The first USS Lehigh was a Passaic-class monitor launched 17 January 1863 by Reaney, Son & Archbold, Chester, Penn., under a subcontract from John Ericsson; and commissioned at Philadelphia Navy Yard 15 April 1863, Commander John Guest in command. Laid up and under repairs at League Island for a decade, Lehigh was recommissioned on 15 December 1875, with Commander George A. Stevens in command, and served as practice and school ship at the U.S. Naval Academy. In April 1876, she was assigned to the North Atlantic Station, and operated in the vicinity of Port Royal.