Roger Taylor Final Research Paper HIST 1700 27 November 2013

The Uni e! S a es Friga e Essex an! he See!s o" #rea ness

$ he %rn o" he 1& h cen %ry' he (orl! (as ri"e (i h in rig%e' (i h ension' an! (i h (ar) *ac+ing he naval po(er o !e"en! her in eres s abroa!' he Uni e! S a es ,an! her ci i-en.sailors/ (ere s%b0ec o many in!igni ies %pon he high seas) Tho%gh he $merican colonies ha! gaine! heir in!epen!ence some si1 een years be"ore' 2ri ish men.o".(ar (ere s ill s opping $merican merchan vessels on he high seas loo+ing "or 2ri ish ci i-ens o press in o mili ary service)1 French cr%isers an! priva eers' eager "or pl%n!er an! pro"i ' (ere also s opping $merican vessels on he pre e1 o" searching "or con raban! in heir (ar (i h 3nglan!)2 Finally' he 2arbary S a es o" he eas ern an! so% hern 4e!i erranean Sea (ere preying %pon any vessel (hose mo her co%n ry ei her !i! no pay 5 rib% e6 or (hich lac+e! he "irepo(er o p%nish heir emeri y)3 In or!er o a!!ress his imbalance' an! o sa"eg%ar! $merican in eres s abroa!' he Uni e! S a es rel%c an ly began a shipb%il!ing program (hich (o%l! yiel! ill%s rio%s names s%ch as Constitution' Constellation' Congress' President' an! Philadelphia) 7ne o" he vessels b%il in his era' he Uni e! S a es Friga e Essex' (o%l! no only (ri e her name in o he his ory boo+s8 she (o%l! "orge an! emper hree genera ions o" naval lea!ers an! se he pa ern "or he Navy "or genera ions o come) 2eca%se he "irs si1 Uni e! S a es "riga es ,an! he cre(s o man hem/ (ere so e1pensive' here (ere en!less arg%men s in he vas y halls o" poli ical po(er8 an! a cheaper al erna ive (as nee!e! "or he cash.s rappe! na ion) Unli+e her ill%s rio%s sis ers' he Uni e! S a es Friga e Essex (o%l! be b%il by s%bscrip ion)9 The ship:s cons r%c ion an! "i ing.o% (o%l! be accomplishe! by priva ely raise! "%n!s) 7nce he ship (as in service' he governmen (o%l! repay he s%bscribers a an in eres ra e consi!erably lo(er han

1 Preble' #eorge Henry) The first cruise of the United States frigate Essex ,Salem; The 3sse1 Ins i % e' 1<70/' 1) 2 Ibi!) 3 Ibi!) 9 Ibi!)' 9) 2

