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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Pulaski

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Medal
Sidewheel Gunboat:
  • Built in 1854 as the wooden steamer Metacomet, at New York
  • Chartered by the Navy in 1858 at monthly rate of $3,500, with an option to purchase her for $50,000 for the expedition against Paraguay
  • Metacomet arrived at Asuncion, 25 January 1859, but payment of an indemnity and apology, however, settled the Water Witch affair peacefully and no action was taken
  • In March 1859 she was deemed unseaworthy and not in a position to be navigated back to the United States
  • Purchased by the Navy and commissioned USS Pulaski, ,19 July 1861, LT. William H. Macomb in command
  • Pulaski subsequently, operated in South American waters from early 1859 until 22 January 1863
  • Decommissioned and sold at auction at Montevideo, Uruguay, 22 January 1863
  • In the first months of 1865 she was purchased by Paraguay and operated on the Río de la Plata as a civilian vessel until 1870
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 395 t.
    Length 181'
    Beam unknown
    Depth of Hold unknown
    Draft unknown
    Speed speed
    Complement 163
    Armament three 12-pdr mortars
    Propulsion steam
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Pulaski 54k Watercolor of the steamship SS Metacomet by Erik Heyl in 1955, painted for use in his book "Early American Steamers", Volume II. This steamer served as USS Pulaski in 1858-1863, in South American waters.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 63880 Courtesy of Erik Heyl    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    USS Pulaski
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    Last Updated 18 November 2022