Editing George Dewey (section)

===Midshipman===
As a midshipman, Dewey first went to sea on a practice cruise aboard {{USS|Saratoga|1842|6}}; on this cruise he earned recognition as a [[Officer Cadet|cadet officer]]. As a result, he was assigned to one of the best ships of the old Navy—the steam frigate {{USS|Wabash|1855|6}}.<ref name="archive.org" /> ''Wabash'' under Captain [[Samuel Barron (1809–1888)|Samuel Barron]] was the new flagship of the [[Mediterranean Squadron (United States)|Mediterranean Squadron]]. On July 22, 1858, the ship left [[Hampton Roads]] for Europe.<ref name="spanamwar.com" />

''Wabash'' reached her first port of call, Gibraltar, on August 17, 1858. She cruised in the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]], and the cadet officers visited the cities of the Old World accessible to them, often taking trips inland. Dewey was assigned to keep the [[Logbook|ship's log]].<ref name="archive.org" /> ''Wabash'' returned to the [[New York Navy Yard]] on December 16, 1859, and decommissioned there on December 20, 1859. Dewey served on two short-term cruises in 1860.