The USS Wateree (1863) was a screw steamer built for the United States Navy during the American Civil War. Named after the Wateree River in South Carolina, the ship became notable for its service in the conflict and, more significantly, for its unusual fate during a devastating tsunami in 1868.
Construction and Characteristics: Constructed at the Boston Navy Yard, USS Wateree was launched on July 10, 1863, and commissioned on January 29, 1864, with Commander Frank Eldridge in command. As a screw steamer, it combined sail power with a steam engine driving a screw propeller, a common design for naval vessels of its era, offering greater versatility and independence from wind conditions.
Civil War Service (1864-1865): Upon commissioning, Wateree was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, which was tasked with enforcing the Union blockade of Confederate ports. Operating primarily off the coast of North Carolina, the ship participated in the pivotal campaigns against Fort Fisher, a crucial Confederate stronghold guarding Wilmington, North Carolina, the Confederacy's last major port. Wateree was involved in both the unsuccessful first assault in December 1864 and the successful second assault in January 1865, providing gunfire support to the landing troops and helping to silence the fort's batteries.
Post-War Service and Transfer to the Pacific (1865-1868): After the end of the Civil War, Wateree continued its service with the U.S. Navy. In 1865, it was transferred to the Pacific Squadron, sailing around Cape Horn to take up duties on the west coast of South America. For the next three years, the ship patrolled the Pacific waters, protecting American interests and engaging in diplomatic missions along the coasts of Peru, Chile, and Bolivia (which at the time included a Pacific coastline).
The Arica Tsunami (1868): The most extraordinary event in Wateree's history occurred on August 13, 1868. While anchored in the harbor of Arica, then part of Bolivia (now Peru), the ship was struck by a massive earthquake followed by a series of devastating tsunamis. The first, and largest, wave was estimated to be over 50 feet high. The USS Wateree, due to its flat-bottomed design, was remarkably lifted by the monstrous wave and carried approximately two to three miles inland, where it was deposited intact on dry land. The crew, though shaken, survived the ordeal without loss of life. Many other vessels in the harbor were destroyed or capsized.
Fate: After the tsunami, the USS Wateree lay stranded far from the ocean, effectively becoming a landlocked ship. Decommissioned shortly thereafter, the vessel was deemed unsalvageable for naval purposes. It was subsequently sold at auction in 1869 to a private company, which converted it into a store and hotel. Over time, as the surrounding landscape was rebuilt, the remnants of the ship were eventually broken up and removed, but for many years, its hulk served as a prominent and unusual landmark in Arica.