USS Arcadia (ID-1605) was a transatlantic liner that was launched in Ireland in 1896 and spent most of her career with Hamburg America Line (HAPAG).

In 1896 and 1897 shipyards in England and Ireland built a set of passenger and cargo ships for HAPAG.

Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company in Jarrow, County Durham launched Adria, Armenia and Andalusia in May, June and August 1896.

[1][2][3][4] Harland & Wolff in Belfast followed with Arcadia as yard number 308, launching her on 8 October 1896 and completing her on 2 April 1897.

[11] On 23 May the Royal Navy corvette HMS Cordelia, sloops Buzzard and Pelican and five tugs together towed Arcadia off the rocks.

The United States Customs Service seized Arcadia as enemy property and vested her in the US Shipping Board.

Lt Cdr Peter F Johnsen, USNRF, was appointed to command her, and she was assigned to the Cruiser and Transport Force.

She left Bordeaux on 26 April and reached Bush Terminal, New York, on 11 May,[10] bringing home 1,024 officers and men of the 82nd Division.

[10] In the remainder of the summer Arcadia made two more voyages, one from St-Nazaire to Hampton Roads and the other from Brest, France to Hoboken.

The next day she left Hoboken for Hampton Roads, where she moored alongside West Loquassuck at Bush Bluff, Virginia.