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The Union has begun the construction of the U.S.S. Galena, as a wooden huled boat, but the above water part is iron plated. The Galena was built in 100 days and only cost $275,000.
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In February 14, 1862 the half iron clad Union boat was launced.
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The Galena was towed to Fort Monroe to join the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
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Galena traveled up the James River with gunboats Port Royal and Aroostook on May 8, 1862 in the pursuit of Richmond.
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She was detached from the James River Flotilla in September 1862 and assigned to picket duty at Hampton Roads.
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She was sent on May 21, 1863 to Philadelphia for repairs. Her iron plating was stripped off and the Galena was turned into a wooden hull ship.
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She finally joined the West Gulf Blockading Squadron in Pensacola on May 20, 1864. She was assigned to blockade Mobile, Alabama, and participated in the attacks on the fort. She was then transferred to the East Gulf Blockading Squadron out of Key West.
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Decommissioned in November 1864 for repairs and sent back to the North Atlantic Squadron in Newport News, Virginia, she served as a picket and patrol ship at the mouth of the Nansemond River and the James River.
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Her final decommissioning was June 1865.
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She was then decommissioned in Portsmouth on June 5, 1865 and then recommissioned for movement to Hampton Roads.
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Through survey the Galena was condemned in 1870 and broken up at the Norfolk Navy Yard in 1872.
