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THE
UNITED STATES
OF
AMERICA.
BY
J.
FENIMORE COOPER.
IN
TWO
Vol.
VOLS.
I.
18 39.
1,*.
.<.>'.
*>*%^r%^^^
^%
Entered accordingJ.
iij
by
FENIMORE COOPER,
In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the United States, in and
for the
I.
Northern District of
ASHMEAD AND
CO.,
New
PRIKTEHS.
York.
THIS WORK,
*-
SERVICES, PRIVATIONS,
OFFERED AS
WHO
IS
PREFACE.
While
biographies of naval
men
with interest, on account of the hazards and stirring incidents of the sea, few general records of nautical events
is
attached
to attract attention,
to
naked
facts.
If
th.e histories of
obviate
with
is,
it.
The
writer
is
far
PREFACE.
VIU
In order to overcome^ in some measure, this besetting difficulty, as little reference as possible
documents, in the body of the work.
The
is
made
to
more important
lead-
Bat-
by the
contending parties, from the same point of view, and
their descriptions are usually more conflicting than
any other portions of history. Of course, a work that
contains
little
more than
a narrative of combats,
is
pe-
remove,
as
much
present book, and, while the writer is far from flattering himself with entire success, he trusts his honest
That
endeavours have not been altogether useless.
there are many omissions is highly probable, but in no
instance can he reproach himself with the commission
of intentional faults of any kind.
Authorities being of so
to the histo-
rian, it
was intended
found that
cite
much moment
it
It
is
as to
many
officers
PRErACE.
tained from
official
ix
reports, public
documents, and
other sources.
To
make
him with
have
their explanations.
related.,
Much
been
is
To
the investigations.
in the course of
Philosophical Society,
equally indebted for
in
is
Philadelphia,
valuable
much
American
the writer
and
inter-
to
him.
To
shelves usually supplying the required authorities when other sources have failed. He
desires also to mention his obligations to the Naval
great obligations,
its
found
Some
PREFACE.
ed
to a recital of facts, in
Without some
work
tomed
differently from
to
consider accurate.
Every mode
of rating
is
comj)Osition of a vessel of
and the
ability
tons burthen,
to
war: the
endure.
A ship
ability to
annoy,
of one thousand
resist,
to endure.
On
armed
old
mode
of rating, carries
PREFACE.
XI
Here
are
two
New-York
the Adams
subsequently a 14.
The
is
difference
vessel,
is
owing
and in the nature
underwent
Other small
altered.
With
vessels
were similarly
and
to altera-
repairs.
riedly accomplished,
quite as
is
much apprehension
as
hope.
INTRODUCTION.
XXll
tions,
without adverting to
of things to which
it
was
its fitness
promotion,
mode
is
no
to secure the
a difterent plan
was introduced
name
books of a
and
ship,
number of years,
power.
after
it
Accord-
was entered on
of a boy
the
was competent
became more
times enabled
all
professional
secret.
both the
by means of which
tain
in
rind.
territorial aristocracy,
navy,
was unhealthy,
it
will render
is
pecuUar state
be apphed.
to
jecting the
The
for the
As
regular.
rank of captain,
this
aspirants,
vernment
money,
and
it
make
to
it
was
first
great
dition of probation,
permanent
relative
were found
in the British
object
of
form of go-
as few as possible.
life,
Thus
litical
the
commander.
that of a lieutenant,
When
the
and
narrow po-
established
was
men
of
influ-
INTRODUCTION.
XXllI
who had
in
Nothing was
to find captains
in
command
of
fri-
who had
passed
Although
ranks
is
this
service,
society,
to policy,
For many
rine, were
all
years,
and
to the actual
limited to three!
Even
American naval
officer is
little
cheered
more than
demands, by transferring
more becoming
a man.
He who
lives
country where
so
many
It is
vancement that
is
denied to no American,
this cruel
neglect
As
all
admit to be of
consequences of
human
INTRODUCTION.
XIV
rights, principally
are
all
this
branch
marked
Three
by
a policy as timid as
it
were
built;
when they
and
was something
Thirty
unsuit-
was
was
much
force,
were permanent.
In other words, opinion had not kept an even pace with facts.
It
and money.
The necessary
skill,
men
sea-service, and the other requisites have always been admitted; but it has been asserted that neither the finances,
nor the population would allow of the drain on their resources, that
The two
tainly be
is
would
cer-
fatal.
its
current military
first
season
its
INTRODUCTION.
operations were very limited.
XV
peace
that
making a
large sum
immediately succeeded,
$80,000,000.
known
It is
that
the
this
money expended on
even
navy amounted
two years of
in the
to
total
falls
of
ma-
only $30,000,000,
war
much
employed.
ture,
was
the cost of
new
it
constructions.
It
follows, that
it is
Had
the fact
little
for,
fleet,
after
sum expended on
would have
fallen to the
the
By
inclusively, $40,000,000
force of twenty
sail
of the
line,
with
suitable
number
XVI
INTRODUCTIOrr.
fleet,
This
is
own
its
resources.
Those of the
facts of 1812.
an outline of the
may
its
modify
application.
Nor can
which practice
tions
is
usually found to
make
in estimates,
known
departure from a
fact, is to transfer
The only
a portion of ihe
may
men will
its
is
money,
means of
The number
much
smaller than
that there
was
is
commonly
armed
of landsmen, to
man
nished nearly
the line,
it is
probable
when
declaration of
supposed, and
war
all
all sorts,
fleet
seas.
sea-
years previously,
in 1812,
is
sail
sail
of
men would
XVU
INTRODUCTIOIf.
have been the subject of the outrage by which he was deprived of Hberty. Whenever the government of the United States
shall
be engaged
shall see
to
fit
ing, at the
war were
all
it
prizes to the
will be
the coast,
whereas
blockades.
Pacific,
that
found that
it
a strong force
Most of
offi-
took,
in,
same
men
cers and
in
to get a prize
to infest
to all sorts
by Capt. Porter
to get to
of
in the
America,
enemy, when
ness
is
It
measures, as in
all
in
a few
days,
or a few
weak-
life,
in
an arithmetical proportion to
their
to
means.
assume
satisfy all
who
and
principles,
must
to the
means necessary
naval resources.
As
to
own
in
XVm
INTRODUCTION.
and
negotiations,
done
little
in
As
a time of peace.
yet,
might do with
felt its
the
ships of
America have
what
the world
its
rights, in
the republic
its
resources
It is
heavy ships
main
its
wants.
in the public
injury.
mode
in
vice
these,
self-respect, as the
slowly rising to
the
most
this all-impor-
prominent are,
vessels are
American coast
in
glect of the
many
is
some
Of
Still
an unfitness
is
on
fleets
is
no force
in
employed
the
a ne-
commission on the
Under
sels,
by
may
is
obtained.
to the
While ships
is
in
which
INTRODUCTION.
It
may be
fleet,
human
improvement.
best cannot
enemy.
latter are
The
be improved by
may
their imperfections
in this species of
ships.
by experiment.
It will
as far, endure as
its
when
march
ingenuity,
XIX
abandon
The naval
stances, in
which the
its
its
success, must
history of the world abounds with inefforts of the first sea captains of their
number of
vessels in
by the defects of a
command. To keep a
compact order,
to
and
to bring
them
all
commander,
rience.
On
is
depend the
results
of naval evolutions
in fighting guns.
By
not keeping
army
with-
ships in squa-
improvement.
Under
XX
INTRODUCTION.
On
it is
commission
ing them
to
six or eight
two-decked
important stations
this side
fleets.
ships,
to time,
By putting
and by caus-
on
all
the
more
would obtain
sels in the
mode
all
experience shows
of service
now
in use,
in the world,
cipal ends of a
indis-
pensable, for
of
INTRODUCTION.
XXI
to that forgetfulness
navv.
human
exertions, in the
known
the
all
which
management of
the
under other
forms of government, are freely used for this purpose, under a system like that of the United States, are necessarily
withheld, as they are believed to be opposed to the govern-
To
belong
all
those
of incen-
rank.
personal and hereditary social
carding
this class
is
is
to
incontrovertible
and
still
in dis-
greater
not to neglect
importance, the utmost care should be taken
substitutes.
its
when
to
refusing
adopt
to his constitution,
is
redis-
and culpable.
Next
stimulus of a military
life.
Its
rank
is
the highest
all
the
With
view, they
American ma-
mother country,
INTRODUCTION.
XXll
without adverting to
tions,
of things to which
it
was
its
jecting the
This was
be applied.
to
like re-
was unhealthy,
it
The
territorial aristocracy,
navy,
is
no
secret.
army and
the
both the
in
promotion,
is
by means of which
to secure the
professional
to a sea-officer,
adopt-
name
Accord-
was entered on
of a boy
the
number of years,
it
was competent
became more
As
regular.
this
rank of captain,
vernment
to
money,
and
it
make
relative
was
the
first
great object of
dition of probation,
permanent
it
form of go-
as few as possible.
life,
Thus
were found
in the British
litical
established
was
men
of
influ-
INTRODUCTION".
XXUI
master commandant,
who had
in
to find captains
in
Nothing was
command
of
fri-
who had
passed
Although
ranks
is
this
service,
nothing can be
society,
to policy,
For many
rine, were
and
all
years,
more unsuited
to the actual
to
American ma-
limited to three!
Even
our state of
American naval
officer
little
is
cheered
more than
demands, by transferring
more becoming
a man.
He who
lives
country where so
many
It is
vancement that
is
denied to no American,
this cruel
neglect
all
admit to be of
consequences of
the
human
INTRODUCTION.
Xxiv
ings
facts
life,
has been
pay-bill
sufficient corrective
and of
of
most crying
Money
and a new
all
made
to supply
thought to be a
is
injustice!
It is
and to frame a
subject as important as that of her marine,
system of discipline and incentives, of resources and practice, better suited to her political, social and moral condition,
Personal influence
marine,
all its
of the cases
in
American
portion
of his
life
in
the
same rank.
wise
policy
many
as
life
show
that,
by
stations
unknown
Thus
who
it is
that
we
in practice,
commission
is
temporarily performs
INTRODUCTION.
It is
the
immense
of military rank.
power
XXV
represents the
military movements.
who
at
any moment
is
to
required
of submission, by
To
respect.
ordination, and
it
prevent a resort
Equality of rank
is
officers,
convenience.
substitute of
grades of
under
life
his
the auxiliaries
all
or the officer,
risk
as
may comport
is
different
many
and sometimes
no reason
why
a ship should
The moral
it is
number
effect of
Each
also, is incalculable.
step
is
an incentive
in particular, are
condemned
its elasticity,
to three.
spirit
habits.
When young
to pass fifteen or
grows weary,
the ambition
to exertion
is
twenty
the charac-
INTRODUCTION.
XXVI
By
The whole
mission.
sensibilities
is
many
cases
may
be
While
the
American
same motive,
it
and rewards
commence.
In England, while
infe-
that of a captain,
dignities,
social rank.
inducement
in the
tion.
Hope
want of
open
fleets
to the future.
officers of the
sels, infers
is
suffi-
country
to competi-
together, the
To
pretend, however, to
same rank as
the
manage
commanders of
fleets
with
single ves-
manage
ships with
is,
applied to ships.
is
the constant
mxRODUcTioiv.
xxvii
the nature of
man
to
It is
much
as
to the instructions of
pay respect
and instructions of
to
it
one
is
his equals.
to
It is
power
and combined
mili-
of
professional rank.
There
is
tive feebleness,
Personal rank
is
withheld, on a
to
is
add
wil-
fully
some of
a necessary denial of
us to repair
by
all
practicable means.
In addition to
claims of justice.
of
its
state.
try;
citizens,
It is
the
considerations of policy,
There
is
the
man
to his coun-
in the
eyes of the
world; which,
come
in truth, renders
it
If the
the most
worthy of
community
re-
that ceases
XXVm
INTRODUCTION.
all
moral claim
man who
rewards due
tary
laid
down
to its servants,
raem-
weaken
its
It
its
may, moreover, be
and property of
which courts
deficient in
is
responsibility
and
is
The
most other
in
Seamen go
brought
into disrepute, in
Republicanism
it
weakness
the
of a neglect of incentives, an
ignorance on the subject of
the general laws of
discipline, and the
It is
by forgetting the
latter quality,
odium of
injustice.
more through
the indif-
They are
ungrateful.
means of
The
account of
when
its
been pointed
more
especially
fleets,
has often
to this practical
argument,
out.
The answer
American
in
iPfTRODUCTIOy.
to act agreeably to
own
its
that
its
by
sense.
be
settled
peculiar
first
and a right
policy,
XXIX
may
it
own
place,
common
all
captains, under
states,
its
to
This extravagant
governments.
say that
choose to attach
As
community.
to insist that
its
w^ell
charges d'affaires
at foreign courts, as to
any circumstances,
have
shall
It is true,
a nation
has a right to say that a rank equivalent to that of an admiral shall exist in
but
it
its
itself
honours and
other people.
The usages
an admiral, among
tains occasionally
porary
title
of commodores,
among
new importance
to
may
all
in
cap-
the tem-
object
to
America's
an old commission.
The
to say, that
we
one as
to the other.
It
is
will
be as
no answer
3*
is
not
so.
If
it
XXX
IlfTRODUCTION.
troversy, for
rejecting
it
the
all
is
There can
reality,
takes,
is
and
is
it
is
the simplest
to insist
it
on
liberty,
politician
who
who
is
is
posthis
no friend of
and the
name when
frankness, as
and an enlightened
He
afraid of simplicity
and frankness,
Without gradations
in military
subordination or discipline.
army
or navy.
must obey.
It is
system, by which
same
true
all
it
might be possible
to establish a
titular rank,
would
much would
be lost in time
and
simplicity.
know whom
to address as the
supe-
XXXI
lITTRODUCTIOrr.
rior
whom
and
own
its
be able to understand
its
There
itself
commander
is
the
geon.
same reason
their
for
calUng
its
What
The
of an admiral.
is
for calling
is
is
is
true of a cap-
substitution of the
same
liable to the
of captain.
modore
does not
It
fills
mean what
is
expressed.
itself
utility,
comfor
it
movements,
He
merit.
it
in the
of those
power
who
is
some appellation or
it
other,
and
is
in
converting
highly useful to
lessened.
as captains to ships.
fleets,
light
control naval
The
and
if
centives to exertions,
There
is
no more
it
is
commander
it.
of a
fleet
first
It
is
have been
INTRODUCTION.
XXXll
tively jealous of
in a
titles
corresponding military
community
that
sensi-
is
in
common
life;
to
escape ridicule.
This,
in
one of
its
The
objection
is
unworthy of a reply, and that it is false, is proved by the excessive number of another peculiar rank that does actually
exist, the
navy
commodores!
fast
is
the disposition
The
it
creates to con-
commodore
into a
it
was
fitness in
mode
seriously
recommended
While there
is
a peculiar
dis-
all
it is
appointments that
still
who
now
debe-
be obliged to act as a
companies must be
The
navies.
entire.
The
lieu-
acting
be replaced by commissions.
The
XXXIU
INTRODUCTION.
now
to be generally conceded.
to admit the
force,
While
however, there
is
from the
another
all
to
predatory
hostilities
thinkers
America
is
believe
come when
all
preparations.
There
steam
is
warfare.
old
mode
of conducting naval
who have
this
new
yielded their
cannot change
its
of
fuel,
is
No
general character.
and
and guns,
may
vessel
it
can be
transport a sufficiency
size, to
broadside to bear.
will
last to
to
contend
bring her
much
in a
latter, in
addition to
all
possible positions.
built, that,
propelled
by
XXXIV
INTRODUCTIOJT.
it is
the
power
Even
to cruise.
in estimating
is
much
exaggeration, as
The wars
amply prove.
his-
of this country
cannonade of
gun-boats, for
fifteen or
yet, in
twenty
no instance,
It
would dare
It
may
to
ship
can
Large
is
ships
offer a variety of
head
office for
than
in
means
them.
variation in
expedients of seamen
perform that
to rig, temporarily,
bow
way
be defenceless, even
in a
The
resist-
situation near
slightest
ship's
to
that,
be so
position in
means of
and from a
will
wheels
ports, or
ship's
to
be propelled by hand,
INTRODUCTIOPf.
XXXV
is
annoy and
which
is
which pos-
ordinary circumstances,
and that
tages,
too, in
mode
to supplant
made a powerful
will be
it.
Steam may
a smaller degree.
may
it is
be,
auxiliary of the
by no means likely
be accompanied by steamers,
is
it
Even
them
to lie
to vessels propelled
latter.
though
it
remains
employment may
light vessels
shows
by
to
is
fuel,
of war.
The
history of the
war
of 1812,
that ships
fallen in
introduction
the
of steam
into
na-
by no means,
posed.
is
sup-
will influence,
steam
will
fleets will
in the end,
be required,
it
it
it
will
in settling
XXXVl
INTRODUCTION.
agency of
new
this
application of a steam-power
is
yet to
rank
in
our
own
other, though
of seamen
this
it is
threatening
the pur-
may
For
means of destruction.
is
It
is
hardly ex-
which possesses a
sufficient
fleet
is
already, a
at
fleet
once reduced
extent of the
of
its
poorest ships.
consideration of
flecting
man how
little
all
is
The great
make
the
at least
The
to the level of
American coast
this nature.
"first port,
composed of
this
floats.
any re-
great na-
stances.
NAVAL HISTORY
OF THE
UNITED STATES.
CHAPTER
The empire
state of
modern
of Great Britain,
I.
much
insular position of
of comparatively recent date; Spain, and even the diminutive communities of Portugal and Holland, manifesting as
is
great,
by sea
to India.
peditions that
in spirit.
Vol. I. 4
NAVAL HISTORY.
38
an influence
in
accession of the
and the
Indies, created a
power
then existed, England, driven entirely from her continental possessions, had Scotland for a troublesonne neighbour, and Ireland for a discontented and turbulent subas
it
check her
abroad.
ject, to
efforts
It
is
fail to
were directed
without the territory more immediately in disAs a consequence of all these causes, or of that por-
to interests
pute.
tion of
in
existence at the
commencement
of the seventeenth century, when England seriously commenced the business of colonization, Spain, France and
Portugal were already in possession of what were then considered the most favourable regions on the American continent.
When,
indeed,
the
experiment was
finally
and
the
power of
the
is
now known
as the United
nature,
Mas-
made
NAVAL HISTORY.
the short space of little
that has already taken
39
centuries, a Republic
nations.
their fortunes
on the
fertile
shores
of the waters of the Chesapeake sought worldly advancement for themselves, and affluence for their posterity, while
the Pilgrims, as it has become usual to term the parent
stock of New England, landed in quest of an asylum, where
they might erect their altars, undisturbed by the temporal
power
Natural
and
to
the
the
The
traits, less
result has
asperities,
The
vessels
employed
in the earliest
it is
communications be-
NAVAL HISTORY.