ano her ype o" loan) Essex (o%l! be !esigne! by =illiam Hac+e ' a no e! an! gi" e! !esigner)> She (o%l! be b%il by 3nos 2riggs in Salem' 4assach%se s)? She (o%l! be la%nche! on Sep ember 30' 17&&)7 Essex (as 5small "or her si-e6' mo%n ing only 32 g%ns) The 2ri ish' by con ras ' ha! no la%nche! a "riga e mo%n ing less han hir y eigh g%ns in nearly (en y years)< Si-e no (i hs an!ing' Essex (as a "as an! s %r!y ship' an! (o%l! e1pan! he "ron iers o" $merican (arships in service) 7n 4arch 2<' 1<00' (o%l! be he "irs $merican man.o".(ar o ro%n! he @ape o" #oo! Hope)& Thir een years la er' she (o%l! be he "irs $merican man.o".(ar o pass @ape Horn)10 She (o%l! be he "irs $merican (arship o sho( he "lag in bo h he In!ian an! Paci"ic 7ceans' an! (o%l! serve in all "ive o" he (orl!:s oceans be"ore her career (as "inishe!) Essex began her "irs cr%ise %n!er he comman! o" @ap ain 3!(ar! Preble' a gallan an! !ashing o""icer (ho ha! previo%sly serve! as a *ie% enan in he Revol% ionary =ar)11 He (o%l! be promo e! o he ran+ o" @ommo!ore' comman! he @ons i % ion' an! "inally !ie in 1<07' having ma!e an in!elible mar+ o" he in"an Uni e! S a es Navy) The "irs cr%ise o" any ne( vessel is one o" !iscovery an! a!0%s men ) In an era (here each ship (as a %niA%e (or+ o" ar ' he cap ain (as as+e! ,almos li erally/ (i h 5(ri ing he boo+6 on he ship8 > Robo i' Frances B) an! Cescovi' Dames) The USS Essex: And the Birth of the American Navy) , $!ams 4e!ia @orpora ion' 1&&&/' 39) ? Ibi!)' 2>) 7 Preble' #eorge Henry) The first cruise of the United States frigate Essex ,Salem; The 3sse1 Ins i % e' 1<70/' <) < Robo i' Frances B) an! Cescovi' Dames) The USS Essex: And the Birth of the American Navy) , $!ams 4e!ia @orpora ion' 1&&&/' 92) & Preble' #eorge Henry) The first cruise of the United States frigate Essex ,Salem; The 3sse1 Ins i % e' 1<70/' 1?) 10 Robo i' Frances B) an! Cescovi' Dames) The USS Essex: And the Birth of the American Navy) , $!ams 4e!ia @orpora ion' 1&&&/' 170) 11 Preble' #eorge Henry) The first cruise of the United States frigate Essex ,Salem; The 3sse1 Ins i % e' 1<70/' ><) 3

!iscovering her s reng hs an! (ea+nesses' her goo! poin s an! her ba!)12 4ore impor an ly' ho(ever' he cap ain:s primary !% y' o" co%rse' is o "orge his cre( in o a coheren "igh ing %ni in or!er o carry o% he mission assigne!) I is o" en sai! ha a chain is no s ronger han i s (ea+es lin+) $ ship. no ma er ho( grace"%l her lines' no ma er ho( "as she sails' no ma er ho( many g%ns she migh carry. is no more e""ec ive or capable han her cre() $ capable' cohesive cre( can (or+ miracles) $ (ea+ cre( (ill sha er %n!er he "irs hammer s ro+e) @ap ain Preble oo+ grea pains o "orge he cre( o" he Essex in o a capable "igh ing %ni ) In a!!i ion o es ing he ship an! her eA%ipmen ' Preble oo+ grea pains o es ablish a pa ern o" e1cellence aboar!) $" er a "air rial o" heir capabili ies' @ap ain Preble re.ra e! ,an! re!%ce! he pay/ o" many o" his cre()13 Biscipline (as s ern' (i h hose (ho serio%sly viola e! he goo! or!er o" he ship being "logge!)19 Those o""icers an! men (ho (ere %n"i "or service or (ere chronic ro%blema+ers (ere p% ashore' an! one m% ineer (as carrie! home in chains)1> 2y an! large' he Essex (as a happy ship' an! s%bseA%en comman!ers oo+ care o main ain her as s%ch) There (ere many no able o""icers (hose names are in er (ine! (i h ha o" Essex) 4os serve! (i h her) 7 hers (ere !escen!e! "rom hose (ho learne! an! per"ec e! heir ra!e aboar! he Salem "riga e) =illiam 2ainbri!ge' Dames 2arron' #eorge @o1' @harles S e(ar ' an! Bavi! Por er (o%l! all comman! her)1? 7 her no ables' s%ch as Dohn Bo(nes an! Bavi! #lasgo( Farrag% (o%l! serve aboar!' an! a+e he lessons learne! (i h hem hro%gho% heir lives) #eorge Preble' Bavi! Bi1on Por er' an! =illiam B) Por er (o%l! inheri he lessons learne! aboar! Essex "rom heir "a hers8 all 12 Robo i' Frances B) an! Cescovi' Dames) The USS Essex: And the Birth of the American Navy) , $!ams 4e!ia @orpora ion' 1&&&/' 170) 13 Preble' #eorge Henry) The first cruise of the United States frigate Essex ,Salem; The 3sse1 Ins i % e' 1<70/' <7) 19 Ibi!)' 7&) 1> Ibi!)' 71) 1? Ta+a+0ian' Por ia) Anatomy of the Ship the !"#un $rigate Essex) ,US Naval Ins i % e Press' 200>/ ' 1>) 9

