Home Squadron
Encyclopedia
The Home Squadron was part of the United States
Navy
in the mid-19th century. Organized as early as 1838, ships were assigned to protect coastal commerce, aid ships in distress, suppress piracy
and the slave trade, make coastal surveys
, and train ships to relieve others on distant stations. It was discontinued in 1861 after the outbreak of the American Civil War
, when the Union blockade
forced a reassignment of ships to close off Southern ports.
which was involved in the battles of Tuxpan, Tabasco
, Villahermosa and Veracruz
. No ship-to-ship combat occurred though several merchant vessels were captured, the Home squadron primarily operated against Mexican coastal forts and artillery batteries
.
ending in 1821, Mexican liberals and the rebel conservatives were constantly in conflict. The friction led to a major civil war
known as the Reform War
from 1858 to 1860. During the Second Siege of Veracruz in 1860, a Mexican officer named Thomas M. Marin of the Mexican Navy
mutinied and escaped to Havana
with several of his crewmen. There he armed and equipped five vessels to sail back to Veracruz
to assist and supply General Miramon's siege of the federal held city. The Mexican government declared Marin's fleet to be that of pirates so ships of the Home Squadron were ordered to intervene and arrest Marin. Two of Marin's ships, the steamer General Miramon and the sloop-of-war
Marquis of Havana
, arrived at their rendezvous off Anton Lizardo. They were spotted by a Mexican fort and the frigate
USS Savannah
which ordered the sloop-of-war USS Saratoga
to intervene with help from two steamers.
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As the American ships under Commodore Thomas Turner approached and fired warning shots, the Mexicans attempted to flee but were closely pursued until forced to engage. A short but bloody engagement
was fought resulting in the capture of the two conservative ships and over thirty casualties on both sides. The battle played an important role in ending the Reform War with a liberal victory. Due to the loss of supplies, the conservatives under General Miramon failed to take Veracruz from the liberals for a second time. Soon after Miramon surrendered his army which ended the conventional phase of the war and started the guerrilla phase.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in the mid-19th century. Organized as early as 1838, ships were assigned to protect coastal commerce, aid ships in distress, suppress piracy
Piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
and the slave trade, make coastal surveys
Exploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
, and train ships to relieve others on distant stations. It was discontinued in 1861 after the outbreak of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, when the Union blockade
Union blockade
The Union Blockade, or the Blockade of the South, took place between 1861 and 1865, during the American Civil War, when the Union Navy maintained a strenuous effort on the Atlantic and Gulf Coast of the Confederate States of America designed to prevent the passage of trade goods, supplies, and arms...
forced a reassignment of ships to close off Southern ports.
Mexican-American War
During the Mexican-American War the ships of the squadron fought in several engagements against Mexican forces. Many of the Home Squadron vessels were attached to Matthew C. Perry's Mosquito FleetMosquito Fleet
The term Mosquito Fleet has had nine main meanings in U.S. naval and maritime history:#It is the term used to describe the United States Navy's fleet of small gunboats, leading up to and during the War of 1812, most were part of the New Orleans Squadron....
which was involved in the battles of Tuxpan, Tabasco
First Battle of Tabasco
The First Battle of Tabasco was fought during the Mexican-American War.-Background:The battle was part of the U.S. Home Squadron's efforts to blockade the major Mexican ports on the Gulf of Mexico.-Battle:...
, Villahermosa and Veracruz
Siege of Veracruz
The Battle of Veracruz was a 20-day siege of the key Mexican beachhead seaport of Veracruz, during the Mexican-American War. Lasting from 9-29 March 1847, it began with the first large-scale amphibious assault conducted by United States military forces, and ended with the surrender and occupation...
. No ship-to-ship combat occurred though several merchant vessels were captured, the Home squadron primarily operated against Mexican coastal forts and artillery batteries
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
.
Reform War
Since the Mexican War of IndependenceMexican War of Independence
The Mexican War of Independence was an armed conflict between the people of Mexico and the Spanish colonial authorities which started on 16 September 1810. The movement, which became known as the Mexican War of Independence, was led by Mexican-born Spaniards, Mestizos and Amerindians who sought...
ending in 1821, Mexican liberals and the rebel conservatives were constantly in conflict. The friction led to a major civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
known as the Reform War
Reform War
The Reform War in Mexico is one of the episodes of the long struggle between Liberal and Conservative forces that dominated the country’s history in the 19th century. The Liberals wanted a federalist government, limiting traditional Catholic Church and military influence in the country...
from 1858 to 1860. During the Second Siege of Veracruz in 1860, a Mexican officer named Thomas M. Marin of the Mexican Navy
Mexican Navy
The Mexican Navy is the naval branch of the Mexican military responsible for conducting naval operations. Its stated mission is "to use the naval force of the federation for the exterior defense, and to help with internal order". The Navy consists of about 56,000 men and women plus reserves, over...
