Brig Potomac
| |
History | |
---|---|
Republic of Texas | |
Name | Potomac |
Namesake | Potomac River |
Commissioned | 1838 |
Decommissioned | 1843 |
Homeport | Galveston, Texas |
Fate | Converted to pilot boat in Galveston harbor |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Brig |
Beam | 28 |
Propulsion | wind |
Speed | variable |
Complement | 28 |
The Texan brig Potomac was a ship of the Second Texas Navy that never sailed as a warship. For a while, in 1838, she was the only ship in the Texas Navy. She was decommissioned in 1843.[1]
The merchant brig Potomac was bought for the Texas Navy by the Secretary of the Navy from Capt. L. M. Hitchcock in early 1838 for $8,000.[3] It was the only ship in the navy until the Texan schooner Zavala was purchased in November 1838.
The Secretary of the Navy, Memucan Hunt, Jr. spent over $10,000 equipping the Potomac for service, but as the sale had never been completed due to the Texas Congress not having approved the expenditure of funds to purchase Potomac, the work was suspended without being completed.[4]
Eventually, President Lamar completed the purchase, but the Potomac was never completely fitted out for service. By 1840, her crew was ordered aboard the Wharton and she was in use in Galveston as a receiving ship.[5]
In 1843, with the Potomac unfit to serve as a warship, she was transferred to other public use with the Galveston Harbormaster as a pilot ship. She ended her career in the Texas Navy never having left port or fired a weapon in conflict.