.gif)
USS Galena (1880)
Encyclopedia
USS Galena, was a wooden steamer built at the Norfolk Navy Yard in 1879 and commissioned there August 26, 1880, with Commander
James O'Kane in command. Galena was the second ship of the United States Navy
to bear that name.
Galena departed Hampton Roads
December 19, 1880 and reached Gibraltar
January 12, 1881. She cruised between the ports of France, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Greece, along the coast of Africa and to the Canary
, Cape Verde
and Madeira Islands. On April 7, 1881 she arrived at Chios
, in the Aegean Sea
and remained until April 15 helping to relieve the distress caused by a severe earthquake
. Her surgeon
went ashore to treat the injured; her crew furnished work parties to help clear the rubble; and her steam launch moved relief supplies. Another mission began June 10, 1882 when she reached Alexandria, Egypt, to embark American citizens and personnel of the American Consulate for protection aboard during a rebellion. An Italian ship was chartered as a haven for about 135 refugees until June 27 when Admiral James W. Nicholson
arrived in to relieve Galena.
Galena departed Alexandria July 11, 1882 for operations along the eastern seaboard of South America out of Rio de Janeiro
. From October 19, 1882 to January 31, 1883 she was the flagship of Rear Admiral
Peirce Crosby
, commanding American Naval Forces in the South Atlantic. She arrived at New York City September 10, 1883 to serve in the North Atlantic along the eastern seaboard and throughout the Caribbean to the shores of Aspinwall, Colombia (now Colón, Panama
). This included station duty at Key West
(May 1, – August 16, 1884) to prevent illegal filibuster
ing expeditions from the United States to Cuba
.
. On March 30, 1885 after a party of revolutionists had seized the Pacific Mail Line steamer Colon, Galena regained the steamer and returned her the same day. The next day Galenas landing force went ashore to save a part of the town of Colon which had been set afire by the revolutionists. The landing force saved a part of the town and all the property of the Pacific Mail Company. On April 10 Admiral Jouett
arrived in and with a force of 600 sailors and marines, assisted by Galena, kept the Isthmus open to crossing travelers and enforced treaty obligations until order was restored in May.
Galena departed Colon June 9 and reached Portsmouth, New Hampshire
, June 26, 1885 to begin several months cruising along the eastern seaboard. Galena returned to Colombian waters November 27, 1885 for service in the Caribbean. She visited St. Andrew Island 114 miles east of the Nicaragua
n coast February 14, 1886 to investigate the detention of American steamer City of Mexico. Finding that United States neutrality laws had been violated by the steamer, Galena seized City of Mexico and sailed her under a prize crew to Key West
where the steamer was turned over to the United States Marshals Service
.
Galena returned to New York May 23, 1886 to join the squadron in battle practice along the New England
coast. She then sailed to the Newfoundland fishing banks and back. She departed Portsmouth, New Hampshire, December 15, 1886 to cruise among ports of the West Indies and off Colombia
until April 18, 1887.
Galena returned north in time to participate in ceremonies for the unveiling of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument
at New Haven, Connecticut
, June 14. After a cruise that took her to Halifax
, Quebec
, Montreal
, and Habitants Bay, Galena arrived at the Philadelphia Navy Yard September 12, 1887 to join other ships of the US Navy in celebrating the centennial of the adoption of the Constitution of the United States. Target practice in Gardner's Bay, New York, was followed by repairs in the Norfolk Navy Yard until April 9, 1888. Galena then cruised with her squadron along the eastern seaboard and the Gulf Coast visiting New Orleans, Louisiana
; Mobile, Alabama
; and Port Royal, South Carolina
. From August 18 to September 15, 1888 she watched over political disturbances at Port-au-Prince, Haiti, then proceeded back to New York.
Galena departed New York December 12, 1888 as flagship of Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce, Commander in Chief, North Atlantic Station, and reached Port-au-Prince December 20. Here, the American steamer Haytien Republic, seized by Haitian authorities for alleged violation of the blockade, was surrendered to the force under Admiral Luce.
relieved Admiral Luce as Commander in Chief, North Atlantic Station, and broke his flag in Galena. She sailed the following day for Haitian waters and then returned to New York May 29. Admiral Gherardi transferred his flag to on June 15.