(o%l! go on o become "lag o""icers an! lea!ers in he Uni e! S a es Navy) =illiam 2ainbri!ge ass%me! comman! in 1<01' an! imme!ia ely se sail "or he 4e!i erranean Sea) $s par o" @ommo!ore Richar! Bale:s SA%a!ron' Essex (as o"" o con"ron he 2arbary Pira es8 carrying her 4arines li erally 5 o he shores o" Tripoli6)17 2ainbri!ge (as a some(ha merc%rial o""icer8 impe %o%s' brash' an! o" en bl%n )1< 2ol! an! !aring' 2ainbri!ge (as no a"rai! o !o he brash' a rai (hich (o%l! lea! him o have a s ormy career) In 1<03' as cap ain o" he Philadelphia' 2ainbri!ge (o%l! chase a bloc+a!e r%nner in o Tripoli harbor' r%n his ship agro%n!' an! %l ima ely be "orce! o s%rren!er her)1& Bespi e his h%milia ion' 2ainbri!ge (o%l! go on o comman! he "riga e Constitution agains he H4S %ava' an! la er serve as a member o" he Navy:s 2oar! o" @ommissioners)20 No all Essex comman!ers (ere so l%c+y) Dames 2arron ass%me! comman! o" Essex in 1<09' an! (o%l! even %ally re ire (i h he ran+ o" @ommo!ore)21 $" er a s%ccess"%l cr%ise (i h Essex' 2arron (o%l! be promo e! o he ran+ o" @ommo!ore an! move o he ill."a e! "riga e Chesapea&e) Ill. prepare! "or a voyage' an! (i h a green cre( aboar!' Chesapea&e (as in no con!i ion "or a con"ron a ion) Bespi e he "ac ha no (ar ha! been !eclare! be (een he Uni e! S a es an! #rea 2ri ain' Chesapea&e (o%l! be s oppe!' a ac+e!' an! "orce! o s%rren!er by he H4S 'eopard' on he pre e1 ha Chesapea&e (as harboring 2ri ish !eser ers) 2arron (o%l! be co%r .mar iale! an!

convic e! o" negligence an! s%spen!e! "rom he service "or "ive years) The resen men s (hich he co%r .mar ial an! h%milia ion spa(ne! (o%l! rigger in an in"amo%s !%el (i h @ommo!ore S ephen
17

Ibi!) 1< Robo i' Frances B) an! Cescovi' Dames) The USS Essex: And the Birth of the American Navy) , $!ams 4e!ia @orpora ion' 1&&&/' 71) 1& 2r%ce' $n hony an! @ogar' =illiam) An Encyclopedia of Naval (istory) ,@hec+mar+ 2oo+s' 1&&&/' 2&) 20 Ibi!)' 30) 21 Robo i' Frances B) an! Cescovi' Dames) The USS Essex: And the Birth of the American Navy) , $!ams 4e!ia @orpora ion' 1&&&/' 170) >

