Release

To set at liberty.

(Bark: t. 327; 1. 113'; b. 27'2"; dr. 1]'9"; a. 2 32-pars.)

Release, formerly Eringol, a bark-rigged sailing vossel, was purchased 3 April 1855 at Boston, Mass., and commissioned on that date for use as a storeship. In June 1855, she sailed as part of an Arctic expedition to search for Dr. Elisha Kane and his missing party of explorers. Release sailed November 1856 to Demerara, British Guiana, to piek up su~ar eane euttings for the Department of the Interior. In 1857, she carried supplies to Aspinwall (now Colon), Panama for the Pacific Squadron; in 1859 she carried stores to the Mediterranean Squadron. Later in 1859 she served as supply ship for the Paraguay Expeditirm sent to Asuncion to demand indemnity and apology from the Paraguayan Government for the firing on Water Witch in 1858.

On 5 April 1861, Release sailed to Fort Pickens, Pensacola Fla., to aet as supply ship for the Gulf Bloekading Squadron. After returning to New York for more stores, she sailed for Hampton Roads, Va., for similar duty with Atlantie Bloekading Squadron. She was sent to GibralLar 30 September 1862 to meet Kearsarge and then directed to Algeeiras, Moroeco to watch the Confederate raider Sumter. During this period, Release unknowingly passed within 20 miles of another raider, Alabama.

From August 1863 to the end of hostilities, Release served as an ordnance storeship, basod at Beaufort, N.C., for ships blockading the southern coast from Wilmington, N.C., to Norfolk, Va., either at sea delivering stores to the blockaders at their stations or at Beaufort tied up as a stores hulk.

Release was placed out of commission 6 October l865 at Port Royal, S.C., and sold at public auction at New York 25 October 1865.