The Susquehanna was a sidewheel steam frigate. She was launched Apr 5, 1850 and commissioned Dec 24, 1850.
It was the flagship of the East India Squadron from 1850 to 1855. The first captain was John H. Aulick. In 1852 it was Commodore Matthew Perry's flagship when he entered Tokyo.
1856-1861 was part of the Mediterranean Squadron.
USS Susquehanna on the left (Wikipedia)
Civil War
In 1861 the Susquehanna was assigned to the Atlantic Blockading Squadron. It participated in the capture of Forts Clark and Hatteras.In September 1861 it captured 2 British schooners and 2 Confederate schooners. From October 1861 to the spring of 1862 it was part of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. It mostly served in blockading Charleston, SC. On Apr 3, 1862 the Susquehanna took another British schooner.
April 27, 1862 the Susquehanna was ordered back to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. On May 8, 1862 the Susquehanna was among five Union warships that bombed Confederate batteries at Sewell's Point, Virginia.
In late May of 1862 the Susquehanna was assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, where she delivered dispatches for David Farragut to the Gulf of Mexico. During her time in the West Gulf Blockading Squadron she seized one Confederate schooner and one British streamer.
In the spring of 1863 the Susquehanna was sent back to New York for repairs. On her way she captured the schooner Alabama. The Susquehanna was decommissioned on May 14, 1863 at the New York Navy Yard.
On July 20, 1864 the Susquehanna was recommissioned and reassigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. She participated in the attacks of Fort Fisher, NC that failed on Christmas Eve 1864. She was one of the ships that re-attacked it on mid February and that time the Union was successful. During that time Real Admiral Sylvanus William Godon was in command.
After the Civil War
From 1866-68 she was part of the Atlantic Squadron. The Susquehanna took American delegates to open up relations with US backed Mexican President Benito Juarez, during the destruction of the Second Mexican Empire. The ship turned back when it was found out that Maxmilian I, who was the acting imperial ruler, was not going to abdicate.
The Susquehanna's final decommission came on Jan 14, 1868 at the New York Navy Yard. On Sept 27, 1883 she was sold for scrapping.
Sailors Buried in Bayside
The four sailors who served on the Susquehanna who are buried here are :Moses Chaney, Julius Hand, Merrill Hosmer, and Chester Parkhurst (Ironically the same one I just wrote about in my last post)
Moses Chaney's Grave
Moses was born in Potsdam on Sept 2, 1829 to Moses and Ruth Chaney. He was a farmer. Moses Jr. enlisted Sept 1, 1864 in Brooklyn for one year. He was mustered in as a private on Sept 1, 1864. Moses Jr. also served on the U.S.S. Savannah. He participated in both attacks on Fort Fisher. In the 1870 US Census he was listed as insane. Moses was married to a lady by the name of Orissa. He died Sept 1, 1875
Julius Hand's Grave
Merrill Hosmer's Grave
Merrill Hosmer was born Sept 16, 1841 to Mr. and Mrs. John S. Hosmer. After attending St. Lawrence Academy, he was a for a little while a partner with H.K. Baldwin in a grocery and feed store. Afterwards he entered into the shoe business with his father.
He enlisted in 1863 and served one year. Mr. Hosmer also served on the Mount Vernon. After the war he entered in the business of buying butter and produce. For 12 years he had a farm near Potsdam.
Mr. Hosmer was a Republican. He was County Committeeman for 15 yrs. From 1897-1905 he was Postmaster of Potsdam. He was a member of the Universalist church.
On Oct 7, 1867 he married Axie B. Sayles. They had four children. Two sons John S. (Helen's father) and Sumner survived him along with with Axie and two sisters Mrs. Susan Hackett and Rose Forbes. He died at his home on Bay Street on Jul 23, 1915.
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