USS ''Falmouth'' was a

sloop of war In the 18th century and most of the 19th, a sloop-of-war in the Royal Navy was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. The rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above; thus, the term ''sloop-of-war'' enc ...

in the United States Navy during the mid-19th century. ''Falmouth'' was launched on 3 November 1827 by Boston Navy Yard, and declared ready for sea 19 January 1828, Commander

C. W. Morgan C. or c. may refer to: * Century, sometimes abbreviated as ''c.'' or ''C.'', a period of 100 years * Cent (currency), abbreviated ''c.'' or ''¢'', a monetary unit that equals of the basic unit of many currencies * Caius or Gaius, abbreviated as ...

in command. Between 1828 and 1840, ''Falmouth'' made two cruises with the West Indies Squadron and two with the Pacific Squadron. Between cruises, she was in ordinary for repairs and refittings at either New York or Norfolk or Norfolk Navy Yard. Recommissioned after such a period in ordinary 16 December 1841, ''Falmouth'' joined the recently organized Home Squadron. ''Falmouth'' cruised from the Banks of

Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...

to the mouth of the Amazon and in the

Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...

and Gulf of Mexico with this squadron until 1846, aside from necessary repair periods. She operated chiefly in the Gulf of Mexico, carrying messages and Government officials, convoying Army transports to Texas, and protecting American interests in Mexico. From September 1845 to March 1846, she was

flagship A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, characteristically a flag officer entitled by custom to fly a distinguishing flag. Used more loosely, it is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, typically the fi ...

for the Squadron's commander, Commodore David Conner. During the opening months of the Mexican–American War, from April to September 1846, she blockaded Mexican ports, then sailed north for repairs. She lay in ordinary at Boston from 22 November 1846 until recommissioned on 26 April 1849. Sailing for the Pacific on 16 May 1849, ''Falmouth'' protected the new American settlements on the west coast, and voyaged to various Pacific islands before returning to Norfolk on 29 January 1852. Again she lay in ordinary, from 4 February 1852 until 18 November 1854. Between 16 December 1854 and August 1855 ''Falmouth'' cruised through the West Indies in an unsuccessful search for news of , missing since September. Returning to New York, she was in ordinary until 12 January 1857, when she was recommissioned for service on the

Brazil Station The Brazil Squadron, the Brazil Station, or the South Atlantic Squadron was an overseas military station established by the United States in 1826 to protect American commerce in the South Atlantic during a war between Brazil and Argentina. When th ...

. ''Falmouth'' joined in the

Paraguay expedition The Paraguay expedition (1858–1859) was an American diplomatic mission and nineteen-ship squadron ordered by President James Buchanan to South America to demand redress for certain wrongs alleged to have been done by Paraguay, and seize its cap ...

to Paraguay late in 1858, when relations with the United States were strained, and cruised in the

Paraná River The Paraná River ( es, Río Paraná, links=no , pt, Rio Paraná, gn, Ysyry Parana) is a river in south-central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina for some ."Parana River". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Br ...

and the Río de la Plata until tension eased. She sailed into New York Harbor on 19 May 1859, and on the 24th was decommissioned. Fitted out as a stationary storeship, ''Falmouth'' departed New York on 1 April 1860 for Aspinwall, Panama, the port later known as Colón. She served there as store ship for operating in the Gulf of Mexico, until sold in October 1863.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Falmouth Sloops of the United States Navy Ships built in Boston Mexican–American War ships of the United States Ships of the Union Navy 1827 ships