Row galley

A row galley was a term used by the early United States Navy for an armed watercraft that used oars rather than sails as a means of propulsion.

[1] Row galleys were often fitted with sails in addition to the oars.

[2] During the American Revolution, row galleys, such as Spitfire and Washington, with crews of up to 60 oarsmen, were employed successfully in battle against larger warships.

[citation needed] During the American Civil War, Union Navy, and Confederate Navy ships operating in rivers and other interior waterways, would send row galleys to surprise and capture enemy ships anchored for the night.

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