| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USSGallatin |
| Laid down | c 1807 |
| Launched | c 1807 |
| Commissioned | c 1812 |
| Fate | Sank, 1 April 1813 |
| General characteristics | |
| Length | 100 ft (30 m) |
USSGallatin was a post-Revolutionary War sailing vessel that theU.S. Department of the Treasury purchased atNorfolk, Virginia, for theUnited States Revenue-Marine in December 1807. An explosion on board destroyed her in 1813.
On 5 December 1807, in Norfolk, Daniel McNeil paidUS$9,432.93 forGallatin. He was her first master and he sailed her to Charleston, South Caroline to assumerevenue cutter services. His master's commission for the State of South Carolina bears the same date.[1] In February 1808,Gallatin arrested the schoonerKitty for violating theAct Prohibiting Importation of Slaves of March 1807. She had 32 slaves on board and the seizure gave rise to a court case. The court voided the seizure on the grounds that the law was passed afterKitty had left the United States and her captain could not have known of its passage.[2]
America's declaration of war, in mid-June 1812, was followed shortly by theEnemy Trade Act of 1812 on 6 July, which employed similar restrictions as previous legislation such as theEmbargo Act of 1807, including prohibiting all trade with Great Britain; the 1812 Act was as ineffective as prior acts. On 7 July 1812, Norfolk native and experienced merchant Edward Herbert, of Norfolk, and an experienced merchant captain, replaced McNeil as master ofGallatin. Then in August 1812, the Treasury transferredGallatin from Charleston back to Norfolk.[1]
On 1 August 1812,Gallatin, under the command of Daniel McNeil, captured the brigGeneral Blake, which was sailing from London toAmelia Island.General Blake was flying the Spanish flag and carried an illegal cargo, including African slaves. The capture was adjudicated in Charleston, South Carolina. A French privateer capturedGeneral Blake as she departed Charleston in January 1813.[1] According to a newspaper report,Gallatin captured a Britishletter of marque on 6 August as the British vessel was sailing to Jamaica. However, theNew York Evening Post later declared the report false, and likely referencing the capture of theGeneral Blake.[1]
On 12 August,Gallatin escorted the British schoonerHMS Whiting out of American waters at Hampton Roads. The Norfolk privateerDash had capturedWhiting, which had been bringing official dispatches to the US government from Britain and which was unaware of the outbreak of war. The US government ordered the release ofWhiting. Unfortunately for the schooner, the French privateerDiligent orDiligence capturedWhiting shortly after she was released.[1] On 2 SeptemberGallatin escorted the shipTom Hazard into Norfolk. The privateerComet had captured her and the master ofComet had kept the ship's papers and manifest before releasing her. As far as McNeil was concerned,Tom Hazard was carrying an illegal cargo of British goods.[1][a]
Then on 10 October,Gallatin detainedActive, of London, andGeorgiana, of Liverpool, for violation of the Enemy Trade Act. Nine days later, while on a cruise,Gallatin sighted a British warship near Savannah, Georgia.[1] John Hubbard Silliman replaced Herbert as master afterGallatin returned to Charleston. His commission as a revenue cutter master in the State of South Carolina is dated 22 October 1812.[1] On 7 November, Silliman sailedGallatin in company with the privateerSaucy Jack to attempt to intercept the British privateerCaledonia. They were unsuccessful.[1][b] In the new year, on 27 March 1813, the captain of the schoonerMalaparte published a letter thanking Silliman and his men for helping to save his schooner's cargo after she went ashore near Savannah.[1]
Gallatin sank on 1 April in the harbor atCharleston, South Carolina. The cause of the sinking was an explosion that killed three men and seriously wounded five more.[1]Gallatin had returned from a cruise the day before and Silliman had gone ashore, leaving orders that the crew clean the muskets and pistols. They were engaged on this task when the ship'spowder room exploded. The cause of the explosion was never determined.[5] On 31 March 1814 a Charleston newspaper reported that salvors had built a diving bell to retrieve ordnance and equipment from the sunken cutter.[1]
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.
