JANUARY 28TH, 1864:
Captain Henry S. Stellwagen, commanding the USS Constellation, reported from Naples, Italy: "It is my pleasant duty to inform you of the continued [friendly] demonstration of ruling powers and people of the Kingdom of Italy toward our country and officers."
The problem of blockading the hazardous Confederate coasts and running down commerce raiders meant that steam-powered ships were needed at these stations. Sailing ships took their places on foreign stations. The old USS Constellation was based in the Mediterranean, USS St. Louis west of Gibraltar on the trade routes and USS Jamestown in the East Indies. They were available to escort ships and act as a deterrent to the raiders.
These Old Navy veterans did much for protecting American interests abroad and maintaining national prestige.
--Old B-Runner
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