Cadet Training, Presidential Yacht Duty, and Special Assignments, 1880-1891
After extensive repairs, Despatch was recommissioned on 8 June 1880 for use as a training ship and cruised along the U.S. East Coast with cadet engineers from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland on board.
Despatch was again out of commission at Washington from 23 September-19 October 1880, then operated principally in the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay and along the U.S. East Coast from Norfolk, Virginia, to Maine until 1891, carrying out special assignments. She was frequently used by the President as the first Presidential yacht, as well as by the Secretary of the Navy and other members of the United States Cabinet, Congressional committees, members of naval boards conducting inspections, and for varied ceremonial duties. One of the most important of these ceremonial events occurred on 28 October 1886 when she transported President Grover Cleveland - including his private secretary and three members of his cabinet - to and from Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor for the dedication and unveiling of the Statue of Liberty on 28 October 1886. Over the years, she also carried despatches and men to the fleet and along the U.S. East Coast, towed into port or destroyed damaged ships and wrecks, and escorted new ships during their sea trials. From 12 December 1881-3 June 1882, Despatch cruised to Hispaniola to conduct hydrographic surveys of Samana Bay and the Yuna River.
Read more about this topic: USS Despatch (1873)
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