Beca %r' res%l ing in he la er man:s !ea h) $l ho%gh he (as even %ally reins a e!' 2arron (o%l! never again be en r%s e! (i h a comman! a sea)22 The Essex serve! "or "i" een years in (ar an! in peace) Her "inal comman!er (as an ambi io%s an! "iery man name! Bavi! Por er)23 Por er serve! as a *ie% enan !%ring he E%asi.=ar ,(i h France/' an! !%ring he 2arbary =ars) B%e o his gallan ry an! !e!ica e! service' (on comman! o" he sloop Enterprise be"ore being promo e! an! rans"erre! o Essex)29 Por er (o%l! see he Essex hro%gh he =ar o" 1<12' "rom her "irs cr%ise in ha con"lic o her bi er !e"ea a Calparaiso' @hile)2> Por er (as +no(n as a "irm !isciplinarian' b% (as more concerne! (i h he heal h an! goo! con!%c o" his ship an! cre() Por er (o%l! even %ally re ire (i h he ran+ o" @ommo!ore' having serve! as comman!er o" he =es In!ia SA%a!ron' an! as one o" he Navy:s commissioners) =hile Por er:s con rib% ions in (ar (ere many an! no able' his grea es legacy (as he n%mber o" "ine o""icers (ho s%ccee!e! him in service) Three o" Por er:s sons ,=illiam an! Bavi! Bi1on Por er' an! Bavi! #lasgo( Farrag% / (o%l! "ollo( him in o he Service) $ll hree (o%l! become "lag o""icers) T(o (o%l! become he "irs a!mirals in he Uni e! S a es Navy) Bavi! #lasgo( Farrag% (as he el!es son o" he "inal cap ain o" he Essex) The son o" a close "amily "rien!' Bavi! Farrag% (as in"ormally a!op e! by @ap ain Por er a" er he !ea h o" his mo her)2? =hen @ap ain Por er (en o sea' he oo+ he yo%ng Farrag% (i h him' signing him on o he cre( as a mi!shipman. he s ar o" a li"e ime o" a!ven %re) 22 2r%ce' $n hony an! @ogar' =illiam) An Encyclopedia of Naval (istory) ,@hec+mar+ 2oo+s' 1&&&/' 33) 23 Por er' Bavi!) %ournal of a cruise made to the Pacific )cean* ,Phila!elphia; 2ra!"or! an! Ins+eep' 1<1>/' 1) 29 Por er' Bavi! B) +emoir of Commodore ,avid Porter of the United States Navy) , D) 4%nsell' 1<7>/ ?7) 2> 2r%ce' $n hony an! @ogar' =illiam) An Encyclopedia of Naval (istory) ,@hec+mar+ 2oo+s' 1&&&/' 2<&) 2? Robo i' Frances B) an! Cescovi' Dames) The USS Essex: And the Birth of the American Navy) , $!ams 4e!ia @orpora ion' 1&&&/' 19<) ?

Bavi! #lasgo( Farrag% (as eleven years ol! (hen Essex "ell in (i h he 2ri ish sloop o" (ar Alert) The 2ri ish (arship s(i" ly s%cc%mbe! o he $merican "riga e' b% a" er many o" he cre( (ere rans"erre! o he $merican vessel' hey began o plo o a+e over he ship in he nigh ) Hearing he plo ' Fo%ng Bavi! ran o (arn his cap ain' an! he conspiracy !ie! in he h%n!er o" r%nning "ee an! sho% e! or!ers)27 2%il!ing %pon his s%ccess aboar! he Essex' Bavi! #lasgo( Farrag% (o%l! go on o have a long an! s orie! career' comman!ing he #%l" 2loc+a!ing SA%a!ron) I (as Farrag% (ho have he "amo%s or!er' 5Bamn he orpe!oesG F%ll spee! ahea!G6 For his gallan an! e""ec ive service' Bavi! #lasgo( Farrag% became he "irs $!miral in $merican naval service)2< =illiam Bavi! Por er (as he secon! son o" Bavi! Por er' an! learne! he lessons o" he Essex a his "a her:s +nee) =hen he Union (as hrea ene! (i h !issol% ion' =illiam Por er (as assigne! o he 4ississippi River' assis ing he $rmy in "i ing o% an! comman!ing g%nboa s "or service in ha hea er) #iven comman! o" a small' ina!eA%a e vessel name! Ne- Era' Por er oo+ i %pon himsel" o re!esign an! reb%il! her)2& $long he (ay' he also rename! her8 USS Essex)30 In he hic+ o" mili ary service' =illiam Por er (o%l! be severely (o%n!e! several imes' an! (o%l! re ire (i h he ran+ o" @ommo!ore) Bavi! Por er:s hir! son' Bavi! Bi1on Por er' also became a naval o""icer' a no e! his orian' an! is he a% hor o" many o" he so%rces %se! o (ri e his essay) @omman!ing he $ lan ic 2loc+a!ing an! hen he 4ississippi River SA%a!rons' Bavi! Bi1on Por er spearhea!e! he e""or o s arve he @on"e!eracy in o s%bmission' han o s%n!er i in (o) Follo(ing he =ar' Por er (o%l! become S%perin en!en o" 27 Robo i' Frances B) an! Cescovi' Dames) The USS Essex: And the Birth of the American Navy) , $!ams 4e!ia @orpora ion' 1&&&/' 1?0) 2< Ibi!)' 19<) 2& 3ricson' Pe er) .unning the Batteries) ,*%l% 3n erprises' 2007/' 93) 30 Por er' Bavi! B) The Naval (istory of the Civil /ar) ,Sherman P%blishing @ompany' 1<<?/' 1?7) 7

