USS Galatea (1863)

	Alexandre Pétion, formerly USS Galatea, bombarding Petit Goave in 1868
History
United States
Name:	USS Galatea
Laid down:	date unknown
Launched:	About late March 1863
Acquired:	31 July 1863
Commissioned:	29 January 1864
Decommissioned:	12 July 1865
Stricken:	1865 (est.)
Homeport:	Cap-Haïtien, Haiti
Fate:	sold, 15 August 1865
General characteristics
Displacement:	1,244 tons
Length:	209' 6"
Beam:	35' 6"
Draught:	depth of hold 20' 8"
Propulsion:	steam engine; screw-propelled;
Speed:	10 knots
Complement:	not known
Armament:	eight 32-pounder guns; one 100-poudner gun; two 30-pounder guns;

USS Galatea was a large steamer acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.

She was used by the Union Navy as an escort gunboat in support of the Union Navy, mostly in various parts of the Caribbean, such as in Haiti, where her role was to protect American citizens. She was sold to the Haitian government in 1865 after becoming unseaworthy because of leaks.

Constructed in New York City, commissioned in 1864

Galatea was built at New York City in 1863 by J. B. and J. D. Van Dusen, Master Builders; she was launched in about late March 1863. Galatea was purchased by the Navy 31 July 1863 from the Neptune Steamship Co.; and commissioned 29 January 1864, Comdr. John Guest in command.

Supporting Union Navy control of the Caribbean

Galatea departed New York 21 February 1864 for service as a unit of the West India Squadron. Based at Cap-Haïtien in Haiti, where she arrived 29 February, she provided convoy protection in the West Indies to California mail steamers plying between New York City and Aspinwall (Colón, Panama).

She had twice returned to New York City for repairs by 10 November 1864 when she was assigned with two other ships to convoy California mail streamers from Cap-Haïtien through the Windward Passage, between the islands of Nacassa and Mariguana.

Developing seawater leaks in her structure

During this cruise leaks developed which made Galatea unfit for arduous convoy duty. Remaining on station at Cape Haitien, she cruised to Key West, Florida, for provisions and dispatches and afforded protection to American citizens in Haiti until convoy service was discontinued in June 1865.

End-of-war decommissioning and sale to Haiti

Galatea arrived New York City from Cap-Haïtien 1 July 1865; decommissioned 12 July; and was sold to the Haitian government 15 August.

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References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

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