Ships Vermonters' Served On
(SL: t. 2,724; l. 197’; b. 53’; dph. 22’2”; cpl. 840; a. 12 8”; 7 32–pdr.)
Designed by Henry Eckford, Ohio was laid down at New York Navy Yard in 1817 and launched 30 May 1820. She went into ordinary and in the insuing years decayed badly. Refitted for service in 1838, Ohio sailed 16 October 1838 to join the Mediterranean Squadron under Commodore Issac Hull. Acting as flagship for 2 years, she protected commerce and suppressed the slave trade off the African coast. Ohio proved to be an excellent sailer repeatedly making more than 12 knots. One of her officers stated, “I never supposed such a ship could be built-a ship possessing in so great a degree all the qualifications of a perfect vessel.” In 1840 Ohio returned to Boston where she again went into ordinary. From 1841 to 1846 Ohio served as receiving ship.
To meet the needs of the Mexican War, Ohio recommissioned 7 December 1846 and sailed 4 January 1847 for the Gulf of Mexico, arriving off Vera Cruz 22 March. Ohio landed 10 guns on 27 March to help in the siege of Vera Cruz; but the city soon surrendered.
Ohio drew too much water for coastal operations in the gulf. However, 336 of her crew participated in the Tuxpan River Expedition. In 1847 the entire distance from the mouth of the river to the town was covered with thick jungle growth. The enemy had constructed 3 well-positioned forts on bluffs overlooking bends in the river. On 18 April Commodore Perry arrived off the mouth of the river with 15 vessels. At 10 p.m. light-draft steamers Scourge, Spitfire, and Vixen, each towing a schooner, moved up stream. Bombships, Etna, Hecla, and Vesuvius followed closely while 30 surf boats containing 1,500 men brought up the rear. Approaching the town, the squadron came under hot fire from Fort LaPena. Commodore Matthew C. Perry ordered Commander Franklin Buchanan to disembark the surf boats and storm the fort. As the landing party swept ashore, the Mexicans abandoned their position. The other 2 forts fell in a like manner, with only light casualties substained by the squadron. Men from Ohio retrieved the guns of brig Truxtun which had foundered in a storm near Tuxpan 16 September 1846. The town was occupied and all military stores destroyed.
Following Tuxpan, Ohio sailed from Vera Cruz and arrived in New York 9 May 1847. On 26 June she sailed to bolster the Pacific Squadron, first carrying the U.S. minister to Brazil and operating off the east coast of South America until November. Ohio spent the next two years in the Pacific protecting commerce and policing the newly acquired California Territory during the chaotic early months of the gold rush.
In 1850 she returned to Boston where she again went into ordinary. In 1851, Ohio became receiving ship and continued this duty until again placed in ordinary in 1875. Ohio was sold at Boston to J. L. Snow of Rockland, Maine 27 September 1883.
Source: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Department of the Navy, Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC.
Green Mountain Boys known to have served on Ohio:
Anton, John, substitute - enl 9/16/64, Landsman, USN, m/o 1/26/65, vessels: Ohio
Bolster, George W., enl 11/28/63, m/i 12/10/63, PVT, 1st VVLAB, tr to 2nd VVLAB, 7/13/64, dis/dsb 8/19/64
Co. B, 10th MA INF, Landsman, USN, 62-63Brown, William, substitute - enl 3/65, Landsman, USN, m/o 11/14/67, vessels: Nipsic, Ohio
Butler, Edward, enl, date?, Landsman, USN, dsrtd 6/24/65, vessels: Ohio
Campbell, John, enl 12/64, Landsman, USN, dsrtd 1/20/65, vessels: Ohio, Chimo
Carey, B., enl 9/1/64, as Landsman, USN, Boston, receiving ship USS Ohio; age 22, farmer, blue eyes, brown hair, fair complexion; mustered 12/31/64, USS Brooklyn
