USS Passaic-- Part 8: Spanish-American War and 'Fightingest Ship' Name

The Passaic then spent  1893-1896 at Boston on loan to the Massachusetts Naval Militia.  The next two years were spent with the Georgia Naval Militia at Brunswick, Georgia.

Recalled for action during the Spanish-American War in 1898, she cruised southward  from May 6 to September 11.  At that time she was finally decommissioned at  the Pensacola Navy Base.

On October 10, 1899, the old warrior was sold to Frank Samuels of Philadephia who broke her up for scrap.

Writing in his journal on June 3, 1865, Admiral Dahlgren said of the Passaic, "a steady worker for two-and-one-half years, and the first monitor in commission after the Monitor.'

In a letter written to the Army and Navy Journal of April 24, 1864,  Commander Simpson said, "The Passaic was the worst hit of all the monitors."

Yes, the Passaic earned the  title of "The Fightingest Ship in Mr. Lincoln's Navy" and deserves to be remembered with pride by all who live in the river valley (Passaic, New Jersey) from which she received her name.

--Old B-Runner