40
varying
in the May
expedition to Plymouth was first attempted
and the
and
hundred
of
one
a
tons,
Flower,
eighty
barque
after
Speedwell of sixty tons but the latter proving leaky,
and
the
to
was
to
twice returning
abandoned,
refit,
port
;
the
discoveries
of Columbus,
who had
himself been
favoured by those constant winds. The May Flower sailed from Plymouth, in England, on the 6th of September,
As
November.
American
The
it
seas.
and any
when an
first
guns.
was
tion
that the
the inten-
it
is
he was formally
quite certain, that, on his return to Virginia,
sent ao;ainst the French in Acadie, with three vessels, better
NAVAL HISTORY.
41
prepared, and that he laid waste the whole of their possesBoth of these occurrences took place in a time of
sions.
profound peace, and grew out of a pretension in the English, to the possession of the whole coast, as far north as the
46th degree of latitude.
On
New
Hendrick Christaens, whom Argal styled " a pretended Dutch Governor," had no force to resist such a
man.
was compelled to submit. On the return to Virone of the three vessels employed in this expedition
claim, and
ginia,
was
lost,
The
first
decked
we have
This
the summer of 1614.
a " yacht," and describes as having
been of the dimensions of thirty-eight feet keel, forty-four
sent limits of
vessel
De Laet terms
and a half
feet
feet
beam.
In this
"yacht" Block passed through Hell Gate, into the Sound, and
which he
steering eastward, he discovered a small island,
named after himself;
as far as Cape Cod, by the way
going
4*
NAVAL HISTORV.
42
their colony,
built
many more
small vessels,
territory.
It
was
John Smith
may
engaged
in the
Newfoundland
fisheries,
while the
The Swedes
also
more or
New
less
ages.
in their
this business
NAVAL HISTORY.
small ship
one of the
was
built at
first vessels, if
structed in
New
43
not the
first
vessel of
was
con-
any size,
But the progress of the colony
England.
of Massachusetts-Bay, in navigation,
was
so rapid, that in
all
times,
in
brated
was
the cele-
hundred
vessel of three
New
size
had
most of the characteristics of an armed trade. In addition
to the ships and barks that crossed the ocean, many decked
carried
many
those
who
were used on
The
by
first
who had
person of the
larly occupied.
seized
to a
name of Oldham, known to have been simiAs this, in a certain sense, may be deemed
we
consider
it
worthy
be related.
44
NAVAL HISTORY.
to
On
on her deck.
dians,
had also
Gallop
now began
Oldham had been overpowered by the saa suspicion that was confirmed by the Indians slip-
to suspect that
vages
and running
oft^
direction of Narragansett-Bay.
sail in
robbery
was
the
much
violence as to
come
drowned.
down on
The
45
NAVAL HISTORY.
are represented as
through the sides of the latter, which
vessels w^ere now
The
two
having been made of boards.
fast to
fire
four or five
more of
the Indians
board the sloop and bound, but, fearful that if two of his
would
wily foes were permitted to commune together, they
into
thrown
was
liberate themselves, the second prisoner
the sea.
in
the pinnace.
and being
got into a small apartment below;
armed, they showed a disposition to defend themselves,
when Gallop removed all the goods that remained into his
They had
own
her in tow,
sloop, stripped the pinnace of her sails, took
But the wind increasfor the islands again.
and hauled up
ing, the
adrift,
On
ham.
is
in the
probable she
was
board the pinnace. Gallop found the body of Mr. OldThe head had been cleft, the hands and legs were
the flesh
was
still
warm.
The corpse
sea.
which
this
professional
gives on an element that requires practice
to be rendered successfully available.
As it was of the
last importance to create a respect for the English name,
that might protect small parties while trading with the saskill
46
NAVAL HISTORY.
which did
ants,
much
the Indians
to
two or three
results
worthy of
being recorded.
New Haven
hundred and
to
Rhode
Island, as early
fifty
as the year 1646, but this ship was lost at sea on her first passage. Shortly after, a small cruiser, carrying ten guns, and
tons to be built in
forty
and
New
from Parliament
to
communities were
treat the
still
too
Dutch
young and
engage
in
colonv.
In 1645, a ship of
some
size
was
built
at
Cambridge,
NAVAL HISTORY.
47
This vessel
fell
in
was enabled
to escape. Although the conflict between Galand the Narragansetts is, in one sense, entitled to the
lop
vice
nel
were under
No
resistance
was made.
New
England
paid the most attention to navigation, however; and it appears by Hutchinson, that in 1676, or just a century before
the declaration of independence, the
following vessels
been constructed
in
Boston, or
its
vicinity,
had
and then belong-
tons.
Most of
were employed
in the fisheries,
48
NAVAL HISTORY.
The
principal build-
Lake
de
la
Ontario, in 1678,
first
on
The
twenty-four vessels, with a total of 1050 tons, trading between that colony and Boston, Newfoundland, the West
The succeeding year, forty-nine vessels
Indies, &c. &c.
entered the harbour of Portsmouth alone.
The
well
known
navigation act,
lish
little
vigorous but unsuccessful effort to enforce the obnoxious staIn Massachusetts, in particular, this law had been
tute.
New
scale,
The second
tons.
We
to
commit depredations
vessel
is
in
the
much
earlier
Naval history.
da}'.
the
West
49
originally,
mere outlaws
in
India Islands.
Compelled
assembled at the Tortugas, and began to plunder such vessels as approached the shore; most of their robberies being
The Spanish
vessels,
the objects of their assaults; and ensuccess, they began to venture farther from the
in particular,
became
couraged by
land.
Their numbers rapidly increased, and ere long they
ventured to make descents on the coasts, more especially on
It is a
those of the Spanish settlements, in quest of plunder.
these
freeof
the
that
character
mark of the peculiar
age,
commenced
booters often
with prayer
their enterprises
They
finally
own
prosperity.
We
is
traditions
are,
however, too
to suspect that
some of
many
the ex-
cesses, to
we
heroes,
by men
styled
comment.
The
tempt
first
to
authentic account
we
is
found
in
VoL. I. 5
NAVAL HISTORY.
50
casion to which
we
allude.
vernment of the colony that one David Bull, who had fifteen
more Englishmen with him, had committed divers acts of
the fishermicn at ihe eastward, and that he
among
piracy
rauders themselves.
that
One
May.
Bull,
against
wherein
it
other ships
is
v'ere
accustomed
when
the people of
lowers would meet on deck, to sing songs and utter senseIt is probable that this party was composed
of fur-traders from Virginia, and that their conduct appeared to the puritans of the east so light, in general, that some
less phrases.
trifling
Another insignificant
Netherlands was
affair
New
to
appear
at the
Admiralty
in
turn out to be
curred also
in
little
1633
before he
the
bill
left
ignoramus.
that in
appears by the Journal of Governor Winthrop,
used
of
the
Boston,
1642, one Edward Bedall,
Diving Bell,
It
NAVAL HISTORY.
to
weigh
Bedall
Mary
made
51
two
tubs,
"
upon
which were hanged so many weights (600 lbs.) as would
The experiment succeeded
sink them to the ground."
the
and
ballast,
goods, hull, &c., were all
guns,
perfectly,
transported into shoal water, and recovered. The first
instance of a diving bell's being used, was at Cadiz, we
believe, in the presence of Charles Vth; the notion, so prevalent
in this
country, that
it
was an invention of
Sir
Towards
duct no small part of the trade between the two great divisions of the empire.
The Whale Fishery at Nantucket,
The
forces
Sir
at
Pemaquid,
in 1650.
Until eig-hteen
gave
52
XAVAL
HISTORY'.
the largest of
much
On
fighting.
were
was gained by the
credit
little
undertaking.
The Falkland,
qua, in 1690, and
a fourth rate,
was
the
was launched
in the Piscata-
first
America.
Much
this
who were
un-
In
his
own
frig-ate,
Duke
this affair,
him
into
notice,
a Capt. Short, of the Nonsuch frigate, about the extent of his Vice AdmiOn
ralty jurisdiction, he had that officer arrested and sent to England.
the representation of
England
in person, to
tified himself,
Capt.
answer
for his
he was about to
I'eturn to
summoned
to
conduct
in this affair,
He
is
said to have
abilities,
and a
restless en-
where he usually
NAVAL HISTORY.
53
We
and Holland,
all
standing in
high seas.
5*
awe
54
NAVAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER
The
can coast,
Fundy
II.
great
to the
Savannah
river.
The
vt^ar,
Ameri-
Bay
of
which terminated
with the peace of Ryswick, had greatly alarmed the colonists, and many small cruisers and galleys had been built and
armed,
The two
were
the
they led
to
point of view.
peared in the
The
in
a naval
American
seas, at that
of the former.
We
Quebec, carried 44
the crew and
200
a
between
and
men,
disproportion
guns
the armament, that proves the latter to have been exceedPhipps' ships, in the expedition against
ingly light.
NAVAL HISTORY.
55
to his deeds.
Most of
these rovers
were English
and
it
is
said
men
guished
others.
is
very
condemned.
If is
possible, that
when
whose subsequent
as
notoriety appears to have been
much
56
NAVAL HISTORY.
owing
to
New
means of
Capt.
Kidd was
said to
have
is
reserved to
itself
it
NAVAL HISTORY.
57
his commission
approved of the enterprise. Kidd received
and his orders from the Earl of Bellamont, whom he followed to America for that purpose, sailing from Plymouth
There is mucii
in England, April 169G, for New York.
reason for thinking that Capt. Kidd was not guilty of any
he found that his more legitimate
illegal act himself, until
was not likely to be successful. In the end, however, he went to the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope,
where he certainly committed piracies, though to what
He was accused of ravaging
extent is now questionable.
enterprise
mandel
to
Madagascar and
though
it
is
more than probable that he had a disposition to the vocation, and that he was easily diverted from the object with
which he had sailed, even if he did not contemplate piracy
on quitting
port.
first
appearing ofT
The
and ever since the country has been settled, or for two
centuries, it has been the property of an honourable family
land,
of the
name
Kidd
sailed
on
known
this
name
to
both
The
its
to
he landed, and buried some treasure; entrusting Mr. Gardiner with his secret, and making the life of the latter the
58
NAVAL HISTORY.
pledge of his
fidelity.
sailed,
it is
burned
said
He
his ship.
was immediately
seized
in
his
Bos-
appeared
by the order of
Governor Bellamont.
Among
lists
was in confinement,
where the box was con-
to the spot
was recovered.
it
thousand dollars.
were
Most,
also obtained.
not
Kidd was
He was
condemned.
if
precious stones,
all,
May
to sea.
The
rested on those
York were
treasure,
gave
home.
rise to
The known
fact that
Kidd buried
With
that
59
IVAVAL HISTORY.
of this sort,
that he
it
was
were executed
in the
in Charleston,
much
hope of finding
the population
of the
American
colonies
estimated at
were
employ 121
said to
vessels,
was
fisheries
8,000 tons.
in
so
little
entered
it,
at
war, con-
in
1706,
Crown
when
NAVAL HISTORY.
CO
tion.
The Spaniards
men
in this unsuccessful
Hearing of
after the fleet
a large
and
in bringing in
in
capturing her,
90 prisoners.
From
We
war of 1702-12.
The
of these expeditions
set on foot in 1707, being almost purely of colonial
object, in the
was
origin.
It sailed in
May,
in
first
under the convoy of the Deptford man of war, Capt. Stuckley, accompanied by the Province, galley, Capt. Southack.
This expedition effected nothing.
not
made
until
itself,
months
in the port of
to
it,
and
to aid in
co-operation.
made
conjointly
and several
cruisers.
The
fleet
NAVAL HISTORY.
consisted, in
rates, five
all,
of 36
frigates,
sail; viz.
bomb
Gl
and 24 transports. In these vessels were embarked a regiment of marines, and five regiments of provincials. The
expedition sailed from Boston on the 18th of September, arrived ofFPort Royal on the 24th, and on the 1st of October
Its name was changed to Annapolis,
Stimulated by this
which
it is
by
yet known.
appellation
was
a
still
more
success,
got up in 1711,
important attempt
the
banks
on
of the St. Lawthe
French
possessions
against
power
in earnest,
v.'as put under the orders of viceadmiral Sir Ploveden Walker, for that purpose. In this
fleet
fleet, and two regiments raised in New England being added to them, the land forces amounted to
be known.
St.
remained
when
in
order to col-
bay of Gaspd
Here he
On
the
20th the ships were off" soundings, out of sight of land, and
enveloped in a fog, with a gale at E. S. E. The fleet now
brought to with the ships' heads to the southward. Notwithstanding this precaution it was soon discovered that
the whole of
them were
in
Vol. I. 6
NAVAL HISTORY.
62
moreover, a
Some
lee shore.
These signal
recriminations
officers.
To
the latter
was
since
has been a
was
known
commanders
in genera],
were
said to be opinionated
were known
who,
in their turn,
their advice.
to
declared that
it
Some French
It is in favour of the
equally disregarded their information.
that
none of their own vessels, one small victualprovincials,
ler excepted,
were
was
Many
saved.
lost,
this victualler
The
is
63
thought to have put an end to the contemplated inEdgar having been blow^n up, by accident, at
quiry, the
tion
orders to raise troops, and to make the other requisite presixteen days before Sir Hoveparations, were received only
in port
with his
fleet.
As
On
late
as
the
commerce
of Massachusetts, as ap-
in
1714.
Her
unfortunately lost.
rather increased than diminished after the
to
New
in their
predatory excursions.
64
NAVAL HISTORY.
mainder, and falling in with another sloop, a desperate engagement took place, in which, it would seem, it was the
all in the sloop were
death
in
the
slain.
Those who escaped
action, were immediately tried, and, with the exception of one man, hanged.
These severe blows did much towards clearing the coast of
we
wore taken
into
find that a
Rhode
How
cuted,
The
is
not known.
where land of
the
greatest fertility abounded, M'hile manual labour was difficult to be obtained, early introduced the traffic in slaves
into the colonies,
65
NAVAL HISTORY.
with
its
navigation.
nesrro slaves brought into the country,
The
first
man
of war, at James
Town,
were
in 1620.*
Where
when
had been
the colony
settled seventy
The
first
slave trade, of
from Boston,
for the
out by Thomas
last of these worthies was
member
sailed
fitted
The
To the
of the church.
Boston
at
into servitude.
The
fate.
Many
Beverly.
Suffolk
\ Bancroft.
Bancroft.
NAVAL HISTORY.
66
America
in
whether
religion or politics.
As
linas
importation of slaves into the Carobut 439 souls. The trade was entirely
amounted
to
in British ships.
traffic.
We
The
commencement of
These vessels
the offing.
south as the West Indies,
in particular,
colony alone
vessels
is
to
war
of the Revolution-
South Atlantic,
way
the Pacific Ocean.
to the
the
to the
Her
vessels led
in the
in
sail
of shipping of
67
NAVAL HISTORV.
After the
the peace of
a species
Utrecht, most of the maritime colonies employed
that were maintained
ofguarda-costas, small armed vessels,
for the suppression of piracies, and for the general protection of the coasts.
by young
officers,
tinction, either at
Among
killed at
Danbury, during
the estate
account of
had served
attack against
name.
In 1741, the
of
that
Carthagena, under the admiral
colonies supplied many of the transports sent against Cuba.
The year 1744 became memorable in the history of the
inherited
it,
in the celebrated
der them,
more or
less,
power
in
the
now
found seriously
Western hemisphere.
The
short duration of the war, probably, alone prevented America from being the scene of those severe struggles that were
deferred a few years by the peace of Aix la Chapellc.
it
68
NAVAL
HISTORY'.
their re-
cations of Louisbourg.
So conscious
had Massachusetts become of her
that
however,
strength,
no sooner was the declaration of war known, than Governor Shirley
English ministry
chusetts, at
first,
was
afraid to
embark
land
in so serious
an en-
was then
by
Not
sail.
a British soldier
Boston,
it
The land
forces,
colony joining
ships.
all
levies of
New
England, no other
in the
enterprise,
Pepperel, of Kittery, in
colonial
ma-
The naval
all,
The
NAVAL HISTORY.
69
to
of
this
armament we gather
the following
of the colonial
list
Commodore Tyng;
Massachu-
Captain
12, Donahue;
8, Saunders;
Fletcher; and Sloops,
Bosch; a Ship hired by Rhode Island, 20, Captain
Griflen, and two vessels of IG guns each, belonging to Con-
necticut.
a circumstance
acteristic of the
For
the
first
Cape Breton.
Here
also
Commodore Warren,
of the British
West
India
than
whom
there
brought with him the Superb, 60, and three ships of forty
guns; his broad pennant frying in the former. Of course,
he assumed the
command
70
NAVAL HISTORY.
was carried on, the place subAfter the surrender the French flags were kept
flying for some time, by which ruse tv/o East India men
time a severe cannonade
mitted.
in this
is
so incredible
of
much
notice
occurred
in
It
highly improbable in
of the day.
ing-
itself,
is
NAVAL HISTORY.
71
menaced
in 1747.
The
inlets
still
less
success, the vessel having lost three of her people in an encounter with the Indians.
72
NAVAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER
III.
and power of
Of
the tonnage
is
we
though
some
it
are said to have cleared from the single port of Boston, and
430 entered; this was exclusively of coasters and fishing
vessels.
At Portsmouth,
New
was
Thus
in
less
still
respectable.
NAVAL HISTCRV.
73
and 489
since lost most of their navigation, then enjoyed a respectable trade, among which may be nientioned Newport,
Rhode
The
Island,
and Perth
Amboy
settlements extended
in
New
nowhere
to
Jersey,
sessed rather
Some
Queen
Elizabeth.
Although many
in the reign
of the clearances and
owned by
very
fair
proportion belonged
is
no doubt that a
to the provinces.
The num-
Up
was
the
wood
common
used in naval
constructions,
principally
also
found
serviceable
in particular
chestnut
was
the
though
The
white
oak
of
North
of
the
frames.
America
parts
varies very much in quality, according to the latitude, and
other circumstances; that which grows in the southern districts,
erally
north,
which grows near the sea, being genmore esteemed than that which is found further
or remote from the coast.
The trees, moreover,
as well as that
NAVAL HISTORY.
