Experimental ironclad: a construction and early operational history of the USS Galena

Due to the character of the original source materials and the nature of batch digitization, quality control issues may be present in this document. Please report any quality issues you encounter to digital@library.tamu.edu, referencing the URI of the item.Includes bibliographical references.This thesis analyzes the construction and early operational history of the USS Galena, a Civil War ironclad. It uses the Galena to examine the initial selection process for ironclads, to assess the ability of Northern industry to respond to the technical challenges of the war, to take a closer look at the often contentious process of ironclad construction, and to analyze the impact of this experimental design on the type of ironclads chosen to prosecute the war. The Galena was built as one of three experimental designs early in the war. The other two, the New Ironsides and the Monitor, were relatively successful, while the Galena had mixed results. She proved a tactical failure but a strategic success in the critical summer of 1862. Although unable to perform as well as expected, she had both a psychological and a physical impact during the Peninsula Campaign, playing a critical role in the salvation of General George Brinton McClellan's army after the Seven Days