Steve, it proves folks in NH have just as much of a problem spelling things as anyone else. If they spell fonetickly, they'd probably drop one or both "r" or both, because folks in New Hampsha don't necessarily pronounce ah's.

If you scroll down the page I linked to (the link now works, BTW) you'll see it is, and always has been KearsaRge...RRRRR.

The links in the buttons on the left side of the page are to photos of different ships named "KearsaRge."

I have a 2 volume history of the Civil War in the basement - I can't find the publishing date for the first volume, but the preface is dated 1862. Second volume was published in 1864. If I come up with anything on the Kearsarge, I'll probably type it into its own thread, so this one can stay more general.