USC&GS Arago was a survey ship that served in the United States Coast Survey from 1854 to 1861 and from 1866 to 1878 and in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1878 to 1881. She was the first ship of the Coast Survey or Coast and Geodetic Survey to bear the name.

Construction and early service

Arago was built by Fardy and Brothers at Baltimore, Maryland in 1854. She did survey work for the Coast Survey along the Atlantic coast of the United States until 1861.

United States Navy service 1861-1863

In 1861, Arago was ordered into United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 service for the American Civil War. Few records of her naval service survive, but it is known that she was armed and tasked with survey work along the Confederate

Confederate States of America

The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...

 coast. She participated in the expedition to seize Port Royal, South Carolina

Port Royal, South Carolina

Port Royal is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Largely because of annexation of surrounding areas , the population of Port Royal rose from 3,950 in 2000 to 10,678 in 2010, a 170% increase. As defined by the U.S...

, and also served in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron until at least February 1863. She appears to have left active naval service in 1863.

Later career

Arago returned to service with the Coast Survey in 1866. For the remainder of her career, she served along the U.S. Atlantic coast. She suffered a major mishap in 1867 when she struck a leftover Confederate stake

Stake

Stake may refer to:* @stake, a computer services company* Equity stake, a share or interest in a business or investment* "Stake", a tent peg* Stake -Military:* Sudis , a fortification carried by Roman legionaries...

 in the Neuse River

Neuse River

The Neuse River is a river rising in the Piedmont of North Carolina and emptying into Pamlico Sound below New Bern. Its total length is approximately , making it the longest river entirely contained in North Carolina. The Trent River joins it at New Bern. Its drainage basin, measuring in area,...

 in North Carolina and sank, but she was raised and repaired.

Beginning in 1871, and for the remainder of her career, she was one of two Coast Survey (later Coast and Geodetic Survey) ships named Arago, the other being Arago

USC&GS Arago (1871)

USC&GS Arago was a steamer that served as a survey ship in the United States Coast Survey from 1871 to 1878 and in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1878 to 1890. She was the second ship of the Coast Survey or Coast and Geodetic Survey to bear the name.Arago was built by Maury and...

of 1871.

When the Coast Survey was reorganized in 1878 to form the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, Arago became part of the new service.

Arago was sold in 1881.