# USS Perry (1843)

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Gunboat of the United States Navy

For other ships with the same name, see [USS Perry](/source/USS_Perry).

Brig USS Perry (left) confronting American slave ship Martha off Ambriz, June 6, 1850. History United States Builder Norfolk Navy Yard Laid down date unknown Launched May 1843 Commissioned 13 October 1843 Decommissioned 29 April 1865 Fate Sold 10 August 1865 General characteristics Displacement 280 tons Length 105 ft (32 m) Beam 25 ft 6 in (7.77 m) Draft 13 ft 2 in (4.01 m) Depth of hold 12 ft 3 in (3.73 m) Propulsion sail Complement 67 Armament two 32-pounder guns six 32-pounder carronades

**USS *Perry*** was a [brig](/source/Brig) commissioned by the [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) prior to the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War). She was tasked by the Navy for various missions, including those related to diplomatic tensions with [Paraguay](/source/Paraguay), the [Mexican–American War](/source/Mexican%E2%80%93American_War), the [slave trade](/source/History_of_slavery), and the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War). She was probably named after Commodore [Oliver Hazard Perry](/source/Oliver_Hazard_Perry).

## Service history

*Perry* was launched in May 1843 by the [Norfolk Navy Yard](/source/Norfolk_Navy_Yard); and commissioned 13 October 1843, Comdr. Samuel F. Du Pont in command. The new brig departed [Norfolk, Virginia](/source/Norfolk%2C_Virginia), 3 December 1843, called at [Rio de Janeiro](/source/Rio_de_Janeiro), Brazil, and proceeded via [Cape Town](/source/Cape_Town), South Africa, and the [Straits of Sunda](/source/Straits_of_Sunda) to [Macau](/source/Macau), arriving 27 August 1844. There she embarked [Caleb Cushing](/source/Caleb_Cushing), the first American Commissioner to China, and sailed via [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong) for the coast of Mexico, arriving [Mazatlán](/source/Mazatl%C3%A1n), 4 November. Four days later she debarked Cushing at [San Blas](/source/San_Blas%2C_Nayarit), for an overland journey to [Vera Cruz](/source/Veracruz_(city)), to catch a ship home. *Perry* then sailed via [Honolulu](/source/Honolulu) for the [Society Islands](/source/Society_Islands) and the [Marquesas](/source/Marquesas) where she helped win respect and fair dealing for American whalers. She departed [Tahiti](/source/Tahiti) 16 April 1845; visited [Valparaíso](/source/Valpara%C3%ADso), Chile; sailed "round the Horn", reached Norfolk, Virginia, 17 September; and decommissioned on the 25th.

*Perry* recommissioned 16 May 1846, three days after war was declared on Mexico, and four days later sailed for the [Gulf of Mexico](/source/Gulf_of_Mexico) to blockade Mexican ports. However, after leaving Havana bound for [Charleston](/source/Charleston%2C_South_Carolina), [South Carolina](/source/South_Carolina), she endured the hurricane of October 10, 1846 driven over the reefs at Bahia Honda Key with every person on board surviving. She was [kedged](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/kedged) off (From account of ordeal by Naval Lieutenant Richard Schubrick Trapier who was aboard during that time.) and returned to [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania](/source/Philadelphia%2C_Pennsylvania), for repairs 4 December 1846.

USS *Perry* officers on a visit in the African Kingdom of Ambrizette, Congo – an audience with the Queen.

*Perry* got under way from Philadelphia 16 May 1847 to join the Brazil Squadron protecting American interests between [Rio de Janeiro](/source/Rio_de_Janeiro), Brazil and [Buenos Aires](/source/Buenos_Aires), Argentina. Informed that suspected slavers were bound for the coast of Africa under false papers, she seized American bark *Ann D. Richardson* off Rio de Janeiro 16 December. Two days later, she took the American brig *Independence*. Investigation proved that both ships had been engaged in the slave trade and were sent to New York City under [prize crews](/source/Prize_crews). *Perry* returned from the Brazil Squadron to Norfolk 10 July 1849 and decommissioned there four days later. *Perry* recommissioned 17 November 1849 and sailed for the west coast of Africa to help suppress the slave trade. But for a period in ordinary in New York City, 26 December 1851 to 27 April 1852, the brig continued this duty until returning to Norfolk 14 July 1854 and decommissioning on the 20th.

With the exception of a month in commission, 20 March to 27 April 1855, *Perry* remained in ordinary at Norfolk until recommissioning 21 January 1858. She departed [Hampton Roads](/source/Hampton_Roads) 15 February to serve in the expedition, commanded by Flag Officer [William B. Shubrick](/source/William_B._Shubrick), protesting an unprovoked attack on [USS *Water Witch*](/source/USS_Water_Witch_(1851)) 1 February 1855. The [task force](/source/Task_force) arrived at [Asunción](/source/Asunci%C3%B3n), Paraguay 29 January 1859 and quickly won [James B. Bowlin](/source/James_B._Bowlin), the U.S. Special Commissioner a respectful hearing. Sea power here achieved what four years of diplomacy had failed to obtain: an apology, an indemnity for the family of an American sailor killed in the fight, and a commercial treaty advantageous to the United States. The brig returned to New York 5 June 1860 and decommissioned ten days later.

