The Union's Short-Lived Ironclad: The USS Galena

From the Aug. 23rd Civil War Connections Blog "Short-Lived Ironclad" by Brian Whitenton.

I knew the Galena was not a very successful ironclad (one of the first three such ships the U.S. government paid to have built, the other two considerably more successful, the Monitor and New Ironsides), but did not know it eventually had its iron removed and served the rest of the war as a wooden steamer.

The USS Galena guarded McClellan's troopships during his withdrawal from Hampton Roads to Fredericksburg.  Later, the ship was mauled at Drewry's Bluff on the James River, exposing the shortcomings of its thin armor which provided practically no protection from enemy shot.  And, the iron was only on the sides, not the decks.  At this battle, Confederate gunners fired down on the Galena.

It remained on duty in Hampton Roads for most of the war.  In late 1863 it was retrofitted and had its armor removed and armament increased.

It was at the Battle of Mobile Bay in a supporting role at the rear of the fleet, so no "Damn the Torpedoes" for the Galena.

An Ironless Ironclad.  How Interesting.  --Old B-Runner