U.S. Steamer Sacramento Watch, Quarter & Station Bills, 1866-1917 (bulk 1866-1867): Finding Aid

History of U.S.S. Sacramento (Screw sloop-of-war)

The first U.S.S. Sacramento was launched on April 28, 1862 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in New Hampshire and commissioned on January 7, 1863, Commander Andrew E. K. Benham in command.

Sacramento's first assignment was blockade duty off the North Carolina coast as part of the effort to eliminate Confederate shipping operations at Wilmington. During her cruising there, she captured the British blockade runner Wanderer on May 1, 1863. Ordered to European waters after refitting, Sacramento departed Boston on February 2, 1864, calling at the Azores, Capetown, and the Canary Islands before arriving at Cherbourg, France, on July 5, 1864. She then cruised off the British and French coasts in search of Confederate commerce raiders and blockade runners. She assisted in blockading C.S.S. Rappahannock (Screw sloop-of-war) at Calais in early 1865, and in March joined Niagara off Ferrol, Spain, to observe the movements of C.S.S. Stonewall (Ironclad ram) bound for Cuba. After the conclusion of hostilities, Sacramento departed Queenstown, Ireland on July 25, 1865 and arrived at Boston on August 12. Decommissioned on August 21 at the Boston Navy Yard, she remained inactive into 1866.

Recommissioned on September 17, 1866, Sacramento was assigned to special service in Chinese and Japanese waters. Proceeding via the Cape of Good Hope, the sloop called at Madeira before arriving at Monrovia, Liberia. She embarked President Warner of Liberia, members of his government, and Maryland Senator John Marshall at Monrovia on January 15 for passage to Cape Palmas. Sacramento then proceeded south, calling at São Jorge da Mina, Dutch Guiana; São Tomé; São Paul de Loando; Capetown; and Madras, India. Soon after departing Madras, Sacramento grounded on June 19, 1867 on reefs at the mouth of the Godavari River. Although a total loss, all hands from Sacramento were saved and eventually embarked aboard S.S. General Caulfield, arriving in New York on November 19, 1867.

Description of Contents

The U.S. Steamer Sacramento Watch, Quarter & Station Bills, comprising 0.1 linear feet of documentation in a single volume of 103 leaves, span from 1866 to 1867, with additional documents from 1917. The bills were compiled while Sacramento was under the command of Napoleon Collins.

The volume includes subsections for the watch bill; quarter bill; station bill (further subdivided into mooring and unmooring; loosing and furling; making sail in getting underway; up and down top gallant yards; reefing and hoisting; tracking and wearing; fire bill; and boats); general station bill; stowage of hammocks; muster roll and record; computation of allowance and distribution of rates; and daily routine.

At the back of the volume is an index. At the front of the volume are several letters, dated 1917, regarding the donation of the volume. The title page of the volume features a small photograph of the Sacramento, and the title page of each subsection is hand-illustrated.

Arrangement

The U.S. Steamer Sacramento Watch, Quarter & Station Bills comprise a single volume.

Access and Use

Access

Patron use restricted to microfilm.

Copyright and Permission

The U.S. Steamer Sacramento Watch, Quarter & Station Bills are the physical property of Nimitz Library. Copyright belongs to the authors or creators of the works, or their legal representatives. For further information, consult the Head, Special Collections & Archives.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure written permission to publish, reprint, or reproduce material from Special Collections & Archives. The researcher assumes responsibility for infringement of copyright or literary or publication rights. Please contact the Head, Special Collections & Archives for permission to publish and for further information.

Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Gift of Maunsell B. Field in 1917. Accession No. 56848.

Related Materials

Location of Copies or Alternate Formats

This collection also available on microfilm.

Related Archival Material

Additional material pertaining to U.S.S. Sacramento in this repository can be found in the George Mifflin Bache Papers, 1821-1968, MS 212.

Official logbooks of U.S.S. Sacramento may be available in Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships, ca. 1801 - 1940, Record Group 24: Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, 1798-2007 at the National Archives and Records Administration.

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

U.S. Steamer Sacramento Watch, Quarter & Station Bills, MS 72

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

The following sources were consulted during preparation of the biographical note:

"Sacramento I (ScSlp)." Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Washington: Naval History and Heritage Command, 2015, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/sacramento-i.html.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Mary R. Catalfamo. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in May 2020.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Sacramento (Sloop-of-war)
• United States. Navy -- History -- 19th century -- Sources

Genre Terms

• Manuscripts
• Muster rolls
• Ships' logs