Watch, Quarter, and Station Bill of the U.S.S. Galena, 1882 (approximate): Finding Aid

History of U.S.S. Galena (Steamer)

The second U.S.S. Galena, a wooden steamer, was built by the Norfolk Navy Yard in 1879 and commissioned at Norfolk on August 26 1880, Commander James O'Kane in command. She departed Hampton Roads on December 19, 1880 and reached Gibraltar on January 12, 1881. She cruised between the ports of France, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Greece, along the coast of Africa; and to the Canary, Cape Verde and Madeira Islands. On April 7, 1881 she arrived at the Greek island of Chios to aid in earthquake recovery. On June 10, 1882, she reached Alexandria, Egypt, to embark American citizens and personnel of the American Consulate for protection during a rebellion.

Galena departed Alexandria on July 11, 1882 for operations along the South American coast out of Rio de Janeiro. From October 19, 1882 to January 31, 1883 she was the flagship of Rear Admiral Peirce Crosby's South Atlantic Squadron. She arrived in New York September 10, 1883 to serve in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean. This included station duty at Key West (May 1-August 16, 1884) to prevent illegal filibustering expeditions from the United States to Cuba.

The following year, Galena was at the heart of the Panama Incident during the Colombian Civil War. She and her captain became embroiled in the March 30 incident involving a weapons shipment aboard Pacific Mail Line steamer Colon. In the ensuring burning of the city of Colon, Galena's landing force went ashore to save as much of the town as possible. On April 10, Admiral Jouett arrived in Tennessee to keep the Isthmus open to crossing travelers until order was restored in May.

Galena departed Colon on June 9, 1885 for Portsmouth, New Hampshire to begin several months cruising along the eastern seaboard. She returned to Colombian waters in November 1885 for service in the Caribbean, and called at St. Andrew Island off Nicaragua on February 14, 1886 to investigate the detention of American steamer City of Mexico.

Between the summer of 1886 and winter of 1888, Galena split her time between North Atlantic and Caribbean waters. During this time, she took part in the unveiling of the soldiers and sailors monument at New Haven, Connecticut on June 14, 1887; the centennial of the adoption of the Constitution at Philadelphia on September 12, 1887; watched over American interests during political disturbances at Port-au-Prince, Haiti in August and September 1888.

Galena departed New York December 12, 1888 as flagship of Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce, Commander in Chief, North Atlantic Station. She arrived in Key West on January 19, 1889, where, on February 16, Rear Admiral Bancroft Gherardi relieved Admiral Luce as Commander in Chief, North Atlantic Station. She sailed the following day for Haitian waters and then returned to New York May 29. Admiral Gherardi transferred his flag to Kearsarge on June 15.

After repairs at New York, Galena arrived at Cap Haitien on September 6, 1889 and relieved Kearsarge as flagship. At the island of Navassa on October 6, she took on board nine ring-leaders of a riot and delivered them to Baltimore on October 25. She repaired at the New York Navy Yard, then sailed on December 3 to serve once more as Admiral Gherardi's flagship out of Key West. She was relieved as flagship by Dolphin on February 14, 1890 and departed Key West on May 25, arriving at New York Navy Yard on July 1. She decommissioned on July 23, 1890 and remained there until March 12, 1891 when she was towed toward the Portsmouth Navy Yard to be fitted with new boilers. The following day, both ships ran aground about a mile south of Gay Head, Martha's Vineyard.

Following salvage, Galena arrived at the Portsmouth Navy Yard April 6, 1891 and was stricken from the Navy List February 29, 1892. She was then sold to E. J. Butler of Arlington, Massachusetts on May 9, 1892.

Biographical Chronology of Lloyd Bankson

1857

• Born on November 15 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1877

• On September 13, appointed to the United States Naval Academy Class of 1881 as a Cadet Engineer.

1881

• On June 10, graduates from the United States Naval Academy.
• On June 18, ordered to U.S.S. Quinnebaug (Screw corvette) at onset of his two years mandatory sea service.

