), *Oriental, Baltic, USS O.M. Pettit, USS Gem of the Sea, Great Republic, USS Wabash* (DuPont's flagship), USS Seneca, USS Pembina, USS Connecticut, USS Mercury, USS Unadilla, USS Augusta, USS Alabama and (illegible). US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo #: NH 59315	Robert Hurst
	75k	"Bombardment and Capture of Port Royal, South Carolina, 7 November 1861" Engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", July-December 1861 volume, pages 760-761. It depicts Federal warships, under Flag Officer Samuel F. DuPont, USN, bombarding Fort Beauregard (at right) and Fort Walker (at left). The Confederate squadron commanded by Commodore Josiah Tattnall is in the left center distance. Subjects identified below the image bottom are (from left): tug *Mercury, Fort Walker, USS Wabash* (DuPont's flagship), steamer *Screamer (?), USS Susquehanna, CSS Huntsville, Commo. Tattnall, (probably misidentified as no record exists that CSS Huntsville served in the defenses of Port Royal, S.C. USS Bienville, USS Pembina, USS Seneca, USS Ottawa, USS Unadilla, USS Pawnee, USS Mohican, USS Isaac Smith, USS Curlew; (probably misidentified as no record exists that USS Curlew served with South Atlantic Blockading Squadron), USS Vandalia, USS Penguin, USS Pocahontas, USS Seminole, Fort Beauregard, USS R.B. Forbes* and "Rebel Camp". US Navy photo # NH 59256	US Naval History and Heritage Command
098600226	172k	The Union fleet bombards Confederate forts during the Battle of Port Royal. USS Wabash (in foreground). Image is from p 717 of the 1887 book Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, being for the most part contributions by Union and Confederate officers, based upon “the Century War Series"', volume 1. Taken from the Mechanical Curator collection, a set of over 1 million images scanned from out-of-copyright books and released to Flickr Commons by the British Library.	Robert Hurst
	126k	Signaling the flagship, USS Wabash, during the expedition the Beaufort, S. C.. "Harper's Weekly", November 30, 1861	Tommy Trampp
	158k	Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", July-December 1861, pages 456-457, depicting a large number of Navy ships off the New York Navy Yard, early in the Civil War. Vessels shown include (from left to right): USS Montgomery; USS Vandalia; USS Brandywine; USS North Carolina; USS Potomac; USS Savannah; USS R.R. Cuyler; USS Mount Vernon; USS Roanoke; USS Resolute and USS Wabash. A rowing launch is underway in the foreground. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 59308	Bill Gonyo
	94k	*"Bombardment of Fort Fisher"* "Jan. 15th 1865" Lithograph after a drawing by T.F. Laycock, published by Endicott & Co., New York, 1865, depicting the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron bombarding Fort Fisher, North Carolina, in preparation for its capture. The print is dedicated to Commodore S.W. Godon, USN. Ships present, as named on the original print, are (from left to right in the main battle line): USS Tacony; USS Maumee; USS Ticonderoga; USS Shenandoah; USS Tuscarora; USS Juniata; USS Wabash; USS Susquehanna; USS Colorado; USS Minnesotaa; USS Brooklyn; USS New Ironsides and USS Mohican. Ships in the foreground are (left to right, from the center of the view): USS Powhatan; USS Mackinaw; USS Vanderbilt and USS Malvern (Flagship of Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter). Monitors in the right middle distance are: USS Monadnock (with two turrets); USS Mahopac; USS Saugus and USS Canonicus. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # LC-USZ62-144 from the collections of the Library of Congress.	Bill Gonyo
	69k	USS Wabash photographed from the deck of the monitor USS Weehawken, in Port Royal harbor, South Carolina, 1863. US Navy photo #: NH 44510 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	155k	USS Wabash photographed in the Mediterranean, probably at Villefranche, France, circa 1871-73. Library of Congress photo # 4a14813v Detroit Photographic Co. collection	Library of Congress
	61k	USS Wabash photograph by E. Decand, Rue Pastorelli and Rue Paradis, Nice, France, circa 1871-73 when *Wabash* was flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron. Probably taken at Villefranche, France. US Navy photo #: NH 44511 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command. Collection of Rear Admiral Ammen Farenholt, USN(MC).	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	124k	USS Wabash at anchor with her open deck roofed over while serving as receiving ship at Boston, probably in the late 1870's.	Robert Hurst
	50k	USS Wabash while serving as receiving ship at the Boston Navy Yard, MA., sometime after 1876. Note that she has been partially housed over, but retains her masts and spars. US Navy photo #: NH 44514 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command. Collection of Rear Admiral Ammen Farenholt, USN(MC).	US Naval History and Heritage Command
098600227	147k	USS Wabash off the Boston Navy Yard while serving as receiving ship there circa 1890s. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 92942. Courtesy of Paul H. Silverstone, 1981.	Robert Hurst
	194k	Orders for Ship's Blacksmith Newell K. Earle USN to report to USS Pinta for duty at Norfolk, VA., signed by Commanding Office, Receiving Ship USS Wabash, 24 March 1883, Boston Navy Yard.	Tommy Trampp
	89k	USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship in 1885. She is berthed off the Timber Dock of the Boston Navy Yard. Note the gate to the dock at the bow of the ship. US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-14941	Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129
	183k	USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship, circa 1890s. US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-14574-4720.	Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129
	67k	Winter view of USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship, circa 1898-1899. US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-14957-89-2.	Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129
	81k	USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship, 15 May 1899. Construction of Dry Dock 2, which would replace the Timber Dock, has begun. As part of the work, *Wabash* would be moved to the east end of the yard's waterfront. US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-14574-401-6.	Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129
	164k	USS Wabash serving as receiving ship at Charlestown (Boston Navy Yard), circa 1900. US Library of Congress photo # LC-D4-5589.	Mike Green
098600229	161k	USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, 18 July 1903, while serving as receiving ship. Note steam launch in foreground. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 9-N-19-4-13	Robert Hurst
	159k	USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship, circa 1910-1912. US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-8769	Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129
	119k	USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship, 4 July 1912. US Navy Bureau of Ships photo # 19-N-19-4-14, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-11621	Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129
	103k	USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship, circa 1910-1912. US Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-14574	Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129
098600225	78k	USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship, circa 1890. Historic New England Collections, Reference Code PC001.02.01.USMA.0560.0280.001	Mike Green
098600228	122k	USS Wabash at Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship, after 1875. Note that her original masts have been replaced by light poles. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 44518 Courtesy Miss Preble, daughter of Rear Admiral Preble, USN, 1962.	Robert Hurst
	251k	Post card image of USS Wabash at Charlestown, Boston Navy Yard, while serving as receiving ship, circa 1910-1912.	Tommy Trampp
	56k	Ex-USS Wabash at Eastport, Maine, where she was burned for scrap on 26 June 1913. US Navy photo #: NH 44513 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center, Collection of Rear Admiral Ammen Farenholt, USN(MC).	US Naval Historical Center