The first KENTUCKY, a confederate transport, was captured by the
union Navy in June, 1862; the name KENTUCKY was retained. She
was assigned to the Mississippi squadron in support of union
forces performing various transport duties on the Mississippi
River and its tributaries. KENTUCKY sank in June, 1865, by
accident with great loss of life, while operating on the Red
River. Among those who died were some thirty paroled confederate
soldiers. The career of the second KENTUCKY (BB-6), a turn-of-
the-century battleship, lasted for twenty years. About the size
of a World War II destroyer, she was one of the most advanced
warships of her day and the first American battleship to make
extensive use of electricity and to provide ventilation below
decks. Launched in March, 1898 and commissioned in May, 1900,
the battleship sailed to Hong Kong in 1901 and became the
flagship of the Asiatic Fleet, watching over American interests
in the Far East. Upon her return to the United States in 1904,
KENTUCKY was involved in tacti