1882

• On July 6, transferred to U.S.S. Galena (Steamer).

1883

• On March 22, detached and sent home for examination.
• On July 1, appointed Assistant Engineer.

1886

• On April 8, ordered to temporary duty at Chester, Pennsylvania.

1887

• On June 20, assigned to temporary duty aboard U.S.S. Chicago (Protected cruiser).
• On August 25, detached and detailed to the École Polytechnique in Paris.

1888

• On August 29, commissioned.

1889

• On June 30, resigns as an Engineer in United States Navy.
• On July 1, appointed Assistant Naval Constructor in the United States Navy.

1890

• On December 10, reports to William Cramp & Sons shipyard.

1891

• On November 18, reports for duty at the Iowa Iron Works.

1894

• On June 25, detached and ordered to the Norfolk Navy Yard.

1895

• On October 8, detached and order to U.S.S. New York (Cruiser: ACR-2).
• On November 18, detached and to the New York Navy Yard.
• On December 4, assigned to board duty.

1896

• In June, detached from New York Navy Yard but continues board duty.
• On June 30, promoted to Naval Constructor.
• On August 17, assigned to temporary duty at the New York Navy Yard.
• On October 26, ordered to duty in Erie, Pennsylvania.

1897

• On May 14, detached and ordered home.
• On June 11, appointed member of a board to examine civil engineers.
• On July 7, ordered to Bath, Maine as Assistant Constructor.
• On November 5, appointed Superintending Constructor at Bath.

1898

• On August 9, ordered to board duty at Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
• On October 11, assigned additional duty as Superintending Constructor of Monitor No. 8 and Torpedo Boats 24, 25, and 26.

1899

• On June 5, appointed Senior Member of Board of Changes to U.S.S. Chesapeake (Bark), U.S.S. Connecticut (Monitor), U.S.S. Dahlgren (Torpedo boat: TB-9), U.S.S. Craven (Torpedo boat: TB-10), U.S.S. Bagley (Torpedo boat: TB-24), U.S.S. Barney (Torpedo boat: TB-25), and U.S.S. Biddle (Torpedo boat: TB-26).
• On September 12, ordered to temporary duty at Newport News.
• On December 12, appointed Superintendent of Construction of U.S.S. Cleveland (Protected cruiser: C-19) at Bath Iron Works.

1900

• On March 8, appointed member of a Board of Changes to U.S.S. Connecticut, U.S.S. Bagley, U.S.S. Barney, U.S.S. Biddle, and U.S.S. Cleveland.
• On December 4, detached and ordered to the Pensacola Navy Yard.

1901

• On March 28, detached and ordered to Philadelphia Navy Yard.

1902

• On January 4, appointed Senior Member of a board at League Island.
• On October 20, appointed member of the Board of Changes for ships building at Maryland Steel Co.

1904

• On March 7, assigned to temporary duty at Wilmington, Delaware.
• On March 28, appointed member of Board of Changes for U.S.S. Stringham (Torpedo boat: TB-19).
• On September 16, assigned to special temporary duty in the Bureau of Construction and Repair.

1905

• On January 5, assigned additional duty as member of the Board of Inspection for U.S.S. Marietta (Gunboat: PG-15).

1907

• In April, appointed member of the Board of General Survey of U.S.S. Minneapolis (Cruiser: C-13).
• In May, appointed member of the Board of General Survey of U.S.S. Saratoga (Cruiser: ACR-2).
• On December 27, detached and ordered to duty as Head of the Department of Construction and Repair at Naval Stations Cavite and Olongapo.

1910

• On January 7, detached and ordered to temporary duty at the Bureau of Construction and Repair.
• On May 24, detached and ordered to duty as Superintending Constructor at Fore River Shipbuilding Company.
• On September 6, promoted to the rank of Captain, effective back to August 14.

1911

• On January 24, assigned additional material inspection duty.
• In June, assigned additional duty as Superintending Constructor of Submarines at New London and Fore River.
• On July 25, assigned additional duty on connection with the trials of U.S.S. Skipjack (Submarine: SS-24) and U.S.S. Sturgeon (Submarine: SS-25).
• On November 13, appointed President of the Board inspecting U.S.S. Inca (Ferry).