74
building
was
that greatly
of British America.
in ship
at hand,
abounded
in the
Oak
to
we now
it,
still
officers in
the
tained,
by
during; the
who were
stations,
among
thus rated
and several
crown.
notoriety that a
few ob-
employment of
to a painful
their
war
of those
rose to high
are, classed
life is
as to a Providential interference
Many
English marine
have been, or
We
Wash-
that
useful
The circumstance
for such a
in
the
land of their
birth,
The
tranquillity established
that
pelle, like
daries;
them
in 17.54,
diately disturbed
sino-ular
state
by
this
This
1755, and
NAVAL HISTORY.
campaign of
the
that year
then
75
occurred on
After
many
tion of his
efforts.
in
fleet
of 17
the harbour.
We
sail
of the
learn the
French
in ships.
worthy of mention,
that,
while the
Enghsh
fleet
was
NAVAL HISTORV.
76
one of
The remainder
fell
into the'
it
and by water,
tropolitan
exertions
but, as
is
power
was absorbed
in
the
renown
of
the
mother
country.
American Continent north of Louisiana, with the exception of two insignificant fishing stations, near the outlet of
the St. Lawrence.
The conquests of this war were an incipient step
them
any enemy
on England for succour, or to divert their policy from those domestic measures which were more immediately connected with their
in their vicinity, to cause
to lean
internal prosperity.
The northern
is
77
NAVAL HISTORY.
country.
the close of this great contest, the original American colonies, or those which have since constituted the
At
United States, without including the Floridas and Louisiana, are supposed to have contained more than 1,200,000
Censuses were actually taken
That of Massachusetts
the
of
two
or
one
provinces.
gave a return a httle exceeding 245,000, including 5000
souls, exclusively of Indians.
in
it
was
so
much
it
was among
the
authentic accounts.
was
in
January 1758,
fell
in
The Thurloe
privateer Les Deux Amis, 10, Captain Felix.
had a crew of 84 men, and Les Deux Amis a crew of
Perceiving the superiority of his antagonist
98.
the
Frenchman endeavoured
possible,
effort to
in
guns,
small vessels
their
crews contending
for victory,
with
all
the implements
The
day.
said to have thrown no fewer than 300
of destruction
known
Thurloe alone,
is
to
the
warfare
of the
Deux Amis
struck, probably
7*
NAVAL HISTORY.
78
adversary, but not
until
re-
The Thurloe had 12 men killed, and 25 w^oundLes Deux Amis had more than 80 of her people in the
sistance.
ed;
same
situation.
it
worthy of
credit.
Immediately
peace of 1763, commenced that
on
the part of the mother country,
legislative usurpation
which twenty years later terminated in the independence
after the
of the colonies.
work of
It
this character,
limits of a
to
eventful period, or minutely to trace the progress of a system of encroachments that gradually undermined the alle-
of commerce.
America,
tal
is
at the period of
that
men-
known
exaggerating
its
virtues,
defects,
the
to
which led
still
As
the causes
deeper than
79
NAVAL HISTORY.
and received
was
active, the
monarch
simple, and,
is
direction,
it is
when
its
legitimate
of another, and he
and
interests of
is
But,
all.
the
power of
who,
in effect,
form
was
prince
who might
substituting a
be supposed to
While, however,
this
was probably
it
ia
NAVAL HISTORY.
80
in a country as
theory; facts invariably preceding opinion
as
purely practical
abstract,
was
between a
this.
Legislative
resisted; while
legislation that
usurpation, in the
the diflerence
few perceived
effectually checked by the
was
to the
This
consequences
fragment
the
great and moving power of
state.
Among
the offensive
papers; nor
is it
known
that
any
places,
filling
tax
was
finally
for,
more manageable.
Fresh attempts
to
NAVAL HISTORY.
81
in Boston,
A mob
of war.
followed,
officers
were
These
Indians.
soldiers
commencement of
The first overt act
the
view
to enforce the
hostilities.
employed as a tender,
to
On
New
The
in a
The news
Hannah
the
of the chase
at
was
Providence.
strong feeling
was
excited
NAVAL HISTORY.
82
among the population, and towards evening the town drummer appeared in the streets, assembling the people in the ordinary manner. When a crowd was collected, this man led his
followers in front of a shed that stood near one of the stores,
on the
disguised as an Indian suddenly appeared
roof, and proclaimed a secret expedition for that night, in-
when one
in eight of the
launches of the
dif-
quantity
in a body.
paving
The commander
of these
men
is
supposed
to
have been a Captain Whipple, who afterwards held a commission in the service of Congress, but none of the names
were
mentioned
publicly
at
the
On
time.
nearing the
of the stones.
The commander
off,
The
conflict
was
All on board
set
the boats,
on
fire.
and
all
possible
means
soon
in the
The Government
home oflTered a
and 500 to any
at
parties,
with the
83
NAVAL HISTORY.
means of
to arraign a solitary individual, notwithstandof Inquiry, under the Great Seal of Enga
Commission
ing
that
sat
with
land,
object, from January to June, during the
1773.
year
sufficient
even
Although this affair led to no immediate results, it doubtless had its influence in widening the breach between the
opposing parties, and it is worthy of remark, that in it was
slied the first blood that flowed in the struggle for American
Independence; the whole transaction being as direct a resistance to oppression, as the subsequent, and better known
fight at
Lexington.
lower rate
in
America, subject
to
it
com-
pany were
glutted in consequence of the system of non-importation adopted by the colonists, several cargoes were
The
places compelled the ships to return to London, without unloading, while the people of Charleston caused their vessel
to be discharged, and the tea to be stored in
damp cellars,
where it Anally spoiled.
Three ships loaded with the offensive article had been
84
NAVAL HISTORY.
sary clearances.
the permit
peared
in the streets,
marching
It
much mystery
attended
at this
remote day,
this affair,
to ascertain
that
all
it is
the
particulars; and,
although the names of the actors have been mentioned
openly of late, for a long period apprehensions are said to
have been entertained, by some engaged men of wealth
measure
that
Bill,
was
political
commerce.
in
to
the trade of a place that had seen, the previous year, 411
clearances, and 587 entries, to and from foreign ports, produced much distress in the town itself, and greater indig-
85
NAVAL HISTORY.
for,
accustomed
to
dependencies
political
up
beonly placed themselves in the situation they occupied,
insufcause they had found the liberty of England herself,
ficient for their opinions
The
people
to force,
and wants.
now began
that
organize military corps, with a view to recover
from
of
which they had lost. A Congress
representatives
them,
to
and a system of organizaand concert was adopted, that served to unite as many
at various points,
by private individuals.
by
were found on Fort
difTerent
of
calibres,
Twenty-six guns,
Island and carried to Providence, and the people of Rhode
either
in the
whole, of quite
At Portsmouth,
forty guns,
New
to the castle, at
of powder.
While means
like these
were u^ed
Vol. I. 8
NAVAL HISTORY.
86
British forces in
be destroyed.
vice,
men
it
should
this ser-
and
volley, in
it fell
in
killed.
This
affair
has
then
the Colonies
the Independence of
treaty.
The
British
march on
were
assailed
So vigorously
were
by the
is
thought
met by a
Lord
commanded
reinforcement,
by
Percy, which
strong
enabled them to halt and recover their breath. As soon as
the
killed,
174 wounded,
and 2G prisoners.
The
NAVAL HISTORY.
87
and formed a
rapidity,
was
seized,
and a redoubt
commenced.
naval msTORy.
88e
CHAPTER
The
IV.
now commenced
in the
was
less
and
that
which
in
other nations
is
effected
by means
efforts.
The
colonies of
New
On
its
intensity.
smaller than
those which
were even
NAVAL HISTORY.
89
ment
that promised so
many
flattering results.
Nothing
was
grievances,
its
towards the
would probably have given the commerce of England a heavier and a more sudden blow, than
it had ever
yet received. But a different policy was pursued,
and the orders to capture, first issued, were confined to
vessels bringing stores and supplies to the British forces in
America. It was as late as the 10th of Nov. 1775, before
Massachusetts, the colony which was the seat of war, and
which may be said to have taken the lead in the revolt, established courts of admiralty, and enacted laws for the enprivate cruisers, that
couragement of nautical
enterprises.
Washington followed
this
in
of
theme of
Congress,
this
in
distinctions,
work, that
we
shall be
authentic documents
the sameness
compelled
now
In
these
few
and because
pursued by
making
details de-
NAVAL HISTORY.
90
prive the subject of any interest beyond that which is connected with a proper understanding of the true condition of
the country.
The
first
Lexington, was one purely of private adventure. The intelligence of this conflict was brought to Machias in Maine,
on Saturday the 9th of May, 1775. An armed schooner
called the Margaretta, in the service of the crown, was
lying in port, with two sloops under her convoy, that were
loading with lumber on behalf of the King's government.
the
to be silent, a
capture the
plan to
projected among
The next day being Sunday, it was hoped that the officers
of the latter might be seized while in church, but the scheme
failed in
Capt. Moore,
who commanded
sailants, and,
with
his officers,
springs
dation.
down
few
intimi-
After a
little
followed,
On explaining that
three cheers as a signal for volunteers.
their intentions were to make an attack on the Margaretta,
a
col-
91
NAVAL HISTORY.
ected.
Arming themselves
and
the
axes, and throwing a small stock of provisions into
with
a
freemen made sail on their craft,
these
spirited
sloop,
at north-west.
light breeze
When
commander was
Bay,
was then
lying there.
and the sloop proved to be the better sailer, with the wind
on the quarter. So anxious was the Margaretta to avoid a
collision, that
Captain
Moore now
and that
cut
away
his boats;
but
were
fast
his assailants
schooner having an
closing with him, he opened a fire, the
armament of four light guns, and fourteen swivels. A
man was
which immediately
re-
Margaretta.
much
crew of no regular
92
NAVAL HISTORY.
on an occasion
teers assembled
like this.
This
affair
was
was
it
on the water,
vessels, he took
prisoners were
all
separating these
resistance,
and the
where
the pro-
carried to Watertown,
The
By
little
with
his
bringing
two
last prizes,
with orders
to
intercept vessels
By way
of
j;etaliation,
to intimidate,
steps,
NAVAL HISTORV.
93
to the expeditions
we have
the unauthorized.
classed
among
The colony of
Many
small
vessels
were
fitted
were
The want
that
all
it.
Among others, General Washington borrowed
two schooners of Massachusetts and sent them into the
obtain
two
brigs, that
The
ten other English vessels were captured by Captain Broughton, and all released as not coming within the hostilities
meditated by Congress.
That body, however, was by no means blind to the importance of naval means of defence, without which no war
can ever be conducted with credit and success by a country
situated like
at the point
legislation of the
General Government on
this interesting
subject.
Soon
after he
munitions of
commissions
manders instructions
Bay,
in
in
com-
or near Massachusetts
On
the
94
NAVAL HISTORY.
29th, Captain
supplies.
Manly
Among
mortar, which
large
to the
means of a besieging army; for up to this time, the Americans before Boston were greatly in want of artillery of
every sort. On the 8th of December, Captain Manly captured three more store-ships, and succeeded in getting all
his prizes safely into port.
Although
it
may
country, they
may
be deemed the
first
The
in
first
in point
reserve.
of time, though
On the 13th of
On
the 29th of
it
NAVAL HISTORY.
95
change
in this
the pending
struggle.
its
connexion with
crown, perhaps this reserve in conducting the war,
was, in a measure, due to sound policy. This law was
the
vessels, three
32.
were ordered
of New England, in
New
to be laid,
York, Penn-
Pennsylvania.
Washington,
32
Raleigh,
32 New
Hancock,
Randolph,
Warren,
Virginia,
Trumbull,
Effingham,
Congress,
Hampshire.
Massachusetts.
32 Pennsylvania.
32 Rhode
28 Maryland.
28 Connecticut.
32
Island.
28 Pennsylvania.
28 New York.
96
NAVAL HISTORY.
Rhode
24 Massachusetts.
24 Pennsylvania.
24 New York.
28
Providence,
Boston,
Delaware,
Montgomery,
Island.
in
fit
to
ileets
their
rine,
even
power, the time necessary to organize a proper mathe want of navy yards, and the impossibility of pro-
curing
in season,
our
in
own
hundred
to a
eighteen pounders.
space.
to
all
of the
in-
light
during
this
war.
cumstance of
its
This gun obtains its name from the cirhaving been been first made at the village
its
foundries.
NAVAL HISTORY.
fis
the bayonet
We
France.
derives
believe
it
its
was
appellation
first
97
from Bayonnc
used with
efiect, in
in
the
when
it
it make its
way into the Americommencement of the present century,
can marine,
until the
We
Bad
as
naval
was
and the
tors, or
were of a
begun
to the
commencement
marine, previously
many
instan-
that the
seaman acquires
in time,
it
to
The second
to
nature
have drawn
appears
be snapped even by the
NAVAL HISTORY.
98
which the
duties of a
compelled, in
consequence of these
assigned,
difficulties, to select
was
the
new
in the
struggle, excepted.
The
who had
result
trained
previously to the
such as might have
left it
was
and
come
in time, to
officer to believe
which
is
to be so
competent a
altogether indispensable
when
substitute,
there
is
and
demand
for the
We
IVAVAL HISTORY.
99
exist
in
having been exercised throughout the whole war, by Committees and Boards, the members of which have probably
retained many documents of interest, as vouchers to authen-
own proceedings.
other defects it has
ticate their
Among
who
become impossible
to estab-
who
did and
lish, in all
cases,
much
Before
obscurity.
we enter more fully into the details on which reliance can
be placed, it may be well, also, to explain that the officers
in the
from
navy of
in
different sources, a
mentioned.
diffi-
In a
this
high
trust,
easily be understood,
managing an interest of so
embarrassment in obtaining the
truth.
contest,
100
NAVAL HISTORV.
navy, as
is
reward of
their
to
out two swift sailing vessels, the one of ten, and the other
of fourteen guns, to cruise to the eastward, to
intercept the
fit
Boston.
Under
law
army
at
it
is
At
known
very good
On
sailer.
war
was
to be
built,
increased, so as to contain
aid in understanding
how complicated
the busi-
NAVAL HISTORV.
lOl
the various
trict."
"
mode
of proceeding
was changed,
Of
this
to
In January,
1781,
Congress on
this
On
the 22nd, of
resolutions, viz:
To
return to the
9*
NAVAL HISTORr.
102
Columbus.
Abraham Whipple,
do.
do.
Nicholas Biddle,
do.
do.
Andrea Doria.
John B. Hopkins,
do.
do.
Cabot.
Rhodes Arnold,
fleet,
By
this
law
it
will
was
not
made
His
official appellation,
among seamen,
The
ships,
captains
were
particularly
named
to the respective
in
passage.
Of
it is
thought to have been 16
of
Paul
a
letter
Jones, however, that
appears by
14
of
Doria
was
armament
the
the
fours, and the Cabot ma}^
tic
sixes.
It
The equipment
of
all
force.
less size,
103
NAVAL HISTORY.
a regular American man of war, was hoisted in the Delaware, on board the Alfred, by the hands of Paul Jones,
sometime about the last of December. This event could
have
not
occurred
commander
was shown when
in
flag
ship.
but
What
to
it is
tree,
that officer
is
thought
with a rattlesnake about to
not
was
now
first
certainly known,
have been a device representing a pine
used, at the
It is
commencement
of the Revolution,
was
Most of
this
the flag
worn by
the Alfred
is
wore
the
arms
and owners.
It
was not
until
the
Hornet
10,
and
Wasp
8, a sloop
and a schooner that had been equipped by the Marine Committee in Baltimore, and which sailed in November, to join
command
brig, the
the Lexington
but
we
NAVAL HISTORY.
104
squadron.
Alfred,
and,
equipped.
Hornet
10,
Wasp
8,
Commodore Hopkins
February. On the night of the
this force
vessel.
With
got to sea
on the 17th of
19th, as the
squadron was
No
were
sent
in,
the landing.
KAVAL HISTORY.
105
command
descent, found
into the
first
in the
On
this
occasion, the
the
away
Long
On
and took
the British
Bomb
Brig Bolton
6, Lieut.
Snead.
The
first
discharge of this
little
ves-
sel
appears to
haul aboard her tacks, to get from under the guns of her
antagonist, having had her captain severely wounded, her
master killed, and a good many of her people injured.
The
Alfred
handsomely
now
NAVAL HISTORY.
106
fire.
Soon
after, the
English ship,
near enough to do some service.
satisfied,
commander
and brought
all
the
American
vessels astern.
Sailing bet-
had got so
felt
the chase, he
wind.
made
ship that
in
by
company with
the
the
New
into
The vessel that engaged the American ships, on this occasion, was the Glasgow 20, Capt. Tyringham Howe, with a
crew of about one hundred and fifty souls. In every thing
but the number of her men the Glasgow was probably superior to any one ship in the American squadron, but her
close encounter with, and eventual escape from, so
vessels, reflected great credit
on her commander.
many
She was
much her
latter
superior in force.
The
side a
Alfred
and
NAVAL HISTORY.
Cabot
lost
23 men
killed
The
107
lost
man on
pelled to run.
went
it
would seem
to
as far in the
The
in suffering so
great error of
small a vessel as
Had
two or three as
efficient
again.
cient,
and
come
out of
it is
now known
Newport
would have
much
lost all
as soon as the
little
his
farther in pursuit.
doubt that
Glasgow appeared,
Commodore Hopkins
had he gone
was known
to
The Doria,
in
NAVAL HISTORV.
108
This was hardly the feelhig of the country, notwithstandunder disgrace, imaginary or
ing, for nations are seldom just
real.
left
in
command some
to Rhode
time longer,
true,
he
but
never
made
his
arrival,
Island, a few weeks after
it is
chief
own
tee of
its
As an
offset to the
add
may
command
ing fresh at the time, and, after taking out of his prize a
few officers, and putting a crew on board her, the com-
mander of
That night
the
Americans
rose,
own
ship.
March
Europe, where we
her
movements.
note
sailed for
NAVAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER
109
V.
having
authorized
March,
so
many
the
capture of
persons were
ail
British
now induced
and Congress
to
vessels
in
go on board
to be obtained.
It is a
Glasgow,
for
was out of
by events as
favour,
trifling as
dence,
Rhode
Island,
to
be borrowed from
Whipple,
of the Columbus
was
or
May the 10th, 1770, Paul Jones was directed by Commodore Hopkins to take charge of the Providence, and to
carry the borrowed soldiers to New York, there to enlist a
Vol. I. 10
NAVAL HISTORY.
