USS Pulaski (1854)

USS Pulaski, was a side-wheel steamship, in service with the United States Navy. She was named for Casimir Pulaski. Named Metacomet when built for commercial owners in 1854, she served as USS Pulaski from 1858 to 1863, when she was sold by the Navy.

History
Name:	USS Pulaski
Namesake:	Casimir Pulaski
Launched:	1854
Acquired:	by charter 1858 purchased, 1859
Commissioned:	19 July 1861
Decommissioned:	22 January 1863
Fate:	Sold, 1863
General characteristics
Type:	Steamer
Displacement:	395 long tons (401 t)
Length:	181 ft (55 m)
Propulsion:	Steam engine
Complement:	163 officers and enlisted
Armament:	3 × 12-pounder mortars

Metacomet was built at New York City. She was chartered by the Navy in 1858 for use in the Paraguay expedition at monthly rate of $3,500, with an option to purchase her for $50,000. During the expedition she was commanded by Lieutenant William H. Macomb. In March 1859 she was deemed unseaworthy and not in a position to be navigated back to the United States.[1]

Subsequently purchased and renamed USS Pulaski, she operated in South American waters from early 1859 until 22 January 1863, when she was decommissioned and sold by auction at Montevideo, Uruguay. In the first months of 1865 she was purchased by Paraguay.[2] Until about 1870 she operated on the Río de la Plata as a civilian vessel.

References

1. Expenses of the Paraguay Expedition - House of Representatives, 36th Congress, 1st Session, Mis. Doc. No. 86 (May 11, 1860), p.106
2. Josefina Pla: The British in Paraguay, 1850-1870, The Richmond Publishing Co. Ltd., 1976, p. 97

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Naval History and Heritage Command. This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.