Thursday, May 30, 2019

USS Atlanta-- Part 3: Sold to Haiti After the War

On 4 May 1869, the Atlanta was sold to Sam Ward for $25,000 and after that delivered to representatives of Haiti on 8 December  by Sydney Oaksmith, a lawyer who had received an advance of $50,000 on her purchase price of $260,000.  (A pretty good profit.)

The ship was briefly seized by U.S. Customs Service, possibly for violations of neutrality laws as she had recently loaded  four large guns and a number of recruits for the force of Sylvain Salnave, President of Haiti, who was embroiled in a civil war at the time.

The Atlanta was released and sailed for Haiti three days later.  She broke down  in Delaware Bay and had to put in at Chester, Pennsylvania, for repairs.

The ship was renamed either the Triumph or Triumfo, and departed on 18 December 1869 and vanished en route, apparently sinking with the loss of all hands, either off Cape Hatteras or the Delaware Capes.

It would be interesting if this ship is found someday.  And, imagine, a former Confederate ship fighting for Haiti.  That would have been interesting.

--Old B-Runner

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