USS Wyoming (1859)

The USS Wyoming was a steam sloop-of-war in the United States Navy. She was launched in 1859 and saw significant service during the American Civil War and in subsequent years.

Wyoming is perhaps best known for her action against Confederate commerce raiders and her role in international incidents. During the Civil War, she patrolled the Pacific and engaged Confederate ships. A notable event was her encounter with the Confederate raider CSS Clarence (disguised as the Tacony) in 1863.

Following the Civil War, Wyoming continued to serve the US Navy on various missions. In 1863, she was involved in a notable incident in Yokohama, Japan, where she engaged in a battle against a small Confederate-flagged vessel, the CSS Alabama's former tender, which was then used by the Choshu clan, who were then resisting the shogunate.

The ship was eventually decommissioned and sold. Her service life exemplified the role of the US Navy in the 19th century, both in domestic conflict and in projecting American power abroad. The Wyoming's activities reflect the tensions and dynamics of a nation undergoing rapid change and asserting its influence on the world stage.