Ever since that fateful day the vessel and her crew had been feted in every port that she called into, and this was to be no exception. Since early 1868 the vessel had served in the South Pacific, cruising that vast area and protecting American commercial interests. Prior to her arrival off Sydney she had called into ports at Tahiti and Fiji.

Within a few hours of anchoring in Sydney harbor, the usual chores involved in maintaining a vessel of this caliber were in operation, including the taking on of 2400 gallons of fresh water and several necessary repair jobs. An officer of the HBMS Rosario, which was anchored nearby, called on deck to proffer a message of assistance in any matters of protocol. This was a courtesy amongst naval vessels of different nations at peace with each other. A similar courtesy call was offered by the Kearsarge to the officers and crew of the French Naval brig Gazelle, when that vessel pulled into Sydney Harbor, the following day.

Also, on that first day of her arrival off Sydney, the usual disciplinary measures were being taken to prevent miscreants from creating trouble aboard the Kearsarge, with a seaman, John Ready, being placed in double irons for being drunk and striking a Marine guard.

During the days following, the vessel was cleaned and painted, and visitors allowed aboard, over several days, to see how a vessel of the United States Navy was run. The first party of visitors came on board two days after her arrival in port, and that first weekend saw a large number of the local citizenry, eager to make the most of the 'open days.' Some of the visitors included local dignitaries, such as the Colonial Governor, who visited the ship on Monday, August 23, and later, on August 28, the Colonial Secretary, Mr. Robertson.

Citizens of Sydney were not the only ones allowed to enjoy the pleasure of the visit of the vessel, as Commander Thornton permitted his crew out on liberty, by watch. Most certainly many of the sailors took the opportunity to acquaint themselves with female company, as well as take in the sights, sounds and smells of the Australian city. Some became too engrossed in the activities ashore that they stayed on shore after liberty was over. Once they were classified as deserters, a reward was posted for their apprehension, and the necessary steps taken to ensure their return to the vessel. The deck log of the vessel also notes that one or two sailors allowed liberty were later punished for drunkenness and disgraceful conduct ashore. However, as a whole, the ship's crew made a most agreeable impression upon the citizens of Sydney. Dinner gatherings were held in their honor, with the officers being invited to these events. One such public dinner is mentioned in an article, in the Sydney Morning Herald of Tuesday, August 31, 1869, in which a number of dignitaries, as well as officers of the Kearsarge and of the French and British naval vessels, in port, were feted at the banquet room of the Hotel de France, in the city. Nine officers of the Kearsarge attended this particular function, and toasts were proposed to various groups and personnel. Speeches were also given by several of those present, including Commander Thornton, and once meals and speeches were over, the diners parted company at about 11.15 that night. At least one other similar dinner party attended by some of the officers of the Kearsarge is mentioned in the Sydney Morning Herald of August 24, 1869.

The sojourn also provided a perfect opportunity for photographers, and at least one local operator is known to have made one or more images of the vessel and her crew, while she was in port. One of these images, showing almost all the officers, as well as several enlisted crew members of the USS Kearsarge, is available in the collections of the Naval Historical Center [see below]. This image was probably taken by Sydney photographer, Victor A. Prout. [2] He is mentioned in a notice in the Sydney Morning Herald of Saturday, August 21, 1869, as having, on exhibition at his studio, another photograph of the Kearsarge, at anchor, with an English naval vessel, the HMS Virago, and the Sydney Botanic Gardens in the background. Enquiries by this author, addressed to a number of Australian repositories, have so far failed to locate the image mentioned in the notice. This image of the Kearsarge at anchor in Sydney harbor may be the same one of which an enlarged copy was presented to the captain and officers of the vessel by the American residents of Sydney, shortly before the vessel made it's departure from Sydney. [3]

Ship's officers pose by her forward XI" Dahlgren Pivot Gun, at Sydney, Australia, August, 1869. Identified are Lieutenant Commander Charles V. Gridley (front - far left), Surgeon Charles H. Burbank (front, just left of gun muzzle, full beard) and Commander James S. Thornton (front, with gun trunnion behind him). Since Lieutenant Francis H. Harrington was the only U.S. Marine Corps officer attached to the vessel at the time, the Marine officer shown standing, second from left in the front row, is most certainly Harrington [The Author wishes to thank Mr. David M. Sullivan, of Rutland, Massachusetts, for his kind assistance in the identification of Harrington]. Also, the officer standing, front row, far right, whose rank insignia indicate that he is a boatswain, is most likely to be Thomas Bennett, as there was no one else of that rank aboard at the time. The Lieutenant Commander, standing midway between Burbank and Thornton, and holding onto his collar lapels, is quite possibly John Weidman, executive officer of the vessel, as he, together with Gridley, and one other officer, John Kennett, were the only ones of that rank assigned to the vessel. Almost all the officers shown in the image had seen service during the Civil War.
See separate page for a list of the officers.
[Naval Historical Center image, NH 92921.].
[Another image taken in 1864, from the same vantage point, is shown below]

An earlier image, taken in 1864, shortly after the famous battle, from the same vantage point, showing officers and crew on the vessel. Some structures were later added to, or rebuilt, but most were the same as shown in the 1869 image. Note that the telescoping funnel, in this image, has been raised, as opposed to the previous image.
[Naval Historical Center image, NH 52027.]

On Wednesday, September 1, preparations were made for the vessel to steam out to sea, and, at 5.30 p.m., she commenced her departure, in charge of a harbor pilot. The warship was accompanied by a steam tug, the Breadalbane, which contained a party of ladies and gentlemen on board, eager to wave goodbye to their American friends. After three cheers were given by the crew of the Kearsarge, the steam tug parted company and returned to Sydney, while the Kearsarge headed out to sea, on her way to Wellington, New Zealand.

Reference Notes:

[1] Winter in the southern hemisphere occurs mid-year. The deck log of the USS Kearsarge indicates that it was clear and pleasant on the morning of August 12, 1869, as she steamed into Sydney.

[2] At least two Sydney newspapers, the Sydney Morning Herald of Friday, August 13, 1869 (page 4) and the Illustrated Sydney News of September 1, 1869 (page 247), published a complete list of the officers of the USS Kearsarge. This list is transcribed on a separate page.

[3] A notice advising of the departure of the vessel, and the presentation of the photograph, measuring 26 inches by 20 inches, of the USS Kearsarge is in the Sydney Morning Herald of Thursday, September 2, 1869.

© Terry Foenander.

November, 2001.