>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1963) Vol. 2, pp.281-282.





DIXIE



Screw Steamer

Displacement:  6,114 t.

Length:  405’10”

Beam:  48’3”

Draft:  19’11”

Speed:  14 k.

Complement:  224

Armament:  10 3”



	The first DIXIE, a steam brig, was built in 1893 as EL 

RIO by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport 

News, Va.; purchased by the Navy 15 April 1898; converted to 

an auxiliary cruiser by her builder; and commissioned 19 

April 1898, Commander C. H. Davis in command.



	DIXIE stood out of Hampton Roads, Va., 11 June 1898, 

and arrived at Santiago de Cuba on 19 June.  Attached to 

Eastern Squadron, North Atlantic Fleet, she cruised in the 

West Indies during the Spanish-American War on blockade duty 

and convoying Army transports.  During 27 and 28 July, she 

participated in the capture of Ponce, Puerto Rico, landing 

an armed force which received the surrender of the towns of 

Ponce and La Playa.  She sailed from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 

24 August and arrived at Philadelphia 22 September, where 

she was placed out of commission 7 March 1899.  Between 15 

March and 15 July she was on loan to the War Department for 

use as a transport.



	Recommissioned 15 November 1899, DIXIE began service as 

a training ship for recruits.  From 17 December 1899 to 8 

August 1900, she sailed to the West Indies, the 

Mediterranean, through the Suez Canal to the Philippines, 

where she transferred men to the base at Cavite, returning 

to the United States by the same route.  Another training 

cruise was made from 29 September 1900 to 28 February 1901, 

during which she visited the Azores, Madeira, Gibraltar, and 

Mediterranean ports returning by way of the West Indies and 

La Guaira, Venezuela, to Norfolk.  She transferred men and 

stores to the South Atlantic Station between 7 May and 3 

July 1901, then made another training cruise to northern 

European waters and the Mediterranean between 24 July 1901 

and 7 May 1902.  From 14 May to 6 June 1902 she was on 

special duty, transporting provisions and supplies for the 

relief of victims of the volcanic eruptions on Martinique 

and St. Vincent in the West Indies.  She went out of 

commission at New York Navy Yard 21 July 1902.



	DIXIE was recommissioned 1 October 1903 and joined the 

Caribbean Squadron, North Atlantic Fleet.  She served 

principally as a transport on the east coast, in the 

Caribbean, and Canal Zone, carrying Marines, recruits for 

training, and drafts of men for other vessels as well as 

engaging in target practice for her crew and Reserves.  

Assigned to the Special Service Squadron she steamed from 

Philadelphia 26 June 1905 to carry a party of scientists to 

the Mediterranean to observe the solar eclipse of 30 August.  

She arrived at Bone, Algeria, 21 July, and established 

Eclipse Station No. 2 for these observations.  Returning to 

Philadelphia 13 October, she was returned to a 

noncommissioned status 10 days later.



	In commission again from 2 June 1906 to 1 November 

1907, she transported Marines and stores to the Caribbean 

and cruised in that area to protect American interests.  She 

remained out of commission until 2 February 1909 when she 

was assigned as tender to Atlantic Torpedo Flotilla and 

Destroyer Squadron, Atlantic Fleet.  She cruised on the east 

coast, in the Caribbean, and in the Gulf of Mexico in this 

service.  In addition to her tender duty, she towed 

submarines; transported Marines and crews for other ships; 

carried the Nicaraguan expeditionary force to Colon, C.Z., 

and took part in the operations off Mexico during April and 

May of 1914, transporting supplies and refugees.  She 

returned to Philadelphia 16 December 1915.



	From 18 June 1916 to 6 May 1917, DIXIE served as tender 

for Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet; engaged in gunnery 

exercises with destroyers and maneuvers with the fleet; 

delivered stores and mail; transported refugees from Mexico 

to Galveston, Tex., and served as tender to Squadron 4, 

Patrol Force, at Key West.



	With American entry into World War I, DIXIE departed 

Philadelphia 31 May 1917 to join U.S. naval forces operating 

in European waters.  Arriving at Queenstown, Ireland, 12 

June, she served as tender for American destroyers based at 

that port until 15 December 1918, except for a period of 

similar duty at Berehaven (21 June-27 August 1917).  

Returning to Philadelphia 22 February 1919, DIXIE served as 

tender to destroyer flotillas operating on the east coast, 

and in the Caribbean.  Classified AD-1 on 17 July 1920 she 

arrived at Philadelphia 16 July to tend the destroyers in 

reserve at Philadelphia Navy Yard.  From 6 April 1921 to 17 

May 1922 she was again tender to Destroyer Squadrons 

Atlantic Fleet, cruising along the east coast from New York 

to Charleston, S.C.  DIXIE was decommissioned 30 June 1922 

and sold 25 September of the same year.





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com