110
Newport with
a con-
numerous
cruisers of the
This brig was soon after bought into the service, and be-
On
vice, this
little
sloop
made
five sail,
enemy had
The
stran-
ger had opened with her chase guns from the first, and the
Providence now returned the fire with her light four pounders,
his fate,
or
Capt.
bow
but the English ship having been taken completely by surprise, before she could get her light sails set,
The Provithe sloop was nearly out of reach of grape.
pistol shot,
dence sailed the best before the wind, and in less than an
hour she had drawn quite beyond the reach of shot, and
This affair has been represented as an enhours with the Solebay 28, but, as has
several
of
gagement
finally escaped.
NAVAL HISTORY.
been
said,
it
was
little
Ill
artifice, in which
and address. Not a
much
steadiness
hundred.
Capt. Jones
several prizes.
now went
where he made
to the eastward,
out of gun
finding he could easily outsail her, he kept just
shot for several hours, the enemy, who measured his dis-
tance badly, firing most of the time. This affair has also
been exaggerated into a running fight.
After this chase the Providence went upon the coast, off
all,
turned to Newport.
Ere the return of the Providence, independence was declared, and Congress had set about a more regular organi-
it
ordered another
November
the 9th,
built,
di-
or purchased.
many disputes. By
power
to say
who were
who
should
command, when
it
had ascertain-
disposed to serve.
But
it
112
there
NAVAL HISTORY.
and claims of
sovereign power.
individuals,
resolution
by an exercise of
James Nicholson,
13.
2.
John Manly,
Hector McNiel,
14.
John B. Hopkins,
John Hodge,
15.
William Hallock,
16.
Hoysted Hacker,
3.
4.
Dudley
5.
Nicholas Biddle,
17. Isaiah
6.
Thomas Thompson,
18.
7.
John Barry,
Thomas Read,
19.
James
8.
9.
Thomas
Saltonstall,
Robinson,
Josiah,
20. Elisha
Hinman,
10.
Charles Alexander,
11.
Lambert Wickes,
2-3.
12.
Abraham Whipple,
Grennall,
John Young,
24. Elisha Warner.
officers.
At
this
to
time
arrange the
Commodore
commencement
Nicholson became
until the
of the
to
fol-
the senior
lowing January, when Capt.
officer of the navy, though only with the rank of captain.
the law regulating rank was passed, the vessels of
the navy, in service, or in the course of construction, were
as follows; the word building, which is put after most of
them, referring as well to those which had just been launch-
When
ed as
to those that
Hancock,
Randolph,
32,
do.
for-
Philadelphia.
NAVAL HrSTORY.
114
went
in the
same
direction, also,
Providence
in
This
vessel, a
little
many merchantmen, that, it is affirmed on plausible authoback into the Delaware, but five of the
rity, when she got
common men who composed her original crew were in her;
the rest having been put in the prizes, and their places supplied by volunteers from among the prisoners. Capt. Biddle
gained
much
on
his return,
he
was
appointed to the command of the Randolph 32, then recentOne of the transports, however, was retaken
ly launched.
by
were thus
active in
in-shore.
from England
known
the
in
until
England
wrong
port.
midsummer;
in time to
No less than
of the occurrences of
this
As one
in the cruise
of the
left
NAVAL HISTORY.
One
chored.
was
of the schooners
115
the
Lee
Capt. Waters,
cruiser that had
8,
little
now
to strike.
"Ay, ay
commanded
the regiment.
was a good
The transnumber wounded.
answered
who had
The
means of
It
should be
remembered
was
American prisoners
means of retaliation,
as rebels,
of treating the
the
colonists the
by giving
his intention
as well as of exchange.
Col.
Campbell
NAVAL HISTORY.
116
To
left
at
Rhode
Island:
who
When
dred Americans
pits
who were
of that region.
For
this
Ham-
14,
12, were put under the orders of
Jones
but
not
Capt.
having men enough for all three, that
While clearofficer selected the two first for his purpose.
ing the port, the Hamden got on a ledge of rocks, and had
to be left behind.
The crew of the Hamden were now
transferred to the Providence, and in the month of Novem-
and Providence,
den
ber Capt. Jones got to sea, with both vessels rather short
manned. A few days out, the Alfred made one or two small
captures, and soon after she fell in with, and took, after
a short combat, the armed ship Mellish, loaded with supplies for the army that was then assembling in Canada, to
On board
this
many other articles of the last importten thousand suits of uniform clothes, in charge
vessel, in addition to
ance,
were
Mellish
nounced
her
his intention to
keep
and
he anto sink
stances.
in the night,
and
NAVAL HISTORY.
117
in
command
of the Provi-
dence.
to
prizes, in order to
to the latter to
At midnight
of signals.
the Alfred
and
letter
of marque
when
the
consorts had
The
night,
the Mellish
and her
all disappeared
Milford had run to leeward in the course of the
lee
quarter.
Some
was com-
pelled to
sail
now
her prizes, but the one just menwent into Boston, where she found
Another
who
all
officer
While
this service
was
in the
in
into the
West-
We
have
with the different public agents in that quarter.
seen the manner in which the Lexington had been captured
and retaken on her return passage from this station, and
NAVAL HISTORY.
118
now
we have
Capt. Wickes,
summer
in the
same
quarter.
by
When
affair
As
this oc-
in the season,
With a view
to
we
European
we
will
now
seas, although
shall necessarily
doing so but we
on single ships as
;
rest
much
as possible,
whenever
it
does
The
Reprisal
was
showed herself in
not long after
in
France
in the
the
first
in
had occurred
gone
lish
in relation to
it is
captured ships that had entered France since the comthe American Revolution. The English am-
mencement of
NAVAL HISTORY.
she took several vessels more, and
amoi^
119
the rest a king's
When the
was
up, Capt.
Wickes went
The complaints
of the English
now
be-
and the American commissioners were seof the necessity of using more reserve.
admonished
cretly
The prizes were directed to quit France, though the Reprisal,
being leaky, was suffered to remain in port in order to refit.
The former were taken into the offing, and sold, the state of
came
louder,
Enormous
The
by enabling them
to
authorized to
to an-
sea, with
his
own
vessel
to
go
guns,
carry despatches to America, was diverted from her original destination and placed under the orders
commissioners
to
Capt. Wickes, in
who
command
NAVAL HISTORY.
120
that
first
Ire-
was
The Hnen
not of a force to render an attack hopeless.
or
vessels
were
taken
but
were
missed,
many
destroyships
ed. As the American cruisers approached the French coast,
on
of her timbers
among
questioned.
first
and
its
turn home.
refuge in the chase, and next day she fell in with the British
man-of-war-cutter Alert, Lieut. Bazely, a vessel of a force
a
trifle less
place.
The
NAVAL HISTORY.
after
expended nearly
lant opponent.
aloft,
all
121
half, the
Lexington had
The
Alert, however,
as to enable the
brisi;
to leave her.
Notwithstanding::
much
advantage, so
latter
now
and
usefulness.
When
about one year and eight months, in which time she had had
three commanders. Captains Barry, Hallock, and Johnston
had fought two severe battles with vessels of war; was twice
taken, and once recaptui-ed, besides having several times
The English
ships, and made many prizes.
received a good deal of credit for the persevering gallantry with which he lay by, and captured this brig.
The fate of the Reprisal, a vessel that had even been more
engaged armed
commander
was
still
harder.
This ship
made
America, agreeably
with the French government, and foundered on the banks
of Newfoundland, al! on board perishing with the exception
of the cook. In Capt. Wickes the country lost a gallant,
to the conditions
To
had
who promised
his life
to
have
been spared.
They
Vol. I. 11
all
122
NAVAL HISTORY.
the
European
commerce
we come
lish
built
Here
she
cutter,
was
To
to
Dunkirk.
and named
command
of this vessel, Capt. Gustavus Conyngham was appointed, by filling up a blank commission from John Hancock, the President of Congress.
the Surprise.
the
1st
of
Joseph.
May, and on
On
the 7th,
NAVAL HISTORY.
123
coast of Holland, the Surprise ran along side of the Harwhich she boarded and
took with so
little
Conyngham,
By
importance
at Dunkirk
it
to return to port,
in
will be seen,
a day or two.
though both
the Reprisal and the Lexington, especially the first, had cruised in the European seas prior to the sailing of the Surprise,
that the latter vessel performed the exploit just mentioned,
shortly before Capt. Wickes sailed on his cruise in the Irish
and English channels. Coming as it did so soon after the
Orange appears
to
The remonstrances of
the
and
it
So completely
seems never
to
government deceived by
this
of
war were
nyngham
actually sent to Dunkirk to carry Capt. Coand his people to England, that they might be
tried as pirates.
The
When
had flown, as
will
124
NAVAL HISTORY.
no sooner
Mr,
to the cause,
was
for Capt.
A new
his
commission
Conyngham, previously
to
putting to sea,
old one, there
blank,
fill
is
no question that
it
was
to the
commissioners to
at their discretion.
successful, making
and generally destroying them. Some of the
most valuable, however, were ordered into Spain, where
prizes daily,
many
money advanced to Mr. Adams for travelhe landed in Spain from the French
when
ling expenses,
La
a
Sensible,
frigate
year or two later, was derived from
this source.
by
of
almost unprecedented success, so far as injury to the Engmerchants was concerned, the Revenge went into Fer-
lish
rol, refitted,
it
NAVAL HISTORY.
125
all,
and the
vessels.
Navy
account.
Board,
Philadelphia, and
in
was
sold on public
is
certainly competent for a government to
public vessels as it may see fit, or to put them
in the several classes of vessels of war, I'evenue cruisers,
consider
It
its
ment shown
made by
tavus
Conyngham, a
of an armed vessel
citizen of
America,
in the service
11*
is
termed,
late
" Gus-
commander
NAVAL HISTORY,
126
Here the
vessels
is
dis-
une-
when
the
frequently
first
there
serving
in
not
having
to
afford
them
who conducted
the affairs
Conyngham was a
ail
The
been recorded
diplomatic
to
have
been
of
the
correspondence
day,
greater than that
in
the
the
war,
produced,
by
squadron of the celeprevious
brated Thurot.
and, in
lar,
speaking of the cruise of Capt. Wickes in particuin one of his letters to Robert
in English bottoms, at
forty sail
NAVAL HISTORY.
127
freight;
In the same
letter, this
become
the terror of
Scotland, and
late
is
all
England and
in
the
war."
Insurance, in some instances, rose as high as twentyper cent., and it is even affirmed that there was a short
five
period
when
the
policy
commissioners
in
it
the year
country, the commissioners had caused a frigate of extraordinary size, and of peculiar armament and construction
down
at Amsterdam.
This ship
two decker, though frigate
built, and her main deck armament was intended to consist of
thirty-two pounders. Her name was the Indien. But
in consequence of the
apprehensions of the Dutch govern-
sides of a
which
of the
this frigate
new American
was brought
States,
and her
fate, will
one
be shown.
128
NAVAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER
We
shall
now
VI.
twelvemonth.
it
all
British vessels
had
passed, and at a
mally declared.
None
coming
into use,
and
it is
heavy
of the
floating battery,
name
of
and several
in
fire rafts.
An
officer
command, with
the
NAVAL HISTORY.
title
120
two
officers
who have
subsequently risen
to high
after
became
ponding
own
swarm with
privateers from
filled
a corres-
ocean
cruisers at sea>
literally
began
to
letters of a
order to pursue
it.
movements
and army.
From
or until they were enabled, by the arrival of powerful reinforcements, to choose the points which it was believed would
be the most advantageous to possess for the future managementof the war. Charleston, South Carolina,was soon select-
ed for
this
were made
cuation of Boston.
held in view,
when
It is
New-England,
was
as the
occupation of that town would enable the English government to overrun all the southern colonies. Luckily, some
despatches, that were intercepted by Com. Barron, of the
Virginia State service, betrayed this design to the people of
Charleston, who were not slow in making their preparations
to
NAVAL HISTORY,
130
Com.
lina as early as
May.
Here
it
was
joined by a
fleet
of
transports from Halifax, having on board nearly three thousand troops, at the head of whom was Lieutenant General,
were landed on Long Island, which is separated from Sullivan's Island by a narrow channel that is fordable in certain
states of the tide, with a view to pass over and take a strong
work made of palmetto logs that the Americans had erected
and which it was thought
the
rear.
be
reduced
from
might easily
Happily for the
a
continuance
of
Americans,
long
easterly winds drove the
water up into the passage between the two islands, convertfor the defence of their harbour,
ing the channel into a ditch that effectually kept the forces
of Gen. Clinton from crossing. On the 7th, the frigates
passed the bar, and on the 10th, a fifty gun ship succeeded,
with great difficulty, in accomplishing the same object.
The delay occasioned by the want of M'ater, and the indecision of the English general,
than his
associate
in
who
acted with
less
vigour
by the
in
fortifying.
This work
after
its
gallant
commander,
much enlargement
or addi-
NAVAL HISTORY.
]31
were
wore
hand
watch
the party
on Long Island, and to resist any attempt to land. Major
Gen. Lee, of the United States' service, commanded in chief
on the
made
side of the
Americans.
at
to
Preparations, however,
though
it
appears to
were
have been
On
other
by an-
moved his
commence the
his preparations,
Thun-
were well
directed,
and many
fell
Parker's
and
forces,
and
to intercept a
retreat.
the shoals,
Acteon stuck so
and
all
crew
to ^et
Of
came up
in front, the
Active 28,
led.
132
NAVAL HISTORY.
As she drew
range of
the
its
frigate
and
was rapid
The
first, owing
works were composed, did but little injury, while the
heavy shot sent from the fort, passed through and through
the
its
ammunition, and
its fire
ceased for
fire
the
Bristol's cable
were
cut.
Some
He
on a tree, in the rear of the fort, by a party that was entering it. Nothing
of the sort occurred. Colonel Moultrie explains the affair of the man in
the tree, by saying that a shot took a soldier's coat and carried it into the
branches of a tree, where it remained suspended during the rest of the
So far from any confusion or disorder having existed in the fort, when
General Lee visited the works during the height of the action, the officers laid aside their pipes in order to receive him with a proper respect.
day.
in
fort, after
the
NAVAL piSTORY.
133
and the ship swung round, with her stern to the embrasures.
That deadly dehberate fire, which had distinguished the
garrison throughout the day, now told with awful efiect on
In this scene of slaughter and destructhis devoted vessel.
At one time, he
is
said to
alone on the quarter deck of his ship, bleeding, but deliverBy the applicaing his orders calmly and with discretion.
the
vessel
was
extricated from this
tion of a new spring,
awkward
position,
and her
firing
was renewed.
But no courage or perseverance on the part of the assailants could overcome the cool resolution of the garrison,
set in Sir
Peter Parker
made
morning, when they set the ship on fire, leaving her with
her guns loaded and colours flying. She was immediately boarded
sign, fired a
by the Americans, who hauled down her enfew shot at the retreating ships, and left her.
kind that
engagement of the
ever took place on the American coast, and it
Memoirs,
twenty-eight rounds
he
of
received
NAVAL HISTORY.
134
On
this
The two
fifty
gun
ships suffered
besides
forty killed.
Among
the
on the
Bristol's
men.
The Experiment
suffered
little
less
The
Scott.
short
garrison, escaped with comparatively little loss.
time after this signal discomfiture, the British temporarily
abandoned their design on Charleston, carrying off the
troops,
tions.
curred at different points on the coast. Soon after the British left Boston, a Captain Mugford obtained the use of a
small
armed
powder, and a large quantity of entrenching tools, gun carThis vessel was got into Boston,
riages, and other stores.
in sight of the British squadron.
enemy's boats, which had endeavoured to carry the Franklin and a small privateer that was in company, by
boarding.
On
two days
NAVAL HISTORV.
135
When
with his prize, the Marine Committee rewarded him for his
success by giving him the command of the Andrea Doria,
14, then recently returned from her cruise to the eastward
officer
to
that the
first
salute ever
paid to the
American
For
was
Dutch governor
subsequently displaced.
her return passage, off the western end of Porto Rico,
On
the Doria
lishman struck.
Lieut. Jones,
The
who
captors.
Lieut.
Jones was
mortally
lost
Robinson and
season.
after
all
the casualties.
Captain
due
NAVAL HISTORY.
136
gave
the
enemy
fleet,
the
Tlie galleys in the Delaware had a long and well contested struggle with the Roebuck, 44, Captain Hammond,
and the Liverpool, 20, Captain Bellew, about the first of May
of this year. The cannonade was handsomely conducted,
and
it
enemy from
the river.
During
Wasp,
spirited attack
Rose, 24,
8,
was
also
made on
and
i"h
American
of the
enemy
is
peatedly hulled.
But by
this
the
detail^j.
coast of
New
minor
exploits,
which,
subordinate incidents of a
great struggle, are gradually becoming lost in the more engrossing events of the war.
October 12th, of
this vear,
an armed British
bria;,
fitted
in the
West
In-
NAVAL HISTORY.
dies,
son.
137
then in charge of the privateer Ranger, 18, Capt. HudPerceiving the aim of the enemy, Capt. Hudson ran
under her
stern,
action thus
fire.
The
when the
hand to hand. The
thirteen men killed
commenced,
the brig,
On
this
cruise, the
Ranger
flotillas
these waters,
by
the Americans.
with a view
to
Lawrence, and
The American
to
Lake Champlain.
month of August, appears
to
force, in the
in the St.
their officers
vessels, viz:
12,
Wynkoop.
12,
Dixon.
138
NAVAL HISTORY.
manded by
it
is
officers in the
army.
were com-
cipally soldiers.
to render
at
accuracy
in
enumerating
not impossible.
the other hand, the British constructed a force, thai
On
enabled them
to
if
Inflexible,
Ship,
Schodner, Maria,
Do.
Carleton,
Radeau,
Thunderer,
Gondola,
Langcroft.
Royal Convert, 7,
were added twenty gun boats, four long boats,
each armed with a gun, and twenty-four other craft,
The metal of this
loaded with stores and provisions.
flotilla was much superior to that of the American force,
To
these
down
eighteens
to
man
Isis,
The
men were
nines.
in
order
October
American
General Arnold,
ilth.
was
who commanded
the
at
lying
the
in
to
the
force,
enemy appeared
eight in the morning,
flotilla,
ofl^
Royal Savage,
12,
Revenge,
Lee, cutter,
10,
Trumbull,
4,
do.,
Washington,
and eight gondolas. Besides the changes that had been
made since August, two or three of the vessels that were
Congress,
galley, 10,
10,
on the
lake,
duty.
The
best accounts
NAVAL HISTORY.
139
follows, viz:
90.
Guns,
Metal, 647
lbs.
Men,
Guy
was
Carleton,
present, in person,
that he
all
had caused
to be equipped,
"
ber,
was
The
in the forenoon,
commenced
at eleven,
was warm.
a long time, was
it
On
sweep up
to
efficient in
much
morning. In this aflTair the Americans, who had discovered great steadiness throughout the day, had about 60
in the
killed
NAVAL HISTORY.
