Two stories/historical footnotes on USS Susquehanna.

U.S. Commodore Perry's friendly expedition to Japan and one of his ships, USS Susquehanna, visited Shanghai, China, and the Yangtze River. At that time, in 1854, China was engaged in a very bloody Civil War, the Tai Ping Rebellion. Several foreign countries, including Britain, were helping the Chinese Government, the Ching Dynastry. Their gun ship were firing at the Rebel's occupied city nearby.

When the neutral American USS Susquehanna made their friendly visit, the Tai Ping Rebels fired at the USS Susquehanna. The captain/officer of USS Susquehanna was ennoyed, and sent a messenger/boat to the Rebel camp, showing the U.S. flag, the Star and Stripes, and a letter explaining their friendly visit, and made sure the Rebels could recognize the neutral U.S. flag, and won't fire on it by mistake in the future. The U.S officer signed his name: Frank Buchanan.

Eight years passed.
In 1862, Hampton Roads, the Confederate CSS Virginia (formerly USS Merrimack), commanded by the same Franklin Buchanan, destroyed wooden blockading ships USS Cumberland and USS Congress, and then fought with USS Monitor.

How ironic!
For sure, Frank Buchanan fired on the US flag.

Story 2.

At that time, the American Church Mission was the only American mission in Shanghai. So when the frigates Susquehanna and Powhatan from Commodore Perry's expedition to Japan visited that city, their officers attended Sunday services at the mission.

A Chinese student of the American Church Mission, Hong Neok Woo, expressed interest to see America. It was arranged that Woo would serve as a cabin boy in exchange for his passage fee in USS Susquehanna. When the ship landed at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in March 1855, Woo accompanied Doctor Messersmith to his home in Lancaster, PA.

In 1863, when Lee invaded Pennsylvania, Woo enlisted in the Union Fifteenth Regimental Infantry, Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia. Woo became one of the Chinese serving in the American Civil War.