U.S.S. Enterprise, Log for Cruise of '97, 1897: Finding Aid

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

The fifth U.S.S. Enterprise, a bark-rigged screw sloop-of-war, was launched on June 13, 1874 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine and commissioned on March 16, 1877, Commander George C. Remey in command.

Enterprise's first duty after fitting out at Norfolk took her to the mouth of the Mississippi River for surveying operations. Returning to Norfolk in April 1878, she sailed on May 27 for further surveying duty up the Amazon and Madeira Rivers. This completed, she put in at the New York Navy Yard for repairs, then joined the U.S. Navy forces in European waters in December 1878, calling at numerous ports in northern Europe and in the Mediterranean. She returned to the Washington Navy Yard on May 9, 1880 and was placed out of commission.

Recommissioned on January 12, 1882, she cruised the east coast until January 1, 1883 when she sailed on a three-year hydrographic survey that took her around the world. Upon her return, Enterprise was decommissioned at New York on March 21, 1886. Placed back in commission on October 4, 1887, Enterprise sailed from Boston in January 1888 for two years in the waters of Europe, the Mediterranean, and the east coast of Africa. She returned to New York in March 1890 and was decommissioned on May 20.

Enterprise was again commissioned on July 8, 1890, and for the next year operated principally in the Caribbean. From September 1891 until September 1892 she served as training and practice ship at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. On October 17, 1892 she was lent to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for duty as a maritime school ship at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy for the next 17 years. Enterprise was returned to the Navy on May 4, 1909 and later sold on October 1, 1909.

Description of Contents

U.S.S. Enterprise, Log for Cruise of '97, comprising 0.09 linear feet of documentation in a single volume of 70 leaves, was compiled in 1897. The journal, compiled by Irving R. Wilmot, is the product of a practice cruise aboard U.S.S. Enterprise during her service as a training vessel for the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

The Enterprise's cruise, which began at Boston, touched at Southampton, Le Havre, Gibraltar, Madeira, and Bermuda. The journal notes daily weather conditions, sailing/steaming conditions, ship's course, Wilmot's daily duties, and daily occurrences aboard ship.

Arrangement

The U.S.S. Enterprise, Log for Cruise of '97 comprises a single volume.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The U.S.S. Enterprise, Log for Cruise of '97 is 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 Robert and Edith Whitman in 1981. Accession No. 81-05.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

Additional documentation pertaining to U.S.S. Enterprise in this repository can be found in Bowman Hendry McCalla's Memoirs of a Naval Career, MS 215.

Official logbooks of U.S.S. Enterprise 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.S. Enterprise, Log for Cruise of '97, MS 179

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

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

"Enterprise V (Screw Sloop-of-War)." Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Washington: Naval History and Heritage Command, 2015, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/e/enterprise-screw-sloop-of-war-v.html.

Processing Information

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

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Enterprise (Screw sloop-of-war)
• Massachusetts Maritime Academy
• Naval education -- United States
• Training-ships -- United States
• Wilmot, Irving R.

Genre Terms

• Journals (accounts)
• Manuscripts
• Ships' logs