### Civil War

The Confederate States privateer *Savannah* captured off Charleston by the U.S. Brig Perry, Lieut. Parrott

*Perry* remained inactive until the outbreak of the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War) in April 1861, recommissioning on 23 April 1861. Under the command of Commander John J. Glasson she headed south the same day escorting three transports carrying some 3,000 troops to [Annapolis, Maryland](/source/Annapolis%2C_Maryland), where they landed on the 25th to reinforce the [7th Infantry Regiment](/source/7th_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States)) then moving South to reinforce the nation's threatened capital. She then returned to New York City (where Glasson debarked for rendezvous duty) to prepare for duty as a blockader and sailed into Hampton Roads 18 May to join the newly established [Atlantic Blockading Squadron](/source/Atlantic_Blockading_Squadron). A week later she stood out from [Fort Monroe](/source/Fort_Monroe) and headed south for [Fernandina, Florida](/source/Fernandina%2C_Florida). On the last day of May, she took custody of the *Hannah M. Johnson* of Greenport, N.Y. about 15 miles southeast of [Cape Lookout, North Carolina](/source/Cape_Lookout%2C_North_Carolina) due to her having paperwork issued by the Confederates at New Orleans. The schooner was at New Orleans when the war broke out and was bound for New York having received a clearance from the Confederate Government to sail home. She was subsequently released by the Court at New York. The brig took Confederate privateer [*Chotank* (1861)](/source/USS_Chotank) 3 June, and subsequently turned two British ships away from the Southern coast before reaching her blockade station off the mouth of the St. Mary's River on the 11th.

With water running low and needing repairs, *Perry* sailed north 8 July, reaching Washington on the 21st, the eve of the Union defeat in the [first Battle of Bull Run](/source/First_Battle_of_Bull_Run). When word of the disaster reached the [Washington Navy Yard](/source/Washington_Navy_Yard), the brig moved into the [Potomac River](/source/Potomac_River) where her guns could command the approaches to [Alexandria, Virginia](/source/Alexandria%2C_Virginia), against a possible Confederate advance against the federal capital. A score of sailors from *Perry* landed to help man the batteries at [Fort Ellsworth](/source/Fort_Ellsworth). She continued to serve in the [Potomac Flotilla](/source/Potomac_Flotilla) for the rest of the year and captured sloops *Blooming Youth* and *Ellen Jane*. Late in December, *Perry* sailed for [Aspinwall, Colombia](/source/Aspinwall%2C_Panama), where she arrived 14 May 1862. The brig headed home 13 November, and decommissioned at New York 3 January 1863 for repairs.

Jamestown, [Saint Helena](/source/Saint_Helena), Naval Basis

*Perry* recommissioned 28 February 1863 and a month later took station off [New Inlet](/source/New_Inlet), North Carolina. On 31 March she captured [schooner](/source/Schooner) *Sue*, and on 1 May she took the [blockade runner](/source/Blockade_runner) schooner *Alma* attempting to slip into [Beaufort](/source/Beaufort%2C_North_Carolina) laden with salt and herring from [Bermuda](/source/Bermuda). She sailed north 13 August. Following repairs at [Boston](/source/Boston), Massachusetts, the brig joined the [South Atlantic Blockading Squadron](/source/South_Atlantic_Blockading_Squadron) at [Port Royal, South Carolina](/source/Port_Royal%2C_South_Carolina) 15 November 1863. After serving off Murrell's Inlet, South Carolina, until 15 December and off [Charleston, South Carolina](/source/Charleston%2C_South_Carolina), during the siege, she sailed 28 January 1864 to blockade station off [Fernandina, Florida](/source/Fernandina%2C_Florida), where she remained until the end of the Civil War. USS *Perry* decommissioned at [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia), [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania), 29 April and was sold at [public auction](/source/Public_auction) there 10 August 1865.

## References

- [American Civil War portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:American_Civil_War)

- Foot, Andrew Hull (1854). *Africa and the American Flag*. – British Library, [Digital item viewer](http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/lsidyv3c5d39603#ark:/81055/vdc_00000000ECBD.0x000005)[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

- [\[1\]](http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/lsidyv3c5d39603#ark:/81055/vdc_00000000ECBD.0x000005)[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*][House Documents, Otherwise Publ. as Executive Documents: 31st Congress First Session, Volume 9](https://books.google.com/books?id=qIsFAAAAQAAJ&dq=brig+perry+armament&pg=RA6-PA3)

- [\[2\]](http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/lsidyv3c5d39603#ark:/81055/vdc_00000000ECBD.0x000005)[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*][Historic ship plans of the Atlas du Génie Maritime](https://web.archive.org/web/20120113075641/http://www.servicehistorique.sga.defense.gouv.fr/medias/planbato/GM05PL0275.tif)

*This article incorporates text from the [public domain](/source/Public_domain)*[Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships](/source/Dictionary_of_American_Naval_Fighting_Ships)*. The entry can be found [here](http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p5/perry-i.htm).*

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1846 Shipwrecks 15 Feb: John Minturn 15 Aug: USS Truxtun 29 Aug HMS Rattler 10 Sep: USS Shark 22 Sep: Great Britain 10 Oct: USS Perry 11 Oct: USS Morris, Rodney 15 Nov: USS Boston 8 Dec: USS Somers 16 Dec: USS Union Unknown date: Allison, Susan Other incidents 25 May: Sea Nymph 1845 1847

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [USS Perry (1843)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Perry_(1843)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Perry_(1843)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.