USS Vandalia, a 2033-ton Swatara class screw sloop, was built at the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts. Commissioned in January 1876, she served with the European Squadron until late in 1878. From December 1877 until March 1878, she transported former President Ulysses S. Grant on a tour of the Mediterranean Sea and its historic ports. Vandalia was assigned to the North Atlantic Squadron from 1879 until 1884, operating from the Grand Banks fishing grounds to the Caribbean. She decommissioned for overhaul in October 1884.

Vandalia recommissioned in February 1886, and in August of that year left the east coast for the long voyage around South America to join the Pacific Station. She served as the Navy's Pacific flagship during much of the next two years. In early 1889, Vandalia was sent to Samoa to help counter German political and military activities in that island kingdom. While anchored in Apia Harbor, Samoa, on 15-16 March 1889, Vandalia was driven ashore by a violent hurricane. The ship was utterly wrecked, and suffered the loss of 43 of her officers and men, including her Commanding Officer, Captain Cornelius M. Schoonmaker. After recovery of fittings and armament, her wreck was donated to the Samoans for its salvage value and broken up.