140
sail in
could
was
make much
progress on
account of the gondolas, which were unable to turn to
windward. In the evening the wind moderated, when the
discovered, but neither
flotilla
Americans,
now
air,
in
gun
vessels up within
On
this
by the
Inflexible
and Carleton.
The
galley,
his
retreating
flotilla,
having the
General Arnold
gress on shore,
was
out of the question, he ran the Conand she blew up with her
colours flying.
Although the result of this action
was
credit,
General Arnold,
so disastrous, the
by the obstinacy of
in particular,
covered him-
NAVAL HISTORY.
141
enemy did justice to the resolution and skill with which the
American flotilla was managed, the disparity in the force rendering victory out of the question from the first. The manner
which the Congress was fought until she had covered
the retreat of the galleys, and the stubborn resolution with
in
until destroyed,
converted the
dis-
less
enemy
This statement
perishing in the gondola that blew up.
differs from the published official accounts of the English,
but those reports, besides being meagre and general, are
contradicted by too much testimony on the other side, to
command our respect.
We
the
commencement of
the struggle,
and
it
followed as a
navy, the
to Capt.
already stated.
will ever
This
little
schooner, the
name of which
in
con-
142
NAVAL HISTORY.
of
State
Massachusetts.
Capt. Waters, like his predeManly, was received into the navy, on the
recommendation of Washington, a commission to that
effect having been granted by Congress, March 18th, 1777,
cessor, Capt.
Much
enterprise and gallantry were exhibited in the enbetween the American privateers and heavily
merchant-ships of the enemy, at this period, and
counters
armed
England appears to have been so completely taken by surThe difprise, that they were of almost daily occurrence.
ferent colonies, also, fitted out
more
commanded by
officers
who
cruisers, principally
also bore
commissions
in the
the confederation
cruisers drove a sloop of war from her convoy, and captured four transports loaded with stores.
Massachusetts
to time,
several
and Pennsylvania,
Virginia had her little
cruisers,
had more or
less.
numerous
rivers
and bays.
Some
the
nary
use,
by means of
day passing
credit,
it
appears
NAVAL HISTORY.
143
by American
which number 44 had been recaptured,
18 had been released, and 4 were burned.
On the other hand, the Americans met with their disas-
cruisers in 1776, of
many
became very
NAVAL HISTORY.
144
CHAPTER
VII.
cause.
New
the
tage that had been so gloriously obtained. Most of
and
built
vessels authorized by the laws of 1775 had been
have something
may now
like
be
a regular
and
at
unity.
all,
It
was
To
to its foresight
means of
vessels
probable
in
NAVAL HISTORY.
145
which
indispensable in keeping up the diplomatic communications with that quarter of the world, the navy would have
been suffered
to
become
extinct,
beyond
its
emphoyment
in
republic
One of
the
first, if
was
the
Randolph
first
32,
It
new
of the
vessels
of
mutiny
many
from among the prisoners, Capt. Biddle put
for repairs.
As soon
as the ship
a disposition to
whom were
was
volunteers
into Charleston
refitted,
he sailed
again, and three days out, he fell in with and captured four
Jamaica-men, one of which, the True Briton, had an arma-
to Charleston, in safety.
blockaded, by a superior English force, during the remainThe state authorities of South Carolina
were
much
vessels of
16, the
war of
Notre
their
Dame
vessels
his
Vol. I. 13
oflf
NAVAL HISTORY.
146
The American
time.
so long
by
By
when
it
Yarmouth
ship
on the 7th of that month, while cruising to the eastward of
proved
two
to be
show her
ensign,
little
astern and to
Yarmouth ordered
when the American
flag
was run
up,
two
the
gave chase to two, varying her own course for that purpose. But her sails had suffered so much in the short action,
that the vessels chased soon run her out of sight.
In this
the
of
her
own commander,
action the Yarmouth, by
report
had 5 men
killed
the
NAVAL HISTORY.
147
sustenance than a
httle rain
water.
They
We
commenced
this action,
find
it
was almost
hopeless, even
had
gallant
seaman
Nicholas Biddle was descended from one of those respectable famipeopled West -Jersey, in the last quarter of the seventeenth
century.
He was
who
had removed
to the city
with ardour and perseverance. After several voyages, and suffering much
in the way of shipwreck, he went to England, and by means of letters,
as a midshipman on board a British sloop of war, commanded
by Captain, afterwards Admiral, Sterling. It is a singular fact in the life
of this remarkable young man, that he subsequently entered on board one
was rated
of the vessels sent towards the North Pole, under the Hon. Capt. Phipps,
where he found Nelson, a volunteer like himself. Both were made cockswains by the commodore. This was in 1773, and the difficulties with the
American colonies were coming to a head. In 1775, Mr. Biddle returned
home, prepared
The first employment of Mr. Biddle, in the public service, was in command of a galley, called the Camden, fitted out by the colony for the defence of the Delaware. From this station he was transferred to the service
of Congress, or put into the regular marine, as it then existed, and given
the command of the brig Andrea Doria 14. In this vessel he does not
appear to have had much share in the combat with the Glasgow, though
present in the squadron, and in the expedition against New-Providence.
His successful cruise to the eastward, in the Doria, has been related in the
to the
Randolph 32,
wounded in
NAVAL HISTORY.
148
in
long
trial,
off,
loss,
Trum-
New
York, and
captured, after a smart action, two armed transports, with
stores of value on board.
In this affair the enemy suffered
The Hancock
32, Capt.
men
in
examining
is
his hurt,
said to have
when
to imitate
been seated
his ship
blew up.
sail to escape,
her example. The
in
There is little question that Nicholas Biddle would have risen to high
rank and great consideration, had his life been spared. Ardent, ambitious, fearless, intelligent, and persevering, he had all the qualities of a
great naval captain, and, though possessing some local family influence
perhaps, he rose to the station he filled at so early an age, by personal
merit. For so short a career, scarcely any other had been so brilliant; for
His
loss
vicissitudes of a revolution,
149
NAVAL HISTORY.
Rainbow pursued
the latter,
arduous chase, in
on both sides, was compelled
was
to surrender.
Capt.
Manly
the Hancock.
British frigate
was
in
we
the British
army
in this
largest
unusual
town
facilities
ships
had
been constructed on
The
and
its
banks
in the
vate armed cruisers had been equipped at her wharves, previously to the appearance of the British forces, under Sir
William Howe.
at the time,
supposed
were
Aware of
intercept the communications between them.
the consequences, the Delaware 24, Capt. Alexander, and
Andrea Doria
to the navy,
14,
and
to the state
vessels, belonging
of Pennsylvania,
13*
moved
in front
NAVAL HISTORY.
150
when
the tide
fell,
Some
were brought to
bear on her, while in this helpless situation, and she necesThe other vessels were compelled to retire.
sarily struck.
As the command of the river was now indispensable to
becan:ie unmanageable.
field
pieces
light
draught of water,
among which was the Augusta 64, which had been partially
stripped, and fitted in some measure as a floating battery.
As soon as the troops advanced against Red Bank, as stated,
the ships began to move, but some chevaux de frise anchored
in the river, had altered its channel, and the Augusta, and
the Merlin sloop of war, got fast, in unfavourable positions.
Some firing between the other vessels and the American
works and galleys now took place, but was soon put a stop
The next day the action was
to by the approach of night.
renewed with spirit, the Roebuck 44, Isis 32, Pearl 32, and
Liverpool 28, being present, in addition to the Augusta and
Fire ships were ineffectually employed by the
Merlin.
In the
Americans, but the cannonade became heavy.
midst of the firing, it is said, that some pressed hay, which
had been secured to the quarter of the Augusta, to render
her shot-proof, took fire, and the ship was soon in flames.
It now became necessary to withdraw the other vessels, in
order to escape the effects of the explosion, in so narrow a
passage, and the attack
blew
up,
was abandoned.
The Augusta
set fire
to
by the
NAVAL HISTORY.
British, shared the
Augusta were
same
lost
151
A number
fate.
Americans
Americans
to
and
it
is
by
middle
in
fine
New
Hinman.
men, bound
These two
first
who
company with
went
ships
She was
time.
officer
appears
the Alfred
to sea, short of
The Raleigh and Alfred had a good run off the coast, and
they made several prizes of little value during the first few
days of their passage. On the 2d of Sept. they overtook
and captured a snow, called the Nancy, which had been
by the outward bound Windward Island fleet, the
left
The
fleet
was under
first
of which
is
said to
Weasel
have had an
sail,
if
NAVAL HISTORY.
152
voy.
commander
to
it
among
enemy, and lay the commodore aboard. At this
the
two
American ships were to windward, but nearly
time,
the
in
astern.
In the course of the night the wind shifted to the northward, and the convoy hauled by the wind, bringing the
American
leeward.
At daylight the wind had
became necessary to carry more sail than
tender-sided ship) could bear. Here occurred
ships
freshened, and
the Alfred, (a
to
it
Capt.
Thompson
fell
to
to shorten
sail, lest
in
among
his
to, in
When
his plan
was
laid,
Capt.
Thompson
filled
away, and
how
all
the
commodore's
appears
to
her guns
were housed,
commanded
the
enemy
to strike.
So completely
NAVAL HISTORY.
was
153
side,
driven from their guns, and the Raleigh fired twelve broadsides into the English ship in
more
squall
engaged.
so,
When
was of
as she
at first
it
inferior force.
shut in the
two
ships
steering in all
vessels of war, with several
India-
absolutely necessary to quit her, and then she ran to leejoined the Alfred. Here she shortened sail, and
ward and
of
The
war
ship
Druid 20.
to
come
out of
her commander,
wounded.
among
the
to
fleet half
a dozen
princi-
little
injury.
NAVAL HISTORY.
154
The commerce
Many American
During
this year,
at-
to
has so uniformly
failed.
NAVAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER
The year 1778 opened
155
VIII.
The capture
of
Burgoyne, and the growing discontents in Europe, rendering a French alHance, and a European war, daily more
These
results, in truth,
probable.
from that
moment,
related to
its
Previous to
this
great
out,
appeared
in the
American
seas, and,
measure, relieved the country from a species of warfare that was particularly oppressive to a nation that was
in a
As the occupation of New York and Philadelphia prevented several of the new frigates from getting to sea at
or occasioned their early loss. Congress had endeavoured to repair these deficiencies by causing other vessels
all,
to
156
IV
were
AVAL HISTORY.
Deane
32, (afterwards
was made
war
of the Revolution;
in the sequel,
otherwise
was
have
view
to
pay a compliment
to the
new
allies
of the republic.
among the officers, and, in the end, grave irregulariThe Alliance was built at Salisbiny, in Massachu-
little
exploit,
dence
achieved by the United States sloop ProviRathbone. This vessel carried only four
12, Capt.
dence, at the
made a
New
He was
Provi-
joined by
place.
NAVAL HISTORY.
him,
157
British sloop of
Americans were
in
A
the
burned two of
his prizes,
man
without leavinjT a
and
Americans held
enterprise, the
behind him.
In this daring
the place
two
little
entire days.
whose capture of
the
Edward, on
that occasion,
is
worthy
was placed on
the regulated
list
down
some of
dashing
ahead, the barges got past without injury. Off Port Penn
lay an enemy's schooner of ten guns, and four transports,
with
freiarht
for
the
British
army.
man.
Following the order of time,
Vol. I. 14
we now
return
to
the
NAVAL HISTORY.
158
movements of
Thompson,
the
two
the Raleigh
command
of Capt.
After taking in
to
The
command
of his ship, to
formation.
Twenty
nine-pounders,
its
])eople,
was
still
later
period
in the history
Among
NAVAL HISTORY.
To
land.
tliis
vessel
159
an
list,
spirit in
officer
an
who had
affair
already-
The
frigate appears to
war
the enemy.
Capt.
An
Nicholson of blame.
mander's abandoning
gave
rise to
ders
it
The
his vessel
some comments
by Congress, acquitted
peculiarity of a com-
many
trol
of man.
An
unexpected
shift
lie
unexpected damages,
mission
to authority,
160
NAVAL HISTORY.
as in the greater effect of their attack, that the trained offiand men manifest their vast superiority over the hurried
cers
laware.
Early
under the
in
May, an
command
we
will
now
in these
turn our
again, in the
enemy
De-
left
expedition
Philadelphia,
of Major Maitland, and ascended that
The
boats, under the orders of Capt. Henry, of the navy.
2nd battalion of the light-infantry, and two field pieces
composed the troops. Ascending the stream to a point
above
the
without opposition.
These
At this
where
After
this,
to Bristol,
four
new
to Bile's Island,
and burned
On
six
des-
lost
frigates
NAVAL HISTORY.
161
list
of the navy, at its formation, were destroyed by the English on this occasion.
The Hornet, Sachem, Independence
and Musquito, are not to be traced subsequently to this
if not burned when this expedition occurred, it
probable that they all were burned with the Wasp, in
1777.
To compensate for these losses, not a single frigate
period, and
is
of the
enemy had
Fox
Ranger
18.
appeared
Jones, after a long delay, had been induced to" take this
command,
in
ever, that he
preference to remaining
came
France previously
idle.
It is said,
to
to his arrival.
Channel.
As
the
made
this project,
NAVAL HISTORY.
162
to
attempt.
It
blew fresh
when
had
arrived, the
go
in season,
position, the
making
sail,
his
the guns
that
were
in the
was
port,
An
NAVAL HISTORY.
163
both the parties into which the expedition had been divided, came near defeating the enterprise in
accident
common
to
all
consumed.
As
the
its
boat
to a de-
and dry,
But,
by
entire population
maining a
sufficient time, as
ceeded
mischief be-
tion,
While
it
might be
in the
who was
make an attempt
to
NAVAL HISTORY.
164
on
St.
Mary's
the cliannel.
but
Isle,
its
The
officer in
command
of the
more steered
the
in
latter
could
From
Belfast,
ship under
way.
The Ranger now filled and stood off the land, with a view
to draw her enemy more into the channel, and there lay to,
in waiting for the latter to come on.
Several small vessels
accompanied the Drake, to witness the combat, and many
volunteers had gone on board her, to assist in capturing the
American
privateer, as
it
was
day
to
favourable, the
night
The
NAVAL HISTORY.
165
free,
It lasted
an
hour and four minutes, when the Drake called for quarter,
her ensign being already down.
The English
ship
was much
and
Ranger
suffered
one man
killed,
much
and
six
after
antagonist.
engagement.
The
and
She had
the
also
much
two guns
After securing her prize and repairing damages, the Ranger went round the north of Ireland, and shaped her course
for Brest.
safely at her
due
any other
The
may
American
side, in this
nies.
The war,
in
civil
166
NAVAL HISTORY.
duct of
was
had a moral
it
and
if
the latter
it was a
right that extended to the former,
not a question of birth place that was at issue,
Parliament,
since
was
By transferring
himself to England, the native of America would have
avoided the injuries, and shared in the advantages of the
offensive policy; and by transferring himself to America,
the native of England
became
and
it
was manned by 60
schooner without
was promoted
had two
light guns,
and which
volunteers.
loss,
to be
a Lieut. Colonel.
men, and one heavy gun in her bows, besides the rest of her
armament. The following year this officer was transferred
to the navy, Congress passing an especial resolution to that
effect,
with directions
a ship on the
that
it
was
Talbot to a
and he
is
first
to the
occasion.
in the
NAVAL HISTORY.
1G7
The commander of
armed
ship.
It
French
was concerned.
On
this
occasion, the
enemy destroyed
con, 18.
It will
marine
at that time, if
American
seas, viz:
Capt.
The
Of
this
Several
Truxtun.
It
of the
to
teers, for
others
the
hours, the
Tryon
struck,
sail to es-
168
NAVAL HISTORY.
cape.
but 60
men
left,
and
in a few days, she fell in with the Sparlin, 18, with 97 men,
which she succeeded in taking after a fight of near an hour.
was
command
new commander,
became
light
and variable.
cleared for
two pursuers,
NAVAL HISTORY.
169
two
ships
astern,
and
in
chase.
The enemy
also
W.,
came
to
the wind,
all
breeze.
way
with her.
At
4, P.
M., the Raleigh tacked to the westward, with a view to discover the force of the leading vessel of the enemy, and,
made
At
5, P.
edged
away and
remainder of the
affair.
ple of the
to
windward, and
lish
when
side
Vol.
L 15
NAVAL HISTORY.
170
and
ing
avoided.
By
second
a council of his
officers.
It
was determined
Barry called
to make an
attempt to run the ship ashore, the land being within a few
The Raleigh accordingly wore round, and
miles of them.
the
islands
enemy hauled
course towards
seven hours,
much
and
land.
left
lasted
vessels
in
off,
the
sails.
The
in particular,
sails, for
that purpose,
was returned by
fire,
which
when
the
continued their
Raleigh's quarter.
and
ble
to
by
burn
fire,
it
his ship
a project that
was rendered
men
mainder,
a petty
when
it
was discovered
firing,
practica-
and an-
large party of
NAVAL HISTORY.
171
The officers and men on the island escaped, but the ship
was got off, and placed in the British navy. The two ships
that took the Raleigh were the Experiment, 50, Capt. WalThe latter mounted 28 guns, and
lace, and the Unicorn, 22.
was
affair.
this
Capt. Barry gained great credit for his gallantry on
a
considerable
He escaped to the main, with
occasion.
and
portion of his crew, though not without great suffering,
a new ship was given to him on the first opportunity.
Thus terminated the year 1778, so far as it was connected with the services of the regular marine, though like all
that had preceded, or which followed it, in this war, it gave
rise to
many handsome
exploits
subject-
will
be devoted to that
172
KAVAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER
The
IX.
mand of
was said
this ship
to be a
French
to
a Capt. Landais,
officer of gallantry
who
and merit.
Unfortunately the prejudices of the seamen did not answer to the complaisance of the marine committee in this
respect,
and
it
was found
difficult to
obtain a
crew
willing
to enlist
quence of severe
illness,
1778, in order to
embark
it
was found
that
of Massachusetts offered to complete the ship's complement by impressment, an expedient that had been adopted
on more than one occasion during the war; but the just-
was
of view.
The Somerset,
By
NAVAL HISTORY.
173
was
fleet,
a motley
number
su^o-ested.
CO
and
whom
there
spiracy existed
among
in
all,
to
latter into
of the crew,
the
officers,
England.
With a
kill
encourage such acts of mutiny, the British Parliament had passed a law to reward all those crews that should
to
run
be
mence by
on the quarter-deck, the attempt was to comthem in a body. The mutineers were di-
seizing
With
to be pointed aft,
this
and
to
15*
NAVAL HISTORY.
