USS Rhode Island was a fast sidewheel supply ship and later armed cruiser which served in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She was the first ship of the Navy to bear the name.

Rhode Island was originally built in New York in 1860 as the merchant ship John P. King. After being severely damaged by fire just after completion, the steamer was rebuilt and renamed Eagle. Before entering service, Eagle was purchased by the Navy and commissioned as the supply ship USS Rhode Island. In this capacity, Rhode Island was towing the historic ironclad to New York in 1862 when the latter vessel sank in a gale off Cape Hatteras; six of Rhode Island crew were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the disaster.

Refitted as a cruiser in 1864, Rhode Island continued to serve through the war and after. In 1866, another member of her crew received the Medal of Honor for the rescue of a shipmate.

Sold in 1867, the ship returned to merchant service the same year as Charleston until 1885, when she was abandoned by her owners.

Construction and commission

John P. King, a wooden-hulled, sidewheel passenger-and-freight steamship, was built in Manhattan, New York, in 1860 by J. A. Westervelt & Sons. Shortly after her initial trial trip, she was seriously damaged by a fire that broke out in the engine room. She was rebuilt by the original contractors in 1861 and renamed Eagle. On 27 June 1861, prior to entering service, Eagle was purchased by the Navy from her owners, Spofford, Tileston & Company, for service in the recently declared civil war, and renamed Rhode Island.

Rhode Island was built of white and live oak with copper and iron fastenings. Her hull was reinforced with iron bracing.

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References

  • Bauer, Karl Jack and Roberts, Stephen S. (1991): Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775–1990: Major Combatants, Greenwood Publishing Group, .
  • Photos of USS Rhode Island