Under John Montgomery's command, sailors from the USS Portsmouth entered the Spanish town of Yerba Bueno and raised the American flag. Today, this town is known as San Francisco. It blockaded Mexico's west coast during the Mexican War.
Between the two wars, the Portsmouth was involved with suppressing the West African slave trade and the Pacific Coast.
In December 1861, she joined the Gulf Coast Blockading Squadron and took part in the fight with Forts Jackson and St, Philip that led to the fall of New Orleans. After that, she served as station ship for New Orleans until the end of the war.
After the war, she served primarily as a training ship until 1915, making her one long-serving Navy ship.
San Francisco's Bank of America uses her on an old logo because of her role in the city's history. The ship's helm was on display in the headquarters reception area in 1995.
--Old B-Runner
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