174
Some
of cannister-shot.
mutiny.
On
plot
was postponed
arranged.
to put Capt.
Landais,
who was
boatswain were
officer
to
have been
to
killed
on the
spot.
The marine
The
sailing-master was
to have been seized up to the mizzen-mast, scarified, cut into
morsels and thrown overboard. To each of the lieutenants
and
was
to
passengers were
to
more
was supposed
to
be
an Irishman, and the mutineers were desirous of obtainthat he might diing his assistance, under the impression
rect them, and take sufficient charge of the ship to prevent
cuous part
who had
in
it.
in fact an American,
where he had acquired
NAVAL HISTORY.
the accent of the nation, but
175
where he had
lost
none of the
on were put on
men
their guard,
tineers
The
leading mu-
the English
arrest
Landais, after a
little
sight to escape.
On
revolts
have
It
may
English prisoners who had enlisted in the navy, were frequentlytroublesome, but no other direct mutiny was plotted.
176
NAVAL HISTORY.
be
may
many known
its
operation in his particular
instances in which English sea-
and disobedience.
teristic,
that
may
when
be put in high
left in
men have
in
situations
being probable that more American ships have been retaken from their prize crews by American seamen left on
it
the
of Christendom.
the
and
seamen of
all
American seaman
is
the
and
spirit.
On
cumstances.
We
period at
the
NAVAL HISTORY.
One
of the
occurred
177
first
to the
sachusetts, though
is
it
The
when
the former
crowded
Until this
sail,
and
at seven in the
morning,
gave him a
now showed
fire.
It was soon perceived on board the Hampden that they were engaged with a heavy ship, and one of
a force altogether
Still, hoping that
superior to their own.
livered his
Hampden
engagement
shot,
in
when
determined
followed,
the
hot
which
Hampden
momentary danger of
The American
men
killed
and wounded.
also,
sides appearing to
lantry.
On
B. Hopkins,
company
Queen
178
NAVAL HISTORY.
for the
to
crowded
sail in
The
three cruisers
late in the
day>
they had the good fortune to come up with nine sail, seven
of which they captured, with a trifling resistance. Favoured
by the darkness, the two others escaped. The vessels taken
proved
with a
Maria armed
the
were twenty-four
British officers,
all
of France
to
with a large
of English merchantmen,
that was convoyed by a ship of the line, and some smaller
cruisers, and succeeded in cutting: out several valuable
squadron
fell
in
fleet
was
navy.
In this vessel he
in
owing
made
went on a cruise
the
fri-
in
Campbell was the highest in rank, and if this were the officer
name and rank taken off Boston, in 1776, he was twice made
a prisoner on board ti-ansports, during this war.
Col.,
of the same
NAVAL HISTORY.
179
we
will
Ranger,
that he
much
remained
in
parture of his ship for America, in the hope of receiving a more important command, the inducement, indeed,
Many
dif-
and aban-
commanded by
Lafayette. All of these plans, however, produced no results, and after many vexatious repulses
in his applications for service,
made
an arrangement was
employment
finally
that
was
By
a letter from
M. de
ma-
size,
three
more
that
from Congress.
little
The
vessels that
were
NAVAL HISTORY.
180
and Vengeance.
was
merchantman bought
The
Pallas
for the
French
by
built,
flag,
The
main valid
who had
which were
to re-
short, the
can
French
ships,
during
ships
were
to be considered as
and when
Ameriit
was
govern, and
agreeably
in the
command was
to its usages.
American
service,
to
were
to
to
commissions,
be regulated by the
new dates. By an especial provision, however, Capt. Jones
was to be commander-in-chief, a post he would have been
agreeably
while the
to
fill
by his original commission, Capt. Landais of
the Alliance, the only other regular captain in the squadron,
being his junior. The joint right of the American minister
entitled to
From what
which
nor
this
is it
source the
squadron was
now
money was
fitted
probable that
it
actually obtained
will ever
by
known,
be accurately ascer-
tained.
NAVAL HISTORY.
181
extent to use
its
stores.
he
force of
Commodore
Jones, in his
memorable
composed
the
cruise.
many more
to
be cut in
the
it
six
old
height of tlie
was foreseen that these guns could not be of much use,
except in very moderate weather, or when engaging to
it
On
six eighteens
182
NAVAL HISTORY.
frigate.
built
The
many
vessel
years be-
To manage
armament and doubtful construction, Commodore Jones was compelled to receive on board a crew of a still more equivocal composition.
A few Americans were found to fill the stations of sea officers,
the people
guese, Norwegians,
mixed, as
to countries,
was termed,
this singular
some
commanders.
To
respects, reduced a
compact, which,
naval expedition to the level of a partnership. Commodore
Jones ascribed much of the disobedience among his captains, of
It will
be found
in the appendix.*
On
the 19th of
sailed
convoy.
NAVAL HISTORY.
which
183
so signally
assorted force.
came necessary
strike,
but
was compelled
to
in
line abreast,
by carrying a press of
sail, escaped.
the2Gth, the Alliance and Pallas parted company with
the Richard, leaving that
ship with no other consort than the
On
Vengeance brig. On reaching the Penmarks, the designated rendezvous, the missing vessels did not
On
appear.
the 29th, the Vengeance
made
the
best
of
her
having
way
for the roads of Groix
by permission, the Richard fell in
with two more of the enemy's cruisers, which, after some
indications of an intention to come down, also ran, no doubt
under the impression that the American
was a
frigate
of two decks.
On
this
occasion
Commodore Jones
spirit
ship
ex-
came
in also.
NAVAL HISTORY.
184
Another delay occurred. A court was convened to inquire into the conduct of Capt. Landais of the AUiance, and
of other officers, in running foul of the Richard, and both
Luckily a cartel arrived from
England, at this moment, bringing with her more than a
hundred exchanged American seamen, most of whom joinships
underwent
repairs.
ed the squadron.
been but
little
better
oft'
Among
those
this particular.
in the cartel,
letter
states the
crew of
the Richard,
11th,
Commodore Jones
all told, at
380
souls, inclu-
of
and Granville
Commodore
Jones.
in
On
was
were
off
Cape
Clear,
NAVAL HISTORY.
185
fog coming on, the latter boat was not able to find the ships
again, and her people fell into the hands of the enemy.
this desertion
Through
Richard
lost
The day
its
close in to reconnoitre,
and
and owing
plained,
and
to
this vessel
exre-
squadron.
explained by the fact that she had broken her tiller; but that
of the Alliance can only be imputed to the unofficerlike, as
commander. On the
morning of the 27th, the brig Vengeance was the only vessel in company with the commodore.
well as unseamanlike, conduct of her
On
track.
hove
in
in sight,
ship,
a Jamaica-man,
company as a prize.
Capt. Landais, of tlie Alliance, an officer,
who, as it has
French
NAVAL HISTORY.
188
in the squadron, he
was superior
he would do
as he
com-
frigate.
showed
ships.
On
the
and
own
vessel, that
prizes, as well as
over
to discipline
On
the last
day
At
town.
this
was
absent,
which there
is
to the
ceeded.
ing up towards Leith, until the 17th, when, being just out of
gun shot of the town, the boats were got out and manned.
The
commanded by M. de Cha-
If
milliard, while
AVAL HISTORY.
187
and was
just
about
to
go
when
a squall struck
commodore. Finding
the ships, and was
himself obliged to fill his sails, Com. Jones endeavoured to
keep the ground he had gained, but the weight of the wind
a severe
finally compelled all the vessels to bear up, and
the
where
were
driven
into
North
Sea,
gale succeeding, they
near dismasting the
dashing enterprize, had the weather permitted the atThe audacity of the measure might have insured
tempt.
a victory; and in the whole design we discover the decision,
high moral courage, and deep enthusiasm of the officer who
this
conceived
it.
It
was
the opinion of
singular modesty, great simplicity of character, and prudence, that success Vv'ould have rewarded the effort.
Abandoning
this
Com. Jones
letters,
refused to join in
laid this
it.
Head and
the Spurn.
the
Richard appeared
NAVAL HISTORY.
188
burying
It
Some
many
ance of the ships on the coast and in the Frith, rumour had
swelled the whole into one of its usual terrific tales. Perhaps no vessels of war had ever before excited so
local alarm on the coast of Great Britain.
Under
prudent
Com. Jones
the circumstances.
to
remain so close
out towards
in
much
it
sail
were
down
to the
in this
extraordinary
cruise.
light at the
About noon, his original squadron, with the exception of the Cerf and the two privateers, being all in company, Com. Jones manned one of the pilot boats he had detions.
tained,
in
On board
windward.
and
to, to
vessel
fifteen
party in the pilot boat, and the number of men that had been
put in prizes, the Richard was now left with only one sealieutenant,
little
more than
The
pilot
left
the
Of
in the ship.
Bon
Homme
Richard,
NAVAL HISTORV.
when the
were seen
189
more than
forty sail
Flamborough Head,
manded by
As
the
Serapis and the Richard, we will give a more minute account of the actual force of the former.
On
castle, 10 six-pound
in the
whole.
crew of 320
souls,
15 of
said to have
been Lascars.
When
the squadron
made
this
convoy, the
men
of
war
in
NAVAL HISTORY.
190
These signs of
yards on board the Richard.
the nearest English ships,
fired
alarm guns,
let
hostility
alarmed
other signals of the danger they were in, while they now
of the presence of the ships of
gladly availed themselves
or
sought shelter closer in with the
war, to run to leeward,
the ScarboSerapis, on the contrary, signalled
out to sea, until she had
rough to follow, and hauled boldly
to windward, when she tacked and stood infar
land.
The
enough
got
shore again, to cover her convoy.
The Alliance being much the fastest vessel of the American squadron, took the lead in the chase, speaking the
It has been proved that Capt. LanPallas as she passed.
dais told the commander of the latter vessel on this occasion,
fifty,
to escape.
the extraordinary
Capt.
manoeuvre
and this
subsequently did his duty in the action,
has been explained by the Richard's hauling up suddenly
for the land, which induced him to think that her crew had
mutinied and were running away with the ship. Such was
the want of confidence that prevailed in a force so singu-
NAVAL HISTORY.
191
larly
this celebrated
she
was
than that of her opponent, not to include the disadvantage of the manner in which the metal that remained was
less
distributed
frigate
know
the
combat was
eighteen-pounder
a species of contest in which, it has been said, we
not with what truth, the former has never been
;
NAVAL HISTORY.
192
known
to prevail.
us himself, that
all
on the twelve-pounders
out of her
sails,
All this
it is
On
Americans
it is
was
knowing
v,fhich ship
was engaged
at close quarters
compelled him
to
strike,
after
by the
a
about an hour.
Having disposed of
As
we can confine
our-
luff,
sailing
ing the attempt, and finding he had not room, he put his
helm hard down to keep clear of his adversary, when the
double movement brought the tvvo ships nearly in a line,
the Serapis leading.
English ship
lost
By
these uncertain
evolutions, the
the
American,
having kept her sails trimmed, not only closed, but actually
ran aboard of her antagonist, bows on, a little on her weather
quarter.
light,
NAVAL HISTORY.
in
thc^
193
different manoeuvres,
between the
manner
was the
just described.
intention of the
Americans
to
moment
manded,
a perfect cessation of the firing, Capt. Pearson de"'Have you struck your colours'?" "1 have not
yet be^Tun to
fio;ht,"
The yards
sails
was
the answer.
As soon
full, the ships separated.
her
helm
hard
the
down,
asunder,
Serapis put
as far
enough
aback forward, shivered her after-sails, and wore
short round on her heel, or was box-hauled, with a view,
laid all
most probably, of
in
Com.
Jones,
by
this time,
was con-
came
t!ie
intention of
and of layenemy
In the smoke, one party or the
ing her athwart hause.
other miscalculated the distance, for the two vessels came
as she
meeting the
to the wind,
the
which
rapis giving
Vol.
way
L 17
NAVAL HISTORY.
194
English ship
now hooked
additional lashings
cure her
in this position.
Capt. Pearson,
who was
regular combat
in a
in the
much aware
of his advantage
foul,
own
than he
hulls
were pressed
close
against each other, there were lashings fore and aft, and
even the ornamental work aided in holding the ships toge-
When
ther.
Richard
to the tide.
made an attempt
lish
to board, but
loss.
The lower
ports of the
rammers had
ship in
to
guns.
short duration.
In effect, the
one or two discharges, cleared all before it, and the maindeck guns of the Richard were in a great measure aban-
in
NAVAL HISTORY.
succeeded
effect,
in
under
action.
He
people
aloft.
195
his
man
up
belonging to the
so animated a
fire,
enemy below
after
man
off
it,
that
was
in
not
shot down.
Thus, while the English had the battle nearly all to themabove the upper-
deck.
rican
Having cleared the tops of the Serapis, some Ameseamen lay out on the Richard's main-yard, and be-
gan
to
vessel seconding these efforts, by casting the same combustibles through the ports of the Serapis. At length one man,
in particular, became so hardy as to take his post pn the
extreme end of the yard, whence, provided with a bucket
filled with combustibles, and a match, he. dropped the gre-
the
got
line
The
men were
aft.
was
awful.
More
than twenty
of them being left with nothing on them but the collars and wristbands of their shirts,
and the waistbands of their duck trowsers while the official
instantly killed,
many
week
show
that there
NAVAL HISTORY.
19G
were no
less
than thirty-eight
wounded on board,
manner, and of
injured in this
still
whom
alive,
thirty
Capt. Pearson
described this explosion as having destroyed nearly all the
men at the five or six aftermost guns. On the whole, near
were
said to
in
great danger.
dis-
of the combat, and, by lessening the fire of the enemy, enabled Com. Jones to increase his. In the same degree that it
moment when
From
this de-
render
most.
own
guns, her helm was put up, and she ran down near a
mile to leeward, hovering about, until the firing had ceased
between the Pallas and Scarborough, when she came within
NAVAL HISTORY.
197
hail
Richard, or to stretch up to windward in the Alliance himself, and succour the commodore.
After
consort,
into
his
own
hands,
and
least, to friend
Landais
to lay the
As
ble
198
WAVAL HISTORV.
On
her antagonist.
this
occasion,
it
is
men appear
to
have been
killed
wound by
The
fire
is
not unanswerable, as
it
Richard
occasions, and that, as the ship settled in the water from other
made may have suddenly increased the
NAVAL HISTORY.
199
a mass of uncontradicted testimony, the dangerous shotmay very well have come from that ship.
holes
injuries
had been on
Both
vessels
culty
here was a
new enemy
to
fire
some
diffi-
Ensrlish
their lives.
who had
little
to
life.
quarters, came on
Com. Jones, or Mr. Dale, both of
occupy him
whom were
his
occupied with the liberated prisoners, and bethe only other superior he had in the
to
colours.
probable that the reply was not heard, or, if heard, supposed
to come from an unauthorized source, for
encouraged by
NAVAL HISTORY.
200
away,
and, as soon as n"iustered, they were ordered to take possesSome of the men actually got on the
sion of the prize.
latter ship, but finding boarders ready to
boarders,
they made a precipitate retreat. All this
repel
the
time,
top-men were not idle, and the enemy were soon
gunwale of the
who no
turning their consternation to account, and probably keeping the Richard afloat by the very blunder that had come
so
and both
its
close, as will
be seen
in the
Richard
to totter,
About an hour
to
bear
and her
resistance, in general, to
between three
As soon
as
it
was known
had been lowered, Mr. Dale got upon the gunwale of the
Richard, and laying hold of the main brace pendant, he
swung himself on board the Serapis. On the quarter deck
NAVAL HISTORY.
201
whole of
this close
and murderous
Just as
conflict.
Mr.
had
he was mistaken
consent, but
by a boarding
pike, in the
hands of a
man
in the
who was
was
in
and shot
fired,
his prisoners!
own
Mr. Dale, now had the head sails of the Serapis braced sharp aback, and the wheel put down, but the
vessel refused both her helm and her canvass.
Surprised
and excited at this circumstance, the gallant lieutenant
his
ship.
wounded
in the leg,
by a
splinter,
and
until this
moment had
202
NAVAL HISTORY.
been ignorant of the injury. He was replaced on the binnacle, when the master of the Serapis came up and acquainted him with the fact that the ship was anchored.
By
this time,
been absent
batants, the ship must have soon sunk, but the other vessels
of the squadron sent hands on board the Richard, to assist
at the
manner
In this
rough.
Several of the
men were
to the
other vessels.
When
the
into
two
and
it
fut-
WAVAL HISTORY.
203
tocks that had been missed. Indeed, so large was the vacuum,
that most of the shot fired from this part of the Serapis, at the
All the after part of the ship, in particular, that was below
the quarter-deck, was torn to pieces, and nothing had saved
The
result of this
examination was
to
remove
his
wounded while
to
commence.
The
fol-
who was
in
charge of the
ship, with a party at the pumps, finding that the water had
reached the lower-deck, reluctantly abandoned her. About
ten,
the
roll,
and
The
Bon
Homme
bringing
down
with
the mizzen-top-mast.
it
Though
jury-masts were erected, the ship drove about, nearly helpless, in the North Sea, until the 6lh of October, when the
remains of the squadron, with the two prizes, got into the
Texel, the port to which they had been ordered to repair.
In the
combat between
tic
all
to
was
204
NAVAL HISTORY.
or, at least,
a great mistake.
According
to
a muster-roll of
which
42 men were
killed,
ma-
or died
shortly after the battle, and 41 were woundThis would make a total of 83, for this portion of the
of their
ed.
in existence,
is still
wounds
roll,
amounted
to
227
souls.
But
many
some
thirty
By
we
commencement of the
It is
known, how^-
we
it
was not
and
two
ships, in
engaged, were
either killed or
wounded.
some time
It
is
Com.
who were
Jones, in a
loss of the
Richard was
less
NAVAL HISTORy.
205
to the peculiarities of
above the
line
of
fire
of their enemies,
in
a measure protect-
other.
As
conflict,
it
was,
though
it
its
The
detail,
the subject, no less than from a desire to correct many of tlie popular
errors that have so long existed in connexion with its incidents. In framing his own account, he has followed what to him have appeared to be
the best authorities. Scarcely any two of the eye-witnesses agree in all
their facts, but by dint of examination, the writer has been enabled to
discover, as he believes,
bability lies,
entitled to respect,
der them
of
it is
intelligible
hoped have now been given in a way that will rento seamen. There are but two leading circumstances
appear doubtful.
