View source for USS Galatea (1863)

{{short description|Gunboat of the United States Navy}}
{{other ships|USS Galatea (SP-714)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
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|Ship image= File:Alexandre Petion (1864 gunboat) cropped.jpg
|Ship caption= ''Alexandre Pétion'', formerly USS ''Galatea'', bombarding [[Petit Goave]] in 1868
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|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United States|1867}}
|Ship name=USS Galatea
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|Ship laid down=date unknown
|Ship launched= About late March 1863
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|Ship acquired=31 July 1863
|Ship commissioned=29 January 1864
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|Ship decommissioned=12 July 1865
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|Ship struck=1865 (est.)
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|Ship homeport=[[Cap-Haïtien]], Haiti
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|Ship fate=Sold, 15 August 1865
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|Ship country=Haiti
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Haiti|1859}}
|Ship name=''Alexandre Pétion''
|Ship owner=[[Haitian Navy]]
|Ship namesake=[[Alexandre Pétion]]
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|Ship acquired=15 August 1865
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|Ship displacement=1,244 tons
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|Ship length={{cvt|209|ft|6|in}}
|Ship beam={{cvt|35|ft|6|in}}
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|Ship draught=depth of hold {{cvt|20|ft|8|in}}
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|Ship propulsion=*[[steam engine]]
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|Ship speed=10 knots
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|Ship armament=*eight 32-pounder guns
*one 100-poudner gun
*two 30-pounder guns
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'''USS ''Galatea''''' was a large [[Steamship|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 [[Colón, Panama|Aspinwall]], [[United States of Colombia]].

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.

Renamed ''Alexandre Pétion'', on 20 September 1868, she attacked the rebel ships {{ship|Haitian ship|Liberté||2}} and {{ship|Haitian ship|Sylvain||2}} at [[Petit-Goâve]]. ''Liberté'' was sunk; ''Sylvain'' was set afire and abandoned by her crew.<ref name=BO231068>{{Cite news |title=General News |newspaper=Bradford Observer |location=Bradford |date=23 October 1868 |issue=1823 |page=4 |volume=35 }}</ref> On 20 May 1869, she ran aground off Cape Dame Maria. Her guns were taken out and she was refloated.<ref name=AJ160669>{{Cite news |title=The West Indies |newspaper=Aberdeen Journal |location=Aberdeen |date=16 June 1869 |issue=6336 }}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g1/galatea-i.htm}}
{{1869 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Galatea}}
[[Category:Ships of the Union Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in New York City]]
[[Category:Steamships of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Gunboats of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:American Civil War patrol vessels of the United States]]
[[Category:1863 ships]]
[[Category:Ships transferred from the United States Navy to the Haitian Navy]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in September 1868]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in May 1869]]
[[Category:Ships of the Haitian Navy]]