mutinied and escaped to Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
with several of his crewmen. There he armed and equipped five vessels to sail back to Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
to assist and supply General Miramon's siege of the federal held city. The Mexican government declared Marin's fleet to be that of pirates so ships of the Home Squadron were ordered to intervene and arrest Marin. Two of Marin's ships, the steamer General Miramon and the sloop-of-war
Sloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
Marquis of Havana
CSS McRae
The CSS McRae was a Confederate gunboat that saw service during the American Civil War. Displacing around 680 tons, she was armed with one 9-inch smoothbore and six 32-pound smoothbore cannon....
, arrived at their rendezvous off Anton Lizardo. They were spotted by a Mexican fort and the frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
USS Savannah
USS Savannah (1842)
The second USS Savannah was a frigate in the United States Navy. She was named after the city of Savannah, Georgia.Savannah was begun in 1820 at the New York Navy Yard, but she remained on the stocks until 5 May 1842, when she was launched...
which ordered the sloop-of-war USS Saratoga
USS Saratoga (1842)
USS Saratoga, a sloop-of-war, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for the Battle of Saratoga of the American Revolutionary War. Her keel was laid down in the summer of 1841 by the Portsmouth Navy Yard...
to intervene with help from two steamers.
Battle of Anton Lizardo
The Battle of Anton Lizardo was a naval engagement of the Reform War which took place off Anton Lizardo, Mexico in 1860. A Mexican Navy officer named Rear Admiral Tomas M. Marin mutinied from the Mexican fleet and escaped to Havana, Cuba. There he formed a squadron of armed vessels to attack...
was fought resulting in the capture of the two conservative ships and over thirty casualties on both sides. The battle played an important role in ending the Reform War with a liberal victory. Due to the loss of supplies, the conservatives under General Miramon failed to take Veracruz from the liberals for a second time. Soon after Miramon surrendered his army which ended the conventional phase of the war and started the guerrilla phase.
Slave Trade
Slavers seized by the Home Squadron:| Vessel | Captor | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam | 21 August 1858 | Cuba Cuba The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city... |
|
| Cygnet | 18 November 1859 | Cuba Cuba The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city... |
|
| Wildfire | 26 April 1860 | Cuba Cuba The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city... |
|
| William | 9 May 1860 | Cuba Cuba The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city... |
|
| Bogota | 23 May 1860 | Cuba Cuba The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city... |
|
| W.R. Kibby | 23 July1860 | Cuba Cuba The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city... |
|
| Joven Antonio | 14 August 1860 | Cuba Cuba The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city... |
|
| Toccoa | 20 December 1860 | Havana Havana Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous... |
|
| Mary J. Kimball | 21 December 1860 | Havana Havana Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous... |
Commanders
- Charles StewartCharles Stewart (1778-1869)Charles Stewart was an officer in the United States Navy.Born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Stewart went to sea at the age of thirteen as a cabin boy and rose through the grades to become master of a merchantman. He grew up with Captain Stephen Decatur and Richard Sommers...
(1842) - David ConnorDavid Conner (naval officer)Commodore David Conner was an officer of the United States Navy, whose service included the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War. During the 1840s, he served on the Board of Navy Commissioners and as the first Chief of the Bureau of Construction, Equipment, and Repair.Conner was born in...
(1845–1847) - Matthew C. Perry (1847–1848)
- ??
- Foxhall A. Parker, Sr.Foxhall A. Parker, Sr.Foxhall Alexander Parker, Sr. was an officer in the United States Navy.- Biography :Born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, Parker joined the Navy as a midshipman on January 1, 1808. During the War of 1812 he was captured at sea...
(c. 1851) - ??
- John Thomas NewtonJohn T. NewtonCommodore John Thomas Newton was an officer in the United States Navy.Born in Alexandria, Virginia, Newton commanded Beagle on her maiden voyage to the Caribbean. Newton was in command of Missouri during her historic crossing of the Atlantic, the first by a steam-power vessel...
(1852–1855) - Charles Stewart McCauleyCharles Stewart McCauleyCharles Stewart McCauley was an American naval officer in the War of 1812 and the Civil War. He was a nephew of Admiral Charles Stewart....
(1855–1856) - Hiram PauldingHiram PauldingHiram Paulding was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, who served from the War of 1812 until after the Civil War.-Naval career:...
(1856–1858) - Garrett J. PendergrastGarrett J. PendergrastGarrett Jesse Pendergrast was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:A native of Kentucky, Pendergrast was married to Virginia Barron, the daughter of James Barron...
(1858–1861) - Silas H. Stringham (1861)