The
pi'oached, each time firing into both the combatants; but the accounts, or
for there are many certificates given by the officers
rather testimony,
is so
not only of the Richard, but of the Alliance herself, Pallas, &c.,
obscure and confused, that it is difficult to get at the truth of the manner,
to give
though he inclines to think that the second attack of this ship may
have occurred a little later in the contest than would appear from the
manner
in
which
it is
is
used from
Vol. I. 18
NAVAL HISTORV.
206
the Alliance herself admit that they were never on the off side of the
Serapis at all, and of course their ship never could have gone round her.
They
inducing him
The second
may have
point
is
ard before she was herself engaged with the other ships.
of opinion that she did, while he admits that the matter
doubt.
is
involved in
NAVAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER
207
X.
The
to
it
favour the
The
Ame-
was induced
to
command
the
an admiral
at the Texel,
succeeded
who,
after
a vexatious course,
finally
forcing the Alliance to put to sea, in the
face of a fleet of enemies, which w^as anxiously awaiting
her appearance.
in
The
examine
Bay
208
NAVAL HISTORY.
Spain.
Capt.
in
to
Although
year,
we
will
it
the officer
who
first
commanded
her,
Capt. Landais.
subsequently his claim to command the Alliance was referred to Mr. Arthur Lee, who was on the spot, and who had
long been in Europe as a conspicuous agent of the government. The decision of this commissioner restored Capt. Lan-
been given
to
show her
who,
in the
During the
the comLandais
was
from
home,
passage
Capt.
deposed
under
the
idea
that
and
he
was
soon
after he
mand,
insane,
was discharged from the navy. It is thought that the absence of Com. Jones, alone, prevented his receiving severer
punishment.
anchor was
keep
and though an
In order to
go, she refused to tend to it.
her from foundering, the fore-mast was cut away, and
let
209
NAVAL HISTORY.
the heel of the main-mast having
that spar followed, bringing
down
worked out of
with
it
the step,
the mizzen-mast.
a second
Returning to L'Orient to refit, the Ariel sailed
time for America, on the 18th of December. During the
her own size, in
passage, she fell in with an enemy of about
the night, and after much conversation, a short combat followed, when the English ship intimated that she had struck,
Com.
Jones, in
to
he
Private communication of
tlie late
Com. Dale,
to the writer.
f John Paul was born on the 6th of July, 1747, at Arbig-land, on the
Frith of Solway, in the king-dom of Scotland. His father was the gardener
of Mr. Craik, a gentleman of that vicinity. At the age of twelve, the boy
was apprenticed to a ship-master in the Virginia trade, and -he made his
in America, in consequence, when in his thirteenth year. An
elder brother had married and settled in Virginia, and from this time
appearance
young Paul appears to have had views of the same sort. The failure of his
master induced him to give up the indentures of the apprentice, and we
soon find the latter on board a slaver. The master and mate of the vessel
he was in dying, Paul took charge of her, and brought her into port; and
from that time he appears to have sailed in command. About the year 1770,
he caused a man named Mungo Maxwell to be flogged for misconduct, and
the culprit
made
rejected by the local authorities (West Indies) as frivoMaxwell went to sea in another ship, and died
rather suddenly.
When the fact became known, the enemies of Paul
circulated a report that tlie death of this man was owing to the ill-treat-
18*
NAVAL HISTORY.
210
Before
we
return to the
American
seas,
and
to the
more
nected with
all his
proceedings
in
this
ous, it was used against him, for political efiect, by those who ought to
have been superior to injustice of so low a character.
Mr. Paul was soured at this ill-treatment, and, in a manner, abandoned
his native countrj'.
In 1773, his brother died, and he went to Virginia to
settle,
that
is
two
The
others.
As
this
relative rank
name appears on
the
list
wa&
as the
eighteenth captain.
His first cruise was in the Alfred 24, Capt. Saltonstall, the ship that bore
the broad pennant of Com, Hopkins, and his first engagement was that
with the Glasgow. From tlie Alfred, he was transferred to the sloop Providence 12, as her captain. He then commanded the Alfred 24. In 1777
he was appointed to the Kanger 18, a cr.'ink, clumsy ship, witli a gundeck, but no armament above, and a dull sailer. In 1778, after the cruise
in the Irish Channel, in which he took the Drake, he gave up the com-
mand of
In 1782, Capt. Jones was launched in tlie America 74, and the same
day delivered her up to the Chevalier de Martigne, the late commander
of the l^lagnifique, the ship she was now to replace. After this he made
fleet, as
was
back again
in
Europe
in the
course of
tlie
NAVAL HISTORY.
211
is
in 1789.
He
He had
had been
awakened by
success, he appears to have paid attention to the intellectual parts of his profession. In his enterprises are to be discovered much
of that boldness of conception that marks a g-reat naval captain, though his
of his
own
like himself,
and
liis
vessel.
it
bad equipment
There
as possessing
is
much of that
his
sedateness that
power of
combining-,
seem to have been vain: a very excusable foible in one of his education
and previous habits, that was suddenly exposed to the flattery and seductions of Parisian society.
He never married, though he was not averse to
the sex, as appears from his letters, poetic effusions, and gallantries. An
affectation of a literary taste, that
expended itself principally in homage
to those he admired,
and generous;
in motives,
much disposed
in
to disinterested-
ness, though ambitious of renown and covetous of distinction; in his pecuniary relations, liberal; in his affections, natural and sincere; and in his
temper, except
giving-.
in those cases
He wanted
which assailed
man capable
and
for-
of meeting
NAVAL HISTORY.
212
once,
may
it
got to sea
and, as
was made by
was now near
it
resolution,
September the
3d, 1782,
got to sea again in the service. In consequence of the America's having been presented to France, while still on the
stocks, the United States properly possessed no two-decked
in
company.
many
In
moment
were
letters
ships took
occurred.
Among
two privateers,
The two last
of marque.
are
the
lost,
able to the
American
officer.
to
The
state cruiser
Hazard
14, Capt.
composure and dignity; and his complaints of illtreatment and neglect, for which there was sufficient foundation, piobably lost him favour both in France and America. Had circumstances
acts of injustice with
put him in a situation of high command, there is little doubt that lie would
have left a name unsurpassed by that of any naval captain, or have perish-
ed
in
endeavouring to obtain
it.
From
213
NAVAL HISTORY.
was determined
in
The combat
is
lasted
The Active
the
called the Duff; a ship said to have been quite equal in force
wounded
the
cer
men were
ever engaged.
Warren
NAVAL HISTORY.
214
Diligent 14,
Hacker,
Capt.
12, Capt.
being the only regular
was added.
In addition there
and
store-vessels.
The
duty, however, was successfully performed by General Lovel, with a loss of about a hundred
troops.
latter
George
four other
Collier,
vessels
in the
of war,
and
set her
on
fire.
Others
followed this example, and most of the vessels were destroyed, though three or four fell into the hands of the
enemy.
Capt. Saltonstall
in
some
respects, per-
NAVAL HISTORY.
215
is
to
go against the
commencement, and
In a mili-
assailants.
a neglect
It
The Warren,
common
a main-deck
frigate of thirty-two guns, and had
Whatever
of
twelve
might have been
pounders.
battery
out
of the question
a
was
attempted by
regular force,
put
a
b}'
seeking her
The
the
on
this
demand
is
different directions,
occasion, the
commencement
to obtain
It
and taking
them by enlistment,
for
by impressment.
The
first
by the United
States,
and
216
.VAVAL HISTORY.
brig-rigged, in the
privateer out of
was both
Rhode
Island, at the
sloop-rigged and
commencement
of the
of 1776.
* This officer
Gaspe
in 1772.
is
at the burning'
of the
217
NAVAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER
At
the
XI.
American
to the
West
fleet
Indies, leaving
command
of
Sir
Henry
this officer carried his squadron into the Cooper, sunk several vessels at its mouth, and
landed all the guns and crews, for the defence of the town,
enemy.
the
seamen that
fell
into their
power.
By
acting
Vol. I. 19
218
NAVAL HISTORY,
number of
officers
and men
fit
to
By
fall
left,
to the well,
better.
to
cruisers
in
as usual, though
in
general efficiency.
we
much reduced
ministr}' to
In con-
keep no
less
than 85,000
Stales' vessel
furled
all
down upon
stranger
was made
NAVAL HISTORY.
hauled up her courses, the chase
219
all this
time betraying no
desire to avoid an action, but standing directly for her adversary. When near enough, the Trumbull filled, and, out-
windward of her.
showed English colours,
sail,
in the
mast was
when
a report
tottering,
was brought
and that
if
it
to
clear of her
adversary, who made no effort to molest her.
The vessels, however, were scarcely musket-shot
apart,
when the main and mizzen top-masts of the Trumbull went
over the
side,
came down,
until
nothing
the
was
left
but the
fall.
engaged by
220
NAVAL HISTORY.
Trumbull was a
letter
92 men,
and wounded.
in killed
pounders and 6
sixes,
wounded, among
The Trumbull
commenced.
action
the
former of
and
of her lieu-
tenants.
In the
way of a regular
cannonade,
this
combat
is
general-
riority of the
Watt
in
to the difficul-
many
of his people
they went
were
when
to their guns.
This action was not followed by another, of any importance, in which a government cruiser was concerned, until
the month of October, when the U. S. sloop of war Saratoga
16, Capt.
brigs, the
armed.
Young,
Charming Molly, was conducted with a spirit and promptitude that are deserving of mention.
Running alongside,
Capt.
Young
delivered his
fire,
and threw
fifty
men en
the
in
NAVAL HISTORY.
boarders on
this
occasion
221
is
party.
made
ever, the
74, Capt.
Molloy, which ship retook all the prizes, but was unable to
It is said, and we find
get the Saratoga under her guns.
no evidence
turned
to contradict
ing at sea,
it,
unheard of
The
armed
has been stated already that Capt. Landais was dismissed from the service soon after his return home, when
It
the
command
of the Alliance 32
was given
to Capt. John
so gallant a resistance
in the Raleigh, not
long previously. In February, 1781,
sailed
from
Boston for France, in command
Capt. Barry
of this
ship,
favourite
\vhich well
with
Colonel Laurens
on board,
company,
Three days afterwards, or on
the 2d of April, 1781,
they fell in with and captured two
Guernsey privateers, one of which, the Mars, is said to have
been a heavy vessel of 26 guns and 112 men, and the other,
the Minerva, to have had an armament of 10
guns, and a
bound
to
America with
stores.
19*
NAVAL HISTORY.
222
crew of 55
made any
souls.
resistance.
It
was
remain
in sight
it was
nearly a dead calm, and
wiien the mist cleared away, the two strangers were seen
at no great distance, with English colours flying.
They
were now
the
distinctly
made
to
sweep
up,
and
to select tiieir
was noon before the vessels were near enough to hail, when
For more than an hour the Allithe action commenced.
ance fought
enemy having
got on
would
iher quarters,
bear on them.
The advantage
possessed by
consequence of the calm, at one time, indeed, gave
their people the greatest hopes of success, for they had
sels, in
in this
Indeed, so confident
to be, that
when
the
ensign of the Alliance was shot away, this fact, coupled with
the necessary slackness of her firei induced their peoj>]e to
quit their guns,
and
to
This
NAVAL HISTORY.
occurred at a moment when a
liance's sails,
light
fairly
223
breeze struck the Al-
single broadside
state
were compelled
to haul
down
their colours.
cut up, and they sustained a joint loss of 41 men in killed and wounded. Nor did the Alliance escape with impunity, having had 11 killed and 21 wounded, principally by
the fii'e of her enemies, while they lay on her quarters and
across her stern. Capt. Barry made a cartel of the Tre-
passy, and sent her into an English port with the prisoners,
but the Atlanta was retaken by the enemy's squadron that
was
Fortune
now became
capricious, and
we
are compelled
Among the ships
which
his first
The Confederacy
command
this ship.
sailed for
ceeded
it,
to the
after having
rigging's having slackened,
NAVAL HISTORY.
224
been
a
set
warm
up
in
when
latitude.
From
vessel
remained
to refit.
commencement of
ports
were
supplies
the
in 1781, she
stores.
Early
22nd of June, while on her
and
to
open
ship,
his fire,
when
the
enemy ran
out a
lower
tier
taken.
The
armament of
the Confederacy to
sixes, or 36 guns.
Nicholson continued
in
command
of the Trumbull,
Watt, and we
find
him
at
sea again in that ship, in the summer of 1781. She left the
Delaware on the eighth of August, with a crew short of 200
Two
was a
and
it
blew heavily.
to
diverge
225
NAVAL HISTORY.
from the course, though, by carrying easy sail, the Trumbull was enabled to keep most of them ahead, and in their
bull's fore-top-mast,
which,
in falling,
it
The Trumbull
herself
was compelled
to
bear up,
to
in
order
wreck over her bows, and a crew that was not only deficient
in numbers, but which was raw, and in part disaffected, her
situation became in the last degree, embarrassing.
Indeed,
her condition has been described as being so peculiarly disits own, of the
tressing, as almost to form an instance of
foresail,
The
Iris
had been the United States ship Hancock 52, Capt. Manly,
and was captured by the Rainbow 44, Sir Georg-e Collier, with the Victor
16, in sight, and Flora 32, in chase of her prize, the Fox. The Hancock,
or Iris, proved to be one of the fastest ships on the American station, and
made the
fortunes of all
who commanded
her.
Capt. Manly
is
thought
French
in the
West
Indies.
NAVAL HISTORY.
226
the
first,
but the
Enghsh
coming
up,
and joining
the General
Monk
18,
Trumbull
submitted.
In this singular combat, it has even been asserted that at
no time were 40 of the Trumbull's people at their quarters.
It
to this
loss w^as
the latter
were two of
the lieutenants,
Murray was
Mr.
and the
is still
He
\vas
returned
227
NAVAL HISTORY.
suffered
Iris
men
killed
and
wounded.
When the war broke out, in 1775, Mr. Nicholson was residing- on the
Eastern Shore, and he was immediately appointed to the command of a
vessel called the Defence, that was equipped by the Colony of Maryland,
and in which cruiser he was active and
useful.
6th, 1776,
June
arranged on the 10th of October, of the same year, he was put at the head
of the list of captains.
At this time Com. Hopkins was commander-inchief,
of-
war, at
lost
tiie
battle of Trenton.
The manner
in
smallest.
The
Monk was
a heavy sloop of war, for that day, as is known- from her subsequently falling into the hands of tlie Americans.
Com. Nicholson was not exchanged until near the close of the war, and
there being no ship for him, he never went to sea again in service. He
subsequently settled in New-York, where he held a respectable civil appointment under the general government. He died September 2d, 1804,
leaving three daughters, one of whom married Albert Gallatin, ex-secretary of the treasury, &c. &c. &c.
Samuel and John, the brothers of James Nicholson, were both captains
in the
navy of the Revolution, and the former died at the head of the serCom. S. Nicholson had four sons in the navy, and his brother
vice, in 1811.
John, three.
name and family have served since 1775, of whom two have actually
worn broad pennrnts, and a third died just as he was appointed to one.
In addition, several officers of distinction were near relatives, Com. Murray having been a cousin-german of Com. Nicholson, and Capt. Gordon
this
his
nephew.
NAVAL HISTORY.
228
As
affording
to a
now come
loss of the
Trumbull,
wc
to take
its
place
among
the
deeds of the private cruisers, but which is of sufficient importance to be mentioned here, and this so much the more,
as a portion of those engaged belonged to the regular service of the country.
private cruiser called the Congress
had been fitted out in Philadelphia, in the course of the
summer, and
there
com-
in a
cruiser,
after
Drawing
was
and the
fire
cident,
fell
astern to
latter ship
refit.
having got her enemy fairly under her guns, in less than an
hour, left her a nearly unmanageable wreck on the water.
Englishman showed no
and the Congress ran so close along
that the men were said to be reciprocally burned by
Notwithstanding
disposition to submit,
side,
The
left
on
it,
and
his
NAVAL HISTORY,
fire
began
to slacken in
229
consequence of several of
his
guns
that his
to
be the
British sloop of
matters,
There
it
is
is little
it
to
withhold from
discrepancy also
in the
Savage
There
fact, that
is
struck.
this number to
by wounds, we get a total
By adding
which,
if
true,
would have so
changes
Vol.
I. 20
NAVAL HISTORY.
230
we
we
find his
name among
We
was
virtu-
war of
ally
year 1783.
the
Swallow
16,
may
On
characters.
this
but
we
think
it
pro-
to their
demand.
was
Among
sent to
the
Havana
for specie,
performed,
this ship
whence she
sailed, in
ed with
supplies.
vessels
fell
company
this force,
of two decks.
French
*
vessel
a large
sail
One of the
this year,
log,
NAVAL HISTORy.
others
action; the
wind and
;
manoeuvring
fifty.
231
The
in
latter,
way
to
enemy
engage
more than
Barry hauled ofl'. The Alliance now stood for the French
to bring the
ship, and speaking her, it was determined
to action again, in
enemy
chase, however,
it
company.
On making
sail
was
in
too
while
Some
pears to be
counts,
lost.
gaged by
the
said to be a ship of the line, and the ship enthe Alliance, a heavy sloop of war.
The command
now
One of
was
left
in
the
frigates
to
Capt.
Manly, after her return from the cruise under Capt. Nicholson; and this officer, who had virtually begun the maritime war, on the part of the United States, in a manner
closed
it,
by an arduous and
brilliant chase, in
which he
escaped from several of the enemy's ships in the West Indies, after being for a considerable time under the guns of
made
early in 1783.
232
NAVAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER
XII.
actions in
it
newspapers, though
is
it
known
that
many
of the exploits
every
and
to the
gaged
in
it is
in
it,
when
who would
war.
is
a profession of which
reason and good morals can scarcely approve; for whatever may be its legality, its aim is to turn the waste and
But circum-
stances may,
and
in
the
two contests
that
have taken
approved warfare.
it
to
the dignity of a
Without regular
fleets,
more
borne upon by
NAVAL HISTORY.
233
the
to
gaging
in this
to terms.
mode of endeavouring
It is
their
gular marines.
In many instances, during the
war
common man,
appear equally
to
have
offices,
it is
many
different
distant day.
In
many
this
we
234
NAVAL HISTORY.
authorities that
cedence, before
now offer, considering them entitled to prewe give an outline of the service perform-
March
In
was much
infested by-
barges and small cruisers of the enemy, which not unfrequently made prizes of vessels belonging to the Americans,
as well as molesting the people who dwelt near the water.
With a view to keep the navigation open against these
the
of Pennsylvania
marauders,
at
mined
to
fit
least,
state
at
its
With
this object,
purchased.
own
hastily
deter-
expense,
collected.
