1869-December-15: The “Salnave policy” of the United States suffered a catastrophic blow when the armored steamer Atlanta, which the Haitian government had p…

1869-December-15: The “Salnave policy” of the United States suffered a catastrophic blow when the armored steamer Atlanta, which the Haitian government had purchased from Oaksmith for $160,000 in gold, was lost at sea. The vessel, formerly in U.S. service, disappeared with all hands on board—including the Haitian crew and the American agents who had come to take possession of it. This loss crippled Salnave’s naval capabilities just as insurgent forces were closing in on Port-au-Prince.