Row Galley

Yesterday I mentioned that a large row galley was stationed at Ocracoke Inlet during the Revolutionary War to guard American shipping from attacks by the British. The name of the vessel is not recorded. Some of our readers might wonder what a row galley is. 

A row galley was an armed United States Navy vessel employed during the age of sail. As the name suggests, row galleys used oars rather than sails as their primary means of propulsion . While sailing ships might be slowed down (or even halted) because of lack of wind, row galleys were able to continue to move as long as the crew could endure. Some row galleys also employed sails, making them even more versatile.

Model of the Row Galley, USS Washington
Photo by Sturmvogel 66>

Above is a model of the Revolutionary-era row galley, USS Washington. This row galley had a complement of 60 oarsmen. 

This month's Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Ocracoke Lodge No. 194, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. You can read the Newsletter here: https://www.villagecraftsmen.com/island-inn-lodge-no-194-independent-order-odd-fellows/.