So suddenly
river,
on
an outward-
her cargo
ready for war, that she had to be pierced in orIndeed so pressing was the
her guns.
that
the
merchants
of Philadelphia anticipatemergency,
this ship
der to receive
and the act had not actually gone through all its legal
forms, until after the exploit we are about to record had
The commissioners entrusted with the
been performed
!
who had
tions,
like so
many more
of the profession,
was
the
Hyder
Ally;
NAVAL HISTORY.
Barney
her, Capt.
after he
sailed.
235
It
go to
sea, but
merely that she should keep the navigation of the river and
bay open, and drive otf privateers, and other small cruisers.
On
the 8th of April, the Hyder Ally got into the bay with a
considerable convoy of outward-bound merchantmen. The
whole fleet had anchored in the roads off Cape May, in
Capt. Barney
to trip,
and
to
their retreat,
under easy
sail.
The
An
channels, in
part
which
is
known
as the "
chance
to
at
united,
It
the brig,
New
can,
came up with
Hyder
her
battle.
the
which proved
when
to
be a
Ameri-
236
NAVAL HISTORY.
which was
Hyder
and threw
fast
Ally,
in
to luff
athwart
his
hawse, when
The
frigate,
into the
western
to lose.
Throwing
mean while,
There
of the convoy.
the brig
is
.commander of
his attention, to
proceed to
molestation.
Up
to this
name
Capt. Rogers.
NAVAL HISTORY.
privateer, General
237
into the
vourite
twenty
officer
her
to
and
nines,
is
said to
his loss at
it
at
20
killed,
killed,
and 29 wounded;
and 36 wounded.
The Hyder
liant that
flag.
It
bril-
was
to her conqueror.
The disproportion in
metal, between a six pounder and a nine pounder, is onehalf; and the Monk, besides being a heavier and a larger
Both vessels appeared before
ship, had the most men.
superior
spect,
known
*
it
to the entire
community of
the place.*
A biography of the liie of Capt. Rogers has appeared; and, hi this work,
is
carronades,
The
by the
recoils.
action,
mentioned
defeat
is
imputed
to this cause.
In the subsequent
sixes
same
nines, and that some may have been dismounted by the recoil. But,
en the other hand, the Monk could have lost near half her
guns, in this
way, and still have been equal to the Hyder Ally; and the fact appears to
be certain, that the combat was settled by the bold manoeuvre of Capt.
Barney. It is mentioned, moreover, in this same biography, that Capt.
Rogers had been two years very actively employed in the Monk, when
NAVAL HISTORY.
238
The
steadiness with
his
whole
Throughout the
naval captain
character.
The Monk,
her old
restored,
was
ta-
be admitted
will
It
as singulai", that
power of his
g-uns
her outfit in 1779. Besides, she would have carried much heavier carronades, had she carried any, the weight of an eig-hteen-pound carronade being about the same as that of a six-pounder. The biographer has,
that calibre, the
light nines with carrojiades of
in use
when he wrote.
The biographer
Barney a captain
is
man
that rank.
merchantman who
It
does not
make
be performed by a
make a captain; and
not
this, Mr. Barney, however deserving of it, does
it was given to him in 1794, although
until
have
ever
appear
possessed
he remained a lieutenant in the service to the close of the war. The Gen.
to
is
put on the
or
chant-officers,
forcibly
it
list
may put
and the
by
his vessel's
officers in merchant-ships,
its
its
their
NAVAL HISTORY.
was
West
States, to the
ney had a
supposed
on duty
in
239
behalf of the United
Indies.
warm engagement
to
In
antagonist is not known.
Washington received some damage in her
spars, but met with no serious loss.
larly well.
of the former
is
said to
named
The
latter
was
nobscott.
It
lost in the
expressly for
service appears to have been Capt. John Foster Williams,
who commanded a brig called the Hazard, in 1779. In
this vessel, in
Active,
Williams performed
Capt.
many handsome
ex-
on its regular lists. It does appear, however, that the United States
end owned the Washing-ton; pi'obably throug-h some subsequent
arrang-ement with Pennsylvania; she being- sold on public account.
There is no question that Capt. Barney oug'ht to have been presented
officers
in the
the
be so near a
was
not; but
of this dutv.
close,
we
NAVAL HISTORY.
240
proving himself, on
ploits,
all
an
occasions,
officer
of
merit.
which was
he resumed the
command
of the Hazard,
It
would proba-
on that occasion.
degree, to
With
this
view.
Com.
Gillon,
the officer
who was
at the
head of
its little
into,
for a
so
which had been laid down by the American commissioners, and subsequently presented to France. She had
Indien,
was a
frigate in construe-
241
KTAVAL HISTORY.
tion, carrvins:,
Swedish
had been
who
lent
by Louis XVI.
to the
Duke of Luxembourg,
own
to her
in the
Narrow
Afterwards
Seas, sending her prizes into Spain.
she sailed for America, capturing ten sail, with which she
went
into the
to distress the
Havana.
nauti-
The
expedition
was
successful,
and
32,
were
*
It appears to be generally imagined that this Duke of Luxembourg-, or
Chevalier de Luxembourg as he was sometimes called, was the sover-
we suppose him
to
have been
French
Vol.
L 21
NAVAL HISTORY.
242
constructed during the
war
described as
is
having been a particularly fast vessel; but her service appears to have been greatly disproportioned to her means.
state a large
have returned
excited
nothing
literally
believed to
is
Her
to its treasury.
loss
much comment.
this
name
in the
States,
it
is
probable
frigate obtained
by the
any great
its seamen
were
We
sers,
shall
now
briefly allude to a
fev>^
private
armed
crui-
its
outlines.
The
first
and cautious.
War
accommodation
sufl^ered to
pass
far
many
away
it
1775 was
was
friends in
England as
possible.
As
the
first
was
NAVAL HISTORY.
243
of merchantmen
efforts of the
v^^ere
Americans necessarily
cautions of the
enemy
proved destructive
increased.
to the
After
captured.
hundred
lessened,
Still,
inducements
to such undertakings.
the
vessels employed as private cruisers, the
Among
the
Black
Prince, the Pickering, the Wild Cat,
Holker,
The Marlborough
cess.
is
said to
prizes in
to the
to that
of their enemy.
question, that in a
To
this list
in
which,
many
made
cases,
did
war
station
made
that
it
quently
filled.
way
to the
NAVAL HISTORY,
244
trade,
in
particular,
Two
suffered
and
fifty
is
not probably known, but six hundred and fifty prizes are
Many of the remainder
and there
is
commerce
There
at sea.
of Great Britain
was enormous;
it
run,
had
Thus terminated
the
first
war
in
of
all
were imme-
The
when
the
war
NAVAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER
245
XIII.
When
may
be found useful.
law of 1775 was passed, directing the construction of the first frigates, for the twenty-eights and
the
were
the enemy.
The
vessel that
was
laid
down
building
exposed
New
in
rigging, or
in
all
The two
in
ships constructed
annoyed by
the
country was
little
and
enemy
The Rhode
These
Island ships
and
fates
New
York.
These
21*
ships,
believed,
were
246
If
AVAL HISTORr.
of the enemy,
highlands.
ship
was
in the
the Virginia,
and her
Pennsylvania had the four remaining vessels, the Randolph, the Washington, the Delaware, and the Etfingham.
Of the first it is unnecessary to say any thing, as her fate is
identified with the glory of the service.
we
find
If the
Delaware
She
was equipped
certainly, and most probably blockaded, fallhands of the enemy when they got possession
of Philadelphia. The other two were burned in Capt.
Thus of the
thirteen vessels
been related.
(Hague,) Alliance,
is
frigates,
Of
comprise
all
it
is
now
diffi-
to give a
247
NAVAL HISTORY.
Washington,
(late
belonged
to the state
perfect
war
are
list
now
to
be obtained, the
of the Revolution
such record,
this
book
is
were
fully felt,
will
was
sold
on public
difficulty of
making a
in the
and
have an
air of incompletenes.
is
accordingly^
being those of omission, rather than positive errors. Annexed to the name of each vessel is her fate, as an Ameri-
Deane (Hague)
32.
Hancock
1778.
Her wreck
still lies
to Philadelphia!
248
NAVAL HISTORY,
Warren
burned
the British
Fenobscott
32,
in the
Queen
do.
do.
Providence 28,
do,
Trumbull 28, taken by the Iris 32, and General Monk
18,
1781.
in the
Delaware, 1778,
in the
Hudson, 1777,
Columbus
Delaware
20.
24, captured
by the
British
ware, in 1777.
Boston 24, captured at Charleston,
Montgomery
army
in the Dela-
in 1780.
to sea, 1777.
Hamden
14.
Andrea Doria
abandoned.
Ranger
18,
captured
at
1780.
Saratoga
Diligent 14,
Gates
14.
Hornet
10.
burned
never heard of
249
NAVAL HISTORY.
in 1777.
Surprise 10, seized by the French government,
in 1780.
sold
10,
Revenge
Providence
Wasp
Independence 10
loj
Dolphin
To
Penobscott in 1779.
Sachem
appear
can flag, commanded by American
part, by American seamen.
officers,
Cerf
12,
18,
in
Pallas 32,
Vengeance
and manned,
was ended.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
These
lists
contain nearly,
if
not quite
all
the vessels of
of the Ameri-
to the
size that
navy
any
properly belonged
can Confederation. There were several more small
cruisers,
teers,
Most of
first
two-decked
the
United States.
shown,
in
viously to the
war
of the Revolution.
It
NAVAL HISTORY.
250
more accurate
to
heaviest ship that had been laid down in the country, at the
time she was built. This vessel was captured from the
French, by the
British, in the
The management
of the
engagement of the
little
1st of
June.*
were almost
destitute of the
means of carrying on a
Much
war.
consequence of deficiencies of
in
important
relief
were subjected
this nature.
The
first
it is
left
We give the
by Paul Jones,
from which
it is
to
The gangThe
forecastle.
aft.
when
She had 50
" Yet
this ship,
cate frigate; and no person, at the distance of a mile, could have imagined
she had a second battery." Unfortunately her intended armament is not
given.
251
NAVAL HISTORY.
in
the
outset.*
tures, the
ing the
many
maritime
obstacles that
were
to be
spirit
and, in defiance of an
as well as an
tv,
conflict
between
the effects
first
England
imbued with a love of maritime adventure, could produce
on a nation so commercial.
tory,
The
activity
ried the
war
first
car-
into the
enemy's seas,
fully apForemost ought to be placed
preciated by the present age.
the name of Wickes, who led the way, and who appears to
have performed the duty confided
*
The
to
marine committee of Congress, the body that discharged the duties that
are now performed by the navy department. The committee was in secret session, deliberating on the
that were indispensable to the
articles
the
first
articles
vessel taken
wanted.
must succeed!"
"We
NAVAL HISTORY.
252
The untimely fate of this gallant offiobtained the respect and confidence of the
American commissioners, probably was the reason that he
spirit
cer,
and steadiness.
who had
much
merit.
Capt.
Conyngham,
adds that of
He
suffering.
return to the
war, with the greatest reputation, are those of Jones, Barry, Barney, Biddle, Manly, Nicholson, Wickes, Rathburne,
Conyngham, and Hacker. To these may be added that
of Williams,
who was
in
the
service of Massachusetts.
The nature of
the warfare,
unquestionably trammelled
The circumstance
that
only six out of thirteen new cruisers that were laid down
under the law of Oct. 1775, ever got to sea, shows the dif-
ficulties
of so
fell
into the
NAVAL HISTORY.
253
Fervice to the country, in a naval war, as its central position, many natural advantages, difficulty of being blockaded
on account of a double outlet, and resources, will always
render
it
command
source of contention
ly defined
were
incalculable.
in all services in
endless heart-burning's.
The
It is a singular fact, that, with the excepthat favourite ship the Alliance, we canof
perhaps
taining crews.
tion
not find that any frigate-built vessel left the country, after
first year or tvv'o of the war, with a full crew on board
the
of her
sail,
composed,
had been compelled
were
tlie
either
officers
We
To
that the
mounted
Bon
in
Vol. I. 22
NAVAL HISTORY.
254
believe that
some of
this calibre,
mixed
in
was not a
American navy, during the whole war of the
Revolution, that was properly any thing more than a
twelve-pounder frigate. The America 74, would have
regular armaments; but, strictly speaking, there
ship in the
Homme
and only
efficient batte-
made
of the merits
with
men went
ed with the
forth
cruisers
of their
enemy,
to
contend with
foes every
that can
is the inseparable
a consciousness of force.
confidence that
seamen of
the
Revo-
NAVAL HISTORY.
almost necessarily included
in iheir
255
renown, which
It is
so
much
is
entitled
a matter of
the military character of every service, has ever been so efficent and useful, not only in carrying on the regular routine
of duty, but in face of the enemy, and was so all-important
to the security of the ships, during the period of
which we
for a
In order
organization in this chapter.
that the general reader may more clearly comprehend this
branch of the subject, however, and obtain a better idea of
its
crew of a
vessel of war, a
paragraph
few explanations.
The men
of an army.
to
a ship of war,
in a
It is
not,
for
however,
256
NAVAL HISTORY.
them
and bayonet as
own
their proper
mus-
weapons.
Aware
Vflh
commanded by a colonel.
on the 30th of the same month, directing
that these two battalions should not be drafted from the
ions of the usual size, and to be
resolution passed
army
this law^
which existed
in
into
It
com-
obtaining
known from
New
even
on
that
employed
of appointment, and, it is to be
who were
appointed
in
June, 1775, as
Andrew
Porter, Captain.
Joseph Hardy,
do.
Samuel Shaw,
do.
Benj. Deane,
do>
257
NAVAL HISTORY.
Robert Mullin, Captain.
John Stewart,
do.
David Love,
do.
Franklin Read,
do.
Peregrine Brown,
do.
Thomas
do.
Barnell,
Second Lieutenant.
James McClure,
William Gilmore,
Abel Morgan,
do.
do.
Hugh Montgomery,
do.
Richard Harrison,
do.
believed that in
were empowered
many
cases, officers
to time,
though
commanding
In short,
it
ships,
in the
it
that
At no period of the naval history of the world, is it probawere more important than during the war
of the Revolution.
In
many
ill
the subsequent confficts, under those circumstances in which it could be resorted to, has usually
then, but in
all
to
their
The
of soldiers, and we
gallantry and self devotion of this body
not to add, that
we
were
to
our
be
unfaithful
should
trust,
it
many proofs of
The marine
country.
merits by the
from disease and tempests, undergoes the same privations,
suffers the same hardships, and sheds his blood in the same
battles as the
re-
yAVAL HISTORY.
258
wards.
without the consciousness of possessing a tenour to a certain and honourable reward, that is dependent only on him-
That
self.
this
this justice
all
it
state,
and
no instance
in
in the
we
case
are par-
ticularly writing.
it is
vessel of
war
in registering her
late to
sufficient interest
is
resumed,
There may be
ject.
first
we
it
American
flag
on
name.
pretend to entire
On
this point
it
is,
perhaps, too
want of documents,
cumstance
that
alluding to
cess.
The
the conflicting testimony, and the cirthe journals of the day abstained from
movements
first
favour of
It
is
all
little
brig,
is
met by one in
Mr. Hopkins.
NAVAL HISTORV.
ron
in
which he
first sailed,
composed
259
the entire naval force
known
to
have been
His correspondence
in error.
is
en-
collated
with care.
Providence made at
There
least
is
as a privateer, out of Rhode Island, before she was purchased into the navy, nor does there appear to be any evi-
by the law of October, 1775. Of these, it is impossay which was first got into the water, though there
sible to
is
launched.
It
like its
of
its
nothing behind
it,
260
NAVAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER
The peace
XIV.
new
republic
the
Most of
public cruisers, as has been seen, had fallen into the hands
of the enemy, or had been destroyed, and the few that re-
was
had
-of their
its
its
own
duties,
and pur-
sued
it
try.
the
It
American
can be
261
NAVAL HISTORY.
it was
the ship Empress of China, Capt.
New- York, the 22d of Februsailed
from
which
Green,
to
the same port on the 11th of
ary, 1784, and returned
no doubt that
May,
1785.
Dean, a sloop of 80
which went and returned in 1785.
tons, built
in
Albany,
mentionought
ed, to the credit of the English factory at Canton, that, notwithstanding the jealousies and interests of trade, which,
prise, Capt.
It
to be
took a
new
of New-Holland,
into the
unfavourable monsoons.
The
was
political organization
of
To these grievances may be added the embarrassments arising from the renewal of the claims of the
British merchants, that had been suspended by the war.
the country.
Discreet
men saw
the necessitv of a
and
change of
were
stitution of
articles of association,
262
NAVAL HISTORY.
Washington
new
go-
at its head,
as President.
The
entire
many
civil
im-
The
army
power of appointing
which was
also instituted
on
this occasion,
and
to
a few
In addition to this
however high
supplies were raised
The
his rank, or
states
The
beneficial
aced with a renewal of the war with England, the administration of Washington was cautiously, and with the greatest prudence, endeavouring to extricate the country from the various entanglements that were perhaps inseparable from its
peculiar condition, and to set in motion the machinery of a
new and an entirely novel mode of conducting the affairs
of a
was
first
NAVAL HISTORY.
2G3
employed.
In the mean time, the Dey of Algiers, discovering that a
new country had started into existence, which possessed
merchant
vessels
On
commerce.
prey on
the schooner Maria, belonging
gan
to
its
to Boston,
by a
was
corsair,
seized, out-
thus seized.
Of
course, five
they belonged, did not possess sufficient naval force to compel the petty lyrant at the head of the Algerine government
to
it
do justice!
difficult to
gotten.
captives.
At
the
same
This
him, naming him consul at the regency of Algiers.
celebrated man, for whose relief these nominations were
NAVAL HISTORY.
2G4
the latter
against the town of its enemy, it was very useful to the rest
of the Christian world, by maintaining a strong force in the
Straits of Gibraltar, rendering it difficult for any rover to
find
her
way
pectation, this
Contrary
to all ex-
in
1793, through
the agency of the British consul at Algiers, and, as it was said,
without the knowledge of the Portuguese government. This
come again
American com-
and
its
consequences
to the
At
commenced
demand for
the
same
tirne^ the
Dey
this
nacing the person of the minister appointed by the American government, should he venture to appear within his
dominions!
it is
pendent government
to
cating
all
NAVAL HISTORY.
tions,
265
2,7th of the same month, a law was apthe executive, authorizing the construction, or the
and on the
proved by
step taken
navy, as
some of
under
are
in use,
it
appointed to
still
the service.
authorized to proceed by
law of the 27th of March, 1794, than measures were
vessels ordered.
The provision of the
was
and the six frigates
followed,
paragraph
virtually