he Naval $ca!emy an! Fo%n!ing Presi!en o" he Uni e! S a es Naval Ins i % e)31 No all o" he no able o""icers (ho serve! Essex (ere members o" he Por er "amily) Some (ere simply "rien!s an! pro"essional colleag%es) Dohn Bo(nes (as a "rien! an! colleag%e (ho serve! @ap ain Por er an! he Essex as Firs *ie% enan ,31ec% ive 7""icer/' an! (as given comman! o" a pair o" 2ri ish vessels (hich he Essex ha! cap %re!)32 Firs a+en (as he #eorgiana' "ollo(e! by he Atlantic ,(hich (as re.arme! an! rename! he Essex0 %r*/)33 Bo(nes (o%l! go on o a !is ing%ishe! career' even %ally achieving he ran+ o" @ommo!ore39 The career o" he Essex came o an abr%p en! on 4arch 2<' 1<19)3> The 2ri ish (arships Phoe1e an! Cheru1 ,par o" a as+ "orce sen speci"ically o h%n he Essex !o(n/' "ell %pon her in ne% ral (a ers a Calparaiso' @hile) 3ven hen' Essex migh have escape!' b% a "rea+ sA%all !amage! her mas s an! le" her %nable o r%n)3? 7% g%nne!' o% n%mbere!' an! %nable o mane%ver' he gallan Essex en!%re! he merciless 2ri ish cannon "ire "or (o.an!.a.hal" ho%rs' be"ore he si %a ion became % erly hopeless)37 =i h mos o" his o""icers !ea! or (o%n!e!' @ap ain Por er regre "%lly s r%c+ his colors' s%rren!ering he Salem "riga e o he 2ri ish) $l ho%gh he "irs $merican vessel o bear he name Essex ha! gone in o he his ory boo+s' he lessons learne! aboar! her !i! no ) 4any o" he long lis o" o""icers an! cre( (ho serve! aboar! he 31 2r%ce' $n hony an! @ogar' =illiam) An Encyclopedia of Naval (istory) ,@hec+mar+ 2oo+s' 1&&&/' 2<&) 32 4ac+lay' 3!gar S an on) 5$n 3arly :#lobe @ircling: @r%ise)6 Naval 2nstitute Proceedings' Col%me 3?' No) 1 ,1&10/; >00) 33 Robo i' Frances B) an! Cescovi' Dames) The USS Essex: And the Birth of the American Navy) , $!ams 4e!ia @orpora ion' 1&&&/' 210.211) 39 4ac+lay' 3!gar S an on) 5$n 3arly :#lobe @ircling: @r%ise)6 Naval 2nstitute Proceedings' Col%me 3?' No) 1 ,1&10/; >00) 3> Preble' #eorge Henry) The first cruise of the United States frigate Essex ,Salem; The 3sse1 Ins i % e' 1<70/' 30) 3? Robo i' Frances B) an! Cescovi' Dames) The USS Essex: And the Birth of the American Navy) , $!ams 4e!ia @orpora ion' 1&&&/' 21<) 37 Ibi!)' 239) <

