Chief Engineer King: Working on the Wabash and Roanoke
Rotting Fast at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
From The New-York Times March 30, 1861 (The New York Times Archive):
Military and Naval Intelligence.; THE BROOKLYN NAVY-YARD.
…
Matters at the Brooklyn Navy-yard were not so dull for some months as they are now. A number of men were discharged last week, there not being work for them. The force new on the rolls is short of a thousand, and the monthly disbursements do not average more than $40,000, independently of the officers’ pay. In the machine shops, the machinery of the Roanoke and Wabash is receiving an overhauling, and Chief-Engineer KING contemplates the addition to them of valuable improvements. The ordnance officers have no new armament under weigh, and are merely putting those lately taken from on board vessels in an efficient state. The cannon has not, as yet, been put in the new gun ground, which will be one of the chief ornaments of the Navy-yard. The marine garrison, under control of Capt. BREVOORT, consists of nearly a hundred men, who are drilled three or four times a week, under the supervision of Major DOUGHTY. The receiving ship North Carolina has nearly three hundred and fifty hands, all told, on board, the marine guard being also exercised periodically on ship board and the parade ground, by Sergeant LIBBY, who has made them perfect soldiers. No drafts are at present ordered for sea-going ships. Annexed is a list of the vessels at the Yard, with some account of their condition:
USS Wabash (1855): Getting its machinery overhauled in March 1861
The steam-frigate Roanoke is still in dock, slowly preparing for service orders. She could not be ready sooner than three months, at the least calculation.
Steam-frigate Wabash, alongside the docks, awaiting the completion of her machinery. Could be fitted out in six weeks.
Steam-frigate Powhatan, lately returned from the Gulf, in commission at the wharf and waiting orders. Could not be kept in active service more than three months in her present state.
Corvette Savannah, late flag-ship of the Home Squadron, lying in the stream, dismantled. Should be thoroughly overhauled, which would take two months, before being fit for duty.
Frigate Potomac, in the stream, exactly as she has been for years.
USS Savannah:'lying in the stream, dismantled'
Frigate Brandywine, ditto, ditto; rotting fast.
North Carolina, in commission — immovably fast in the mud.
There are four or five surveying vessels and revenue vessels at the wharf, whole officers do not know half so much about them as some City newspaper editors.
There is not the slightest evidence at the Navy-yard that “anything warlike is going on.” Ships that should be rapidly approaching the commission state in the usual routine of service, are permitted to remain in statu quo.
Orders have been received directing the immediate completion of the store-ship Release’s preparations for sea, and her departure as soon as possible for Florida, with stores and provisions for the home fleet and the forts. She will be ready to leave on Monday.
Capt. FOOTE returned from Washington yesterday, but owing to indisposition could not attend to his duties.
A mail for the East Indies squadron will close at the Lyceum this week.
The brig Perry has been hauled to the wharf, to be rigged at convenience.
A letter has been received from an officer of the United States steam-frigate Niagara, dated Aden, Jan. [???], stating that he expects to be home in his ship in May.
1) This report makes it sound as if the only sense of urgency at the Brooklyn Navy Yard is to get the USS Release ready to resupply the federal military in Florida. And it did leave on April 5th for Pensacola.
was Chief Engineer of the North Atlantic Fleet in the early part of the American Civil War. “Subsequently he was the superintendent of the construction of all the armour-clads built west of the Alleghanies
3) It seems that many of the ships mentioned did see service once the shooting war started. For example, the USS Perry was recommissioned on April 23, 1861 – the same day the USS Niagara made it back to Boston. It is said that the Niagara made it down to Charleston by May 10th.
When it could sail: USS Perry confronting a slave ship - 1850
