The second Preble, a sloop-of-war built by the Portsmouth (N.H.) Navy Yard, was launched 13 June 1839 and commissioned the following year, Comdr. Samuel L. Breese in command.
Rated as "3rd Class Sloops", while popular, as they sailed well and were stiff hulled, would have had little utility in war considering the trend to larger vessels of this type in Europe (and America). As peacetime "Station ships", they performed well, however.
On special duty off Labrador from June to November 1840, Preble sailed for the Mediterranean, 12 January 1841. Returning 13 August 1843, she departed the following year for the African coast where she served from 5 September 1844 to 25 September 1845. A year later she sailed from New York for the Pacific. Arriving at Valparaiso 26 January 1847, she continued on to serve with the Pacific Squadron off the west coast for the remainder of the Mexican War.
In the summer of 1848 she sailed west to cruise in the East Indies to deliver Captain David Geisenger to take over command of the East India Squadron. Under the command of Captain James Glynn, the Preble arrived in the China Sea in September 1848 and was detained by Captain Geisenger who wished the Preble to remain in that area.
The East India Squadron consisted of only one other ship when Geisenger arrived to take command. Because United States’ relations with China were tense at this time, the presence of American warships off of the China coast was desired to serve as a reminder of US power.
Preble anchored in Hong Kong harbor as a visible sign of American presence until March 1849 when she moved north arriving at Nagasaki 18 April, to negotiate the release of survivors of the ship-wrecked whaler Lagoda, held prisoners by the Japanese. Accomplishing her mission, she sailed on the 26th to rejoin the East Indies Squadron at Shanghai.
The United States’ relationship with Japan at the end of the 1840s was one of extreme caution. The establishment of dialogue between the US and Japan was in its infancy and no relationships had yet been formed; very little, in fact, was known about Japan. Thus, the crew of the Preble found themselves in a very uncomfortable position when, without that country’s permission, they sailed into Japanese waters and weighed anchor off Nagasaki on April 17, 1849.
The Preble’s mission was to rescue American whailers who were being held in a Japanese prison as spies.
While the Preble was at Hong Kong, the US Navy had received word from the Dutch merchants in Canton that the Japanese were holding fifteen American sailors that had been shipwrecked off of the coast of Japan during a whaling expedition [it appears the remainder of the crew was lost with the ship]. Their whaling ship, the Lagoda, had gone down in the Japan Sea with 1,300 barrels of [whale] oil on June 2 after hitting a shoal in heavy fog. Sailing orders to Captain Glynn addressed the issue of international relations:
In your correspondence with the Japanese, your conduct will be conciliatory but firm. You will be careful not to violate the laws or customs of the Country, or by any means prejudice the success of any pacific policy our government may be inclined to pursue. Nevertheless you may be placed in situations¼ which cannot be foreseen¼ . In all such cases, every confidence is reposed in your discretion and ability to guard the interests as well as the honor of your country.
At the arrival of the Preble in Nagasaki, small boats were sent out to her from which notes attached to bamboo sticks were thrown on board the Preble’s deck. Captain Glynn immediately threw them overboard insisting on being afforded the respect of speaking with a representative in person. Over the next three days, several officials and interpreters came aboard to negotiate with Captain Glynn. The Captain, under frequent questioning about his rank and the disposition of the United States Naval forces, stood his ground and continually argued to speak with higher ranking officials. Glynn delivered an ultimatum on April 22, saying that in three days he would go ashore to speak personally with the governor of Nagasaki for the release of the prisoners. The next day, the American prisoners were released to Dutch traders on shore and conveyed to the Preble. Captain Glynn did not converse with any officials after that and the Preble reported back to the East India Squadron in Hong Kong with the rescued passengers.
The success of the Preble’s mission to Japan marked the beginning of effective relations between that country and the United States. Bolstered by Captain Glynn’s reports, the United States sent an expedition led by Commodore Matthew Perry in 1853 that established official diplomatic and trade relations with Japan. The Preble had been the first United States warship in history to enter Nagasaki harbor and successfully negotiate with the Japanese.
On 1 November 1850 she got underway for the United States. Arriving at New York 1 January 1851, she served as a practice ship for midshipmen until 1858.
In late 1858, Preble sailed for Paraguay to take action against that country for firing on Water Witch. She arrived at Asuncion with 18 other vessels 25 January 1859, but the payment of an indemnity and an apology settled the affair peacefully.
She returned to the United States in September 1860, and ten months later joined the Gulf Blockading Squadron to assist in implementing the Union blockade of the South’s coast. Initially at the mouth of the Mississippi
Correspondence dated November 26, 1861 from Flag Officer William W. Mckean to commander H. French of the Preble reveals the nature of her duties at this time:
SIR:
You will cruise ¼ between Ship Island Shoal and Sabine Pass until further orders. Commander T.D. Shaw, in the USS Montgomery, is ordered to blockade Berwick Bay. He will occasionally supply you with water. Should he not be able to furnish you a sufficient quantity, you will, when necessary, proceed to the South West Pass of the Mississippi for a supply, but are only to leave your cruising ground in case of necessity.
On October 12, 1861 the confederate ram Manassas made a surprise attack on the vessels at Head of Passes in the dark of night. All Union vessels were caught by surprise and the Preble, despite not having steam power, was able to maneuver well enough to maintain a defensive position beside the Vincennes which had been rammed upon the initial attack. Several fire rafts were cast adrift from the Confederates upstream and the steamers frantically retreated with two subsequently running aground. Only minor damage was sustained by the Union vessels, however, "ram fever" ran amok throughout the crews. This was the fiercest engagement that the Preble saw during the Civil War.
Preble was briefly assigned duty up the Mississippi River at Baton Rouge where Brigader General Williams of the US Army expressed relief that she was anchored off of that town to help guard against land attacks from Confederate forces that were rumored to be gathering nearby
On 27 April 1863, while the Preble was at anchor off of the town of Pensacola, the ship’s [Marine] corporal William J. Wilson was emptying a barrel of tar oil into "the [waste]tank" when an open flame of undetermined origin ignited the oil.
At 9:30 a.m. "the alarm of fire was made" and after forty-five minutes of attempting to control the flames, commanding officer William F. Shankland gave the word for "all hands leave the ship". The ship was left burning at anchor and an explosion occurred after she had been burning for about one and one-half hours.
The Preble then burned to the water line and sank. Surgeon James S. Knight reported that W. J. Wilson died in the fire and that four others were burned about the feet, hands or face but without any further loss of life. Though no records have yet been located concerning an inquiry, no blame appears to have been placed on the acting master W.F. Shankland. An accompanying letter by Commanding Senior Officer A. Gibson dated 28 April 1865 (sent with Shankland’s initial notification to Secretary Welles of the incident) stated that
"From all I can learn no blame can be attached to the Commanding Officer of the Preble".
Indeed, Shankland’s probable exoneration is supported by the fact that, 1864, he was reassigned as a ship commander futher north. Due to the rapidity of the destruction, no guns were salvaged, and the "officers and men lost all of their personal effects." The last listing of armaments aboard the Preble included: 4x8" (64pdr)shell guns, 12x32pdr carronades, and 2x20pder (muzzle loading) rifles.