After repairs at New York, Galena arrived at Cap-Haïtien
September 6, 1889 and relieved Kearsarge as flagship. At the island of Navassa October 6, she took on board nine ring-leaders of a riot, then proceeded to Baltimore, Maryland, where they were turned over to the custody of the United States Marshal October 25. She repaired at the New York Navy Yard, then sailed December 3 to serve once more as Admiral Gherardi's flagship out of Key West
in a series of cruises to waters of Haiti; She was relieved as flagship by while at St. Nicholas Mole February 14, 1890 and departed Key West May 25 for calls at Port Royal and Charleston, South Carolina
before arriving New York Navy Yard July 1. She decommissioned July 23, 1890 and remained there until March 12, 1891 when she was towed by tug USS Nina
toward the Portsmouth Navy Yard, to be fitted with new boiler
s. The following day, both ships ran aground on a beach about a mile south of Gay Head, Martha's Vineyard
, Massachusetts.
Salvaged under a contract to the Boston Tow Boat Company, Galena arrived at the Portsmouth Navy Yard April 6, 1891. However, it was decided that repairs would be too costly. Galena was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register
on February 29, 1892 and was sold to E. J. Butler of Arlington, Massachusetts
on May 9.
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
James O'Kane in command. Galena was the second ship of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
to bear that name.
Galena departed Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
December 19, 1880 and reached Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
January 12, 1881. She cruised between the ports of France, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Greece, along the coast of Africa and to the Canary
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
, Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
and Madeira Islands. On April 7, 1881 she arrived at Chios
Chios
Chios is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, situated in the Aegean Sea, seven kilometres off the Asia Minor coast. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. The island is noted for its strong merchant shipping community, its unique mastic gum and its medieval villages...
, in the Aegean Sea
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
and remained until April 15 helping to relieve the distress caused by a severe earthquake
1881 Chios earthquake
The 1881 Chios earthquake occurred at 11:30 UTC on 3 April. It caused severe damage on the island of Chios and also affected Çeşme and Alaçatı on the coast of Turkey. The earthquake had an estimated magnitude of 7.3 and there were an estimated 7,866 casualties...
. Her surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
went ashore to treat the injured; her crew furnished work parties to help clear the rubble; and her steam launch moved relief supplies. Another mission began June 10, 1882 when she reached Alexandria, Egypt, to embark American citizens and personnel of the American Consulate for protection aboard during a rebellion. An Italian ship was chartered as a haven for about 135 refugees until June 27 when Admiral James W. Nicholson
James W. Nicholson
Rear Admiral James William Augustus Nicholson was an officer in the United States Navy during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.-Biography:...
arrived in to relieve Galena.
Galena departed Alexandria July 11, 1882 for operations along the eastern seaboard of South America out of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
. From October 19, 1882 to January 31, 1883 she was the flagship of Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
Peirce Crosby
Peirce Crosby
Peirce Crosby was an rear admiral in the United States Navy, whose active duty career included service in the Mexican-American War and the Civil War.-Early life and career:...
, commanding American Naval Forces in the South Atlantic. She arrived at New York City September 10, 1883 to serve in the North Atlantic along the eastern seaboard and throughout the Caribbean to the shores of Aspinwall, Colombia (now Colón, Panama
Colón, Panama
Colón is a sea port on the Caribbean Sea coast of Panama. The city lies near the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal. It is capital of Panama's Colón Province and has traditionally been known as Panama's second city....
). This included station duty at Key West
Key West
Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida on the North American continent at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys. Key West is home to the southernmost point in the Continental United States; the island is about from Cuba....
(May 1, – August 16, 1884) to prevent illegal filibuster
Filibuster
A filibuster is a type of parliamentary procedure. Specifically, it is the right of an individual to extend debate, allowing a lone member to delay or entirely prevent a vote on a given proposal...
ing expeditions from the United States to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
1885–1889
Another special service began March 11, 1885 when she arrived at Aspinwall from New Orleans during a serious revolution that threatened to interrupt traffic over the Isthmus of PanamaIsthmus of Panama
The Isthmus of Panama, also historically known as the Isthmus of Darien, is the narrow strip of land that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, linking North and South America. It contains the country of Panama and the Panama Canal...
. On March 30, 1885 after a party of revolutionists had seized the Pacific Mail Line steamer Colon, Galena regained the steamer and returned her the same day. The next day Galenas landing force went ashore to save a part of the town of Colon which had been set afire by the revolutionists. The landing force saved a part of the town and all the property of the Pacific Mail Company. On April 10 Admiral Jouett
James Edward Jouett
Rear Admiral James Edward Jouett , known as "Fighting Jim Jouett of the American Navy", was an officer in the United States Navy during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War...
arrived in and with a force of 600 sailors and marines, assisted by Galena, kept the Isthmus open to crossing travelers and enforced treaty obligations until order was restored in May.
