The USS Richmond was a wooden steam sloop in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.

Photograph measures 9 ¼” x 7”. Mount borders photograph by ¾” – 1”. Image is clear and contrast is good. Some light surface dirt is present. Reverse has a handwritten inscription in pencil which reads, “PHOTOGRAPH BY J.W. DAWSON, PHILADELPHIA, 1900, USS RICHMOND 1860-1919”.

The Richmond was launched on January 26, 1860 by the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia. Richmond, commanded by Captain D. N. Ingraham, departed Virginia October 13, 1860 for the Mediterranean. Upon her return to New York City July 3, 1861, the nation had already been plunged into civil war so she was immediately readied for sea. Her first war service began July 31, 1861 when she sailed for Kingston, Jamaica to search for the elusive Confederate raider Sumter commanded by Raphael Semmes. Leaving Trinidad on September 5, Richmond cruised along the southern coast of Cuba and around Cape San Antonio. Semmes, however, reached New Orleans, Louisiana; and, by August 22, Richmond was at Kingston taking on coal again. Departing August 25, Richmond arrived at Key West on September 2 was en route north to join the Gulf Blockading Squadron. Richmond was then involved at the Mississippi River blockade, the capture of New Orleans, Vicksburg, Port Hudson and Mobile Bay.

A total of 33 sailors and marines earned the Medal of Honor while serving aboard Richmond during the Civil War, more than on any other ship. The first medals went to four members of the ship's engineering department for their efforts after an engine room was damaged by shellfire during the March 14, 1863 attack on Port Hudson. The remaining medals went to three marines and twenty-six sailors for their actions at the Battle of Mobile Bay.

At the end of the Civil War, Richmond departed New Orleans on June 27, 1865, arrived at the Boston Navy Yard on July 10, and was decommissioned there on the 14th. In 1866 she was fitted out with a new set of engines. Recommissioned at Boston on January 11, 1869, Richmond departed on the 22d for European waters. She then spent time at various ports in the Mediterranean and then in 1870 was stationed at Villefranche and Marseilles to protect U.S. citizens potentially endangered by the Franco-Prussian War. After the peace was made at Versailles, Richmond cruised the Mediterranean again. She returned to Philadelphia on November 1, 1871 and decommissioned there on the 8th. She was selected for service in the West Indies Squadron in 1872, then as a flagship of the South Pacific Station. Throughout 1874 and 1875 she cruised the west coast of Latin America.  In 1878, Richmond's next duty was as flagship of the Asiatic Fleet. Completely overhauled, Richmond was recommissioned at New York in 1887 for duty on the North Atlantic Station. Into 1888 she cruised from Halifax to Trinidad. On 27 June 1888 she was detached for foreign service.

Departing Norfolk on January 2, 1889 Richmond was assigned to the South Atlantic Station. Again serving as squadron flagship, she cruised off Uruguay and Brazil for over a year, returning to Hampton Roads on June 28, 1890. On October 7, she arrived at Newport, Rhode Island, where she served as a training ship until 1893. The following year she steamed to Philadelphia; served there as a receiving ship until 1900; then remained moored at League Island until ordered to Norfolk in 1903. At Norfolk, she served as an auxiliary to the receiving ship USS Franklin until after the end of World War I.

Richmond was struck from the Navy list in June 1919 and sold to Joseph Hyman & Sons, Philadelphia, on July 23. She was delivered to that firm on 6 August for breaking up.

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