Carr, Edwin P., res. Piermont, NH, enl 1/27/65, 2nd Class Fireman, USN, for 3 yrs, vessels: Ohio, Connecticut, tr to Princeton, 8/22/65, but never reported, nfr
Collier, Isaac, substitute - enl 8/9/64, m/i 8/9/64, PVT, Co. F, 11th VVI, tr to Co. C 6/24/65, m/o 8/25/65
Navy, Landsman; vessels: Ohio, Vermont, Tallapoosa, Potomac, MiantonomahColston, Charles F., enl 3/27/63, Seaman, USN, for 1 yr, disch 5/11/64 from Pensacola, additional service 5th NH INF; Vessels: Ohio, North Carolin, Seminola, Pensacolla
Colston, Charles T., substitute - enl 3/65, Landsman, USN, died 10/20/1866, vessels: Shawnee, Ohio
Daley, Joseph, enl 12/64, Landsman, USN, dsrtd 12/31/64, vessels: Ohio
Davis, Frederick, enl 2/65, Landsman, USN, m/o 7/11/65, vessels: Ohio
Dawson, William, substitute - enl 12/64, Landsman, USN, dsrtd 1/31/65, vessels: Ohio
Duran, Patrick, substitute - enl 1/65, Landsman, USN, m/o 6/10/65, vessels: Circassian, Ohio
Emmes, William, enl 1/20/65, Landsman, USN, m/o 6/24/65, vessels: Sea Foam; dsrtd from receiving ship Ohio
Frazier, Charles, substitute - enl 2/65, Landsman, USN, dsrtd 4/9/65, vessels: Ohio
French, Benjamin L., enl 1/65, Landsman, USN, m/o 3/9/65, vessels: Ohio
Furman, Jesse M., enl 12/3/63, m/i 12/3/63, Pvt, Co. B, 11th VVI, pr CPL 6/27/65, m/o 8/25/65
Seaman, USN (pension #5475), vessels: Constellation, Warren, Clara Dolsen, Falmouth, Ohio, Essex, FranklinHall, Hiram F., enl 11/6/61, Landsman, USN, m/o 9/12/62, vessels: Ohio, Portsmouth
Harrison, John, enl 2/65, Landsman, USN, dsrtd 3/6/65, vessels: Ohio
Haynes, Robert, enl 2/65, Landsman, age 38, USN, m/o 8/24/65, vessels: Connecticut, Ohio; g1891 says b. Maryland
Hopkins, James, enl 3/65, Landsman, USN, dsrtd 6/24/65, vessels: Ohio
Jackson, William, enl 12/64, Landsman, USN, dsrtd 2/19/65, vessels: Ohio
Kelley, Michael, enl 3/65, Landsman, USN, m/o 8/4/65, vessels: Ohio; discharged, Boston
Leighton, William H., enl 1/20/65, Landsman, age 31, USN, m/o 6/24/65, vessels: Sea Foam; discharged from receiving ship Ohio
Lonkins, Thomas, enl 12/64, Landsman, USN, m/o 12/31/64, vessels: Ohio
Lumsden, James, enl 3/65, Landsman, USN, dsrtd 4/9/65, vessels: Ohio
McCarty, Daniel, substitute - enl 12/64, Landsman, USN, m/o 1/31/65, vessels: Ohio
Mellen, Owen, enl 2/65, Landsman, USN, dsrtd 4/16/65, vessels: Ohio
Mellen, Peter, enl 12/64, Landsman, USN, dsrtd 2/19/65, vessels: Ohio
Packard, Charles E., cred Piermont, NH, enl 1/26/65, 2nd Class Fireman, USN, 3 yrs, vessels: Ohio and Connecticut, dsrtd 99/65 from receiving ship, Boston, MA
Powers, Stephen O., enl, 6/21/61, Landsman, USN, m/o 12/19/64, vessels: Savannah, Ohio, Wachusett
Pye, William, enl 1/65, Landsman, USN, dsrtd 2/26/65, vessels: Ohio
Reeves, Frederick, substitute - enl 12/64, Landsman, USN, m/o 8/19/65, vessels: Richmond, Ohio
Robinson, Benjamin, enl 12/64, Landsman, USN, m/o 7/11/65, vessels: Ohio
Sinclair, William, enl 12/64, Landsman, USN, dsrtd 12/31/64, vessels: Ohio
Waldo, Benjamin F., enl 3/64, Landsman, USN, dsrtd 6/25/64, vessels: Ohio
Wasson, Henry E., substitute - enl 2/28/65, Landsman, USN, m/o 4/9/65, vessels: Ohio
Welsh, Robert, enl 12/64, Landsman, USN, dsrtd 6/10/67, vessels: Ohio, Susquehanna
Whipple, George H., enl 1/65, Landsman, USN, dsrtd 4/9/65, vessels: Ohio
Williams, William, enl 8/6/61, Landsman, USN, m/o 8/6/62, vessels: Ohio, Fear Not;
enl again 12/8/63, m/i 12/16/63, Pvt, Co. F, 11th VVI, pow, Weldon Railroad, 6/23/64, Andersonville, prld 12/10/64, pr CPL 7/15/64, tt to Co C 6/24/65, m/o 8/25/65Woods, Charles H., enl 1/65, Landsman, USN, delivered as a deserter (dsrtd) 2/2/65, vessels: Ohio
York, Henry, enl 1/65, Landsman, USN, m/o 3/3/65, vessels: Ohio
Young, Lewis, enl 9/3/64, Landsman, USN, Boston, receiving ship USS Ohio; age 22, no occupation, hazel eyes, brown hair, dark complexion; mustered 12/31/64, USS Brooklyn, m/o 6/11/65, vessels: Brooklyn, St. Louis