gallan "riga e con in%e! heir service' an! heir ra!i ion o" e1cellence) Essex serve! as a smi hy' "orging an! empering hree genera ions o" naval o""icers an! lea!ers' men (ho in %rn men ore! o hers an! passe! on he corpora e (is!om (on in s orm' in ba le' an! in bo h vic ory an! !e"ea ' ri%mph an! !espair) The Uni e! S a es Navy has never been con en o le he name Essex lie "allo(8 "o%r a!!i ional vessels have borne he name) The secon! Essex (as ,as men ione! above/' a @ivil =ar ironcla! (hich par icipa e! in he mos har!.(on vic ories o" ha con"lic ) The hir! (as a scre( s eam "riga e (hich sa( mili ary an! !iploma ic service "or more han "i" y years) The "o%r h Essex (as he namesa+e o" an en ire class o" aircra" carriers' an! a s orie! vessel in her o(n righ ) The c%rren incarna ion o" he Essex is a /asp @lass *HB' ,or m%l ip%rpose amphibio%s assa%l vessel/ 3ach o" hese vessels an! heir cre(s ma!e a !elibera e e""or o commemora e an! memoriali-e he ies (i h an! ra!i ions o" heir ill%s rio%s pre!ecessor) The Navy has li+e(ise chosen o memoriali-e each o" he gallan men name! in his repor by naming a ship in heir honor' h%s ens%ring ha heir !ee!s' heir gallan ry' an! heir service (ill be remembere! by "% %re genera ions) For he Uni e! S a es Navy' he name Essex is synonymo%s (i h honor' ra!i ion' an! sacri"ice8 vir %es embo!ie! an! e1empli"ie! in a small' cran+y' emperamen al' an! glorio%s ship ha "irs bore he name)

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Bibliography 2r%ce' $n hony an! @ogar' =illiam) An Encyclopedia of Naval (istory) @hec+mar+ 2oo+s' 1&&&) 3ricson' Pe er) .unning the Batteries) 4orrisville' N)@)' *%l% 3n erprises' 2007) 4ac+lay' 3!gar S an on) 5$n 3arly :#lobe @ircling: @r%ise)6 Naval 2nstitute Proceedings' 1&10' Col%me 3?' No) 1 ,1&10/; 9<1.>00' $ccesse! 2> Nov) 2013) Por er' Bavi!) %ournal of a cruise made to the Pacific )cean0 1y Captain ,avid Porter0 in the United States frigate Essex0 in the years 343!0 343 0 and 3435 containing descriptions of the Cape de 6erd 2slands0 coasts of Bra7il0 Patagonia0 Chili0 and Peru0 and of the #allapagos 2slands : also0 a full account of the /ashington #roupe of islands0 the manners0 customs0 and dress of the inha1itants0 8c* 8c** 1<1> Por er' Bavi! B) +emoir of Commodore ,avid Porter of the United States Navy) D) 4%nsell' 1<7>) Por er' Bavi! B) The Naval (istory of the Civil /ar) Sherman P%blishing @ompany' 1<<?) Preble' #eorge Henry) The first cruise of the United States frigate Essex: -ith a short account of her origin0 and su1se9uent career until captured 1y the British in 34350 and her ultimate fate* Salem; The 3sse1 Ins i % e' 1<70) Robo i' Frances B) an! Cescovi' Dames) The USS Essex: And the Birth of the American Navy) 1&&&) Ta+a+0ian' Por ia) Anatomy of the Ship the !"#un $rigate Essex) 1&&0)

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