Galena departed Colon June 9 and reached Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
, June 26, 1885 to begin several months cruising along the eastern seaboard. Galena returned to Colombian waters November 27, 1885 for service in the Caribbean. She visited St. Andrew Island 114 miles east of the Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
n coast February 14, 1886 to investigate the detention of American steamer City of Mexico. Finding that United States neutrality laws had been violated by the steamer, Galena seized City of Mexico and sailed her under a prize crew to Key West
Key West
Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida on the North American continent at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys. Key West is home to the southernmost point in the Continental United States; the island is about from Cuba....
where the steamer was turned over to the United States Marshals Service
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
.
Galena returned to New York May 23, 1886 to join the squadron in battle practice along the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
coast. She then sailed to the Newfoundland fishing banks and back. She departed Portsmouth, New Hampshire, December 15, 1886 to cruise among ports of the West Indies and off Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
until April 18, 1887.
Galena returned north in time to participate in ceremonies for the unveiling of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument
Soldiers and Sailors Monument (New Haven)
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument, located on the summit of East Rock in New Haven, Connecticut, is visible for miles from the surrounding urban metropolis and Long Island Sound. The monument was built in 1887 and honors the residents of New Haven who gave their lives in the Revolutionary War, the...
at New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, June 14. After a cruise that took her to Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, and Habitants Bay, Galena arrived at the Philadelphia Navy Yard September 12, 1887 to join other ships of the US Navy in celebrating the centennial of the adoption of the Constitution of the United States. Target practice in Gardner's Bay, New York, was followed by repairs in the Norfolk Navy Yard until April 9, 1888. Galena then cruised with her squadron along the eastern seaboard and the Gulf Coast visiting New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
; Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
; and Port Royal, South Carolina
Port Royal, South Carolina
Port Royal is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Largely because of annexation of surrounding areas , the population of Port Royal rose from 3,950 in 2000 to 10,678 in 2010, a 170% increase. As defined by the U.S...
. From August 18 to September 15, 1888 she watched over political disturbances at Port-au-Prince, Haiti, then proceeded back to New York.
Galena departed New York December 12, 1888 as flagship of Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce, Commander in Chief, North Atlantic Station, and reached Port-au-Prince December 20. Here, the American steamer Haytien Republic, seized by Haitian authorities for alleged violation of the blockade, was surrendered to the force under Admiral Luce.
1889–1892
Galena arrived in Key West, January 19, 1889. Here, on February 16 Rear Admiral Bancroft GherardiBancroft Gherardi
Bancroft Gherardi was a rear admiral of the United States Navy, who served during the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War.-Biography:...
relieved Admiral Luce as Commander in Chief, North Atlantic Station, and broke his flag in Galena. She sailed the following day for Haitian waters and then returned to New York May 29. Admiral Gherardi transferred his flag to on June 15.
After repairs at New York, Galena arrived at Cap-Haïtien
Cap-Haïtien
Cap-Haïtien is a city of about 190,000 people on the north coast of Haiti and capital of the Department of Nord...
September 6, 1889 and relieved Kearsarge as flagship. At the island of Navassa October 6, she took on board nine ring-leaders of a riot, then proceeded to Baltimore, Maryland, where they were turned over to the custody of the United States Marshal October 25. She repaired at the New York Navy Yard, then sailed December 3 to serve once more as Admiral Gherardi's flagship out of Key West
Key West
Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida on the North American continent at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys. Key West is home to the southernmost point in the Continental United States; the island is about from Cuba....
in a series of cruises to waters of Haiti; She was relieved as flagship by while at St. Nicholas Mole February 14, 1890 and departed Key West May 25 for calls at Port Royal and Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
before arriving New York Navy Yard July 1. She decommissioned July 23, 1890 and remained there until March 12, 1891 when she was towed by tug USS Nina
USS Nina
USS Nina, a 4th rate iron screw steamer, was laid down by Reaney, Son & Archbold, at Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1864; launched 27 May 1865; delivered at New York Navy Yard 26 September 1865; and placed in service as a yard tug at the Washington Navy Yard 6 January 1866, Ensign F. C...
toward the Portsmouth Navy Yard, to be fitted with new boiler
Boiler
A boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid is heated. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications.-Materials:...
s. The following day, both ships ran aground on a beach about a mile south of Gay Head, Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....
, Massachusetts.
Salvaged under a contract to the Boston Tow Boat Company, Galena arrived at the Portsmouth Navy Yard April 6, 1891. However, it was decided that repairs would be too costly. Galena was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
on February 29, 1892 and was sold to E. J. Butler of Arlington, Massachusetts
Arlington, Massachusetts
Arlington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, six miles northwest of Boston. The population was 42,844 at the 2010 census.-History:...
on May 9.