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USS Falcon (1846)
Encyclopedia
USS Falcon was a gunboat
in the United States Navy
. Falcon was captured as the Mexican
gunboat Isabel on November 14, 1846 at Tampico, and taken into the Navy, Lieutenant
J. J. Glasson in command.
in the Gulf of Mexico
, Falcon took part in the amphibious operation at Vera Cruz
from March 9-25, 1847. A force of over 10,000 troops was landed to attack the city and its guardian castle
of San Juan de Ulúa
, and while the squadron
fired upon the seaward fortifications, a naval battery of six heavy guns was landed to aid the troops. The garrison
displayed a flag of truce on the 25th when the city walls were breached, and four days later American troops took possession of the city and the castle.
Falcon served on guard and patrol
duty off the Mexican
coast, and in April 1848 voyaged to New Orleans for supplies.
She sailed from Campeche
on July 18 for New York
, where she arrived on August 27 and was decommissioned on September 4. Falcon was sold on October 18.
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
in the United States 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...
. Falcon was captured as the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
gunboat Isabel on November 14, 1846 at Tampico, and taken into the Navy, Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
J. J. Glasson in command.
Mexican-American War operations
Operating throughout the remainder of the Mexican-American War with the Home SquadronHome Squadron
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...
in the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, Falcon took part in the amphibious operation at Vera Cruz
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...
from March 9-25, 1847. A force of over 10,000 troops was landed to attack the city and its guardian castle
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
of San Juan de Ulúa
San Juan de Ulúa
San Juan de Ulúa, also known as Castle of San Juan de Ulúa is a large complex of fortresses, prisons and one former palace on an island overlooking the seaport of Veracruz, Mexico.-History:...
, and while the squadron
Squadron (naval)
A squadron, or naval squadron, is a unit of 3-4 major warships, transport ships, submarines, or sometimes small craft that may be part of a larger task force or a fleet...
fired upon the seaward fortifications, a naval battery of six heavy guns was landed to aid the troops. The garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
displayed a flag of truce on the 25th when the city walls were breached, and four days later American troops took possession of the city and the castle.
Falcon served on guard and patrol
Patrol
A patrol is commonly a group of personnel, such as police officers or soldiers, that are assigned to monitor a specific geographic area.- Military :...
duty off the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
coast, and in April 1848 voyaged to New Orleans for supplies.
She sailed from Campeche
Campeche, Campeche
San Francisco de Campeche is the capital city of the Mexican state of Campeche, located at,...
on July 18 for New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where she arrived on August 27 and was decommissioned on September 4. Falcon was sold on October 18.