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USS Hartford

History of the USS Hartford

The USS Hartford was a battleship when the American Civil War (1861-1865) broke out, it was only a few years old. Propelled by steam and sail, she can reach a top speed of 13.5 knots under ideal conditions. Her systems and weapons were managed by a crew of 310, centered on a 20 x 9 inch Dahlgren smoothbore gun supported by 2 x 20 pound Parrott rifled barrels and 2 x 12 pounders.

The Boston Naval Dockyard undertook her construction, and she was launched on November 22, 1858, and commissioned on May 27, 1859.

USS Hartford became one of five battleships laid in 1857.

Early in her career, Hartford was assigned to the East India Squadron by her, but withdrew when the "War between Nations" broke out. Since then, Hartford participated in several major battles in the South, and their firepower was put to good use.

She attended the 1862 Battle of New Orleans and then supported the 1862-1863 Battle of Vicksburg. The ship served in the Battle of Mobile Bay (Alabama) in 1864. During the Civil War, these three Union victories were important to the Union cause and marked turning points in their respective campaignseach claiming tightening the noose around the Confederacy.

Ultimately, the important ports of Louisiana and Mobile were under Union control, and the fall of Vicksburg opened the Mississippi River to more Union traffic.

After the war, the USS Hartford entered a period of decommissioning in need of repairs. She served as the flagship of the Asian squadron before receiving another retirement order. From 1890 to 1899, Hartford rested on Mare Island, California, while she was remodeled to extend her sailing career. In October of the same year, the warship was commissioned again and sent to Atlantic waters to serve new Navy recruits, before berthing at Charleston, South Carolina from 1912.

She retired again in 1926 and moved to the waters of Washington, D.C. in 1938, in the hope that she would be an important part of a proposed museum championed by then-President Franklin Roosevelt. The museum never materialized, and its plans ended with the president's death.

From there Harford was transferred to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard and fell into disrepair under the abuse of the elements. In November 1956, she sank at the resting place in what was considered a complete loss.