1913

• On September 2, ordered detached from Fore River and to William Cramp & Sons as Superintending Constructor.

1914

• On March 19, assigned to temporary duty in connection of the trials of U.S.S. Sacramento (Gunboat: PG-19 at Lewes, Delaware.

1915

• On March 8, appointed member of a board on hull changes to ships building at the New York Shipbuilding Company in Camden, New Jersey and at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

1916

• On January 28, assigned temporary duty as a Member of a Board at Fore River Shipbuilding.
• On June 8, assigned additional duty as Assistant to the Inspector of Hull Materials for the Eastern District.

1917

• On January 18, appointed member of the Naval Examination Board at the Navy Department.
• On January 25, admitted to the Philadelphia Naval Hospital for treatment until March 26.
• On April 25, assigned temporary additional duty as member of the Naval Examining Board at Philadelphia.
• On August 22, assigned to additional duty as Superintending Constructor at New York Shipbuilding.
• On November 3, ordered detached from duty at New York Shipbuilding.

1918

• On May 25, ordered to temporary additional duty at Washington, DC.

1924

• By January 1, is listed as retired with the rank of Commodore.

Description of Contents

The Watch, Quarter, and Station Bill of the U.S.S. Galena, comprising 0.11 linear feet of documentation in a single volume of 44 leaves, was compiled in or around 1882. The bills were compiled by Cadet Engineer Lloyd Bankson while stationed aboard U.S.S. Galena, commanded by Oliver Ambrose Batcheller.

In addition to the watch, quarter, boat, and station bills, the volume includes a general description of the Galena, including its dimensions, as well as a list of her officers and crew complement. The final page of the volume indicates that it was inspected and approved by Oliver Ambrose Batcheller, and bears his signature. Tucked inside the front cover of the volume is a 1935 letter pertaining to the donation of the volume.

Arrangement

The Watch, Quarter, and Station Bill of the U.S.S. Galena comprises a single volume.

Access and Use

Access

Patron use restricted to microfilm.

Copyright and Permission

The Watch, Quarter, and Station Bill of the U.S.S. Galena is the physical property of Nimitz Library. Copyright belongs to the authors or creators of the works, or their legal representatives. For further information, consult the Head, Special Collections & Archives.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure written permission to publish, reprint, or reproduce material from Special Collections & Archives. The researcher assumes responsibility for infringement of copyright or literary or publication rights. Please contact the Head, Special Collections & Archives for permission to publish and for further information.

Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Gift of the Free Library of Philadelphia in 1935.

Related Materials

Location of Copies or Alternate Formats

This collection also available on microfilm.

Related Archival Material

Additional material pertaining to Lloyd Bankson in this repository can be found in his Midshipman Conduct Record.

Official logbooks of U.S.S. Galena may be available in Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships, ca. 1801 - 1940, Record Group 24: Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, 1798-2007 at the National Archives and Records Administration.

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Watch, Quarter, and Station Bill of the U.S.S. Galena, MS 85

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

The following sources were consulted during preparation of the biographical note:

Callahan, Edward William. List of officers of the Navy of the United States and of the Marine Corps from 1775 to 1900. New York: L.R. Hamersly & Co., 1901.

"Galena II (SStr)." Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Washington: Naval History and Heritage Command, 2015, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/g/galena-ii.html.

Navy and Marine Corps List and Directory: Officers of the Navy and Marine Corps of the United States. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1901-1924.

Abstracts of Service Records of Naval Officers. Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel RG 24, National Archives and Records Administration.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Mary R. Catalfamo. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in April 2020.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Bankson, Lloyd
• Galena (Steamer)
• Naval education -- United States
• Training-ships -- United States
• United States Naval Academy -- Midshipmen -- Cruises
• United States. Navy -- History -- 19th century -- Sources

Genre Terms

• Manuscripts
• Ships' logs