USS Mohawk (1853)

History
Launched:	11 June 1853
Acquired:	14 June 1859
Commissioned:	19 September 1859
In service:	13 September 1858
Fate:	sold 12 July 1864
General characteristics
Displacement:	464 tons
Length:	162 ft 4 in (49.48 m)
Beam:	24 ft 4 in (7.42 m)
Draft:	14 ft (4.3 m)
Speed:	9 kts
Complement:	90
Armament:	4 32-pdrs.

The second USS Mohawk was a screw steamship in the United States Navy.

Mohawk was built as Caledonia by Teas & Birely, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; launched 11 June 1853; chartered by the Navy 13 September 1858; and entered service soon after, Commander Augustus L. Case in command.

Mohawk sailed at once for South America to take part in Flag Officer William B. Shubrick’s 18-ship Paraguay expedition, attempting to gain apology for the 1855 firing upon survey steamer Water Witch. Arriving Asunción with the squadron 25 January 1859, Caledonia took position above Rosario in Río de la Plata, ready for operations while negotiations were conducted. Paraguay agreed to apologize for the incident and pay an indemnity.

The steamer returned to the United States in February, was purchased by the Navy 14 June 1859, and renamed Mohawk on that date. She commissioned at New York Navy Yard 19 September 1859, Lt. Tunis Craven in command.

Mohawk operated against pirates and slavers off the east coast and in the Caribbean through 1861, capturing slave ship Wildfire in Old Bahama Channel 28 April 1860, and delivering the prize to Key West where the crew was imprisoned. The 530 Africans on board were placed in a camp for protection, guarded by Mohawk's marines, until they could be returned home. From 15 November on Lieutenant Craven in Mohawk with steamer Wyandotte defended Forts Jefferson and Taylor at Key West, from actions of “bands of lawless men”, a farsighted action that enabled the Union to retain that vital Florida base, so valuable during the forthcoming naval operations in the American Civil War.

...
Wikipedia