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5 - Exploring Strange Worlds(Part 1)
The South American Patrol
The years following the War of 1812 saw a time of relative peace, with only occasional localized skirmishes. During
this period, the United States Navy and the Royal Navy began to devote more emphasis to exploratory voyages. Needless
to say, gallant ladies named Enterprise took part in these voyages of adventure and exploration.
The fourth American Enterprise was a 10-gun schooner built at the New York Navy Yard and commissioned on December
15, 1831. She spent most of her career "showing the flag" at ports around the world.
Under command of Lt. Commander Samuel Downing, the USS Enterprise sailed for South America on January 12, 1832.
At that time, there was much tension between Brazil and Uruguay, and the Enterprise patrolled the area ready to
protect American shipping interests and citizens in both countries. Between August 5 and 11, 1832, Lt. Commander Downing
and most of the Enterprise's crew were ashore at Montevideo, Uruguay defending American citizens during a revolt
of local army troops. The Enterprise continued to patrol the Brazilian coast until April 1834, when she returned
to the United States. After repairs in New York, she returned to the Brazilian patrol in July 1834, under command of
Lt. Archibald Campbell.
On July 13, 1835, the Enterprise and the sloop Peacock set sail for the Far East as the newly-established
East India Squadron. The Enterprise arrived at Zanzibar on September 14, 1835 and was at Bombay, India by October
15. She continued her Far East patrol, stopping at Ceylon, Java, Sumatra, and Cambodia, where Lt. Campbell died of
fever. Lt. George Hollins of the Peacock was put in command of the Enterprise, and she continued eastward
across the Pacific, stopping in Honolulu, Hawaii in September 1836. She then proceeded to the west coast of Mexico,
arriving in October 1836.
Because of the threat of war between Chile and Peru, the Enterprise began a patrol off the west coast of South
America in February 1837, to protect American shipping. She remained on station off the west coast of South America
until March 1839. During this time, her command was transferred, first to Lt. Commander William Glendy and later to
Lt. Harry Ingersoll. After rounding Cape Horn, the Enterprise stopped at Rio de Janeiro in April 1839, enroute
to Philadelphia. There, she was decommissioned on July 12, 1839.
The Enterprise was recommissioned on November 29, 1839, with Lt. Commander Frank Ellery in command. In September
1840, now commanded by Lt. Louis Goldsborough, she captured the pirate brig Malek Adhel off Bahia, Brazil. After
four more years of protecting American shipping interests off the coast of South America, she entered the Boston Navy
Yard in June 1844 and was eventually sold on October 28, 1844.
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| Intro
| Dedication
| Foreword
| Preface
| Spanish Armada
| European Fleets
| Independence
| Copyright ©
1996-2008 Arnold E.
van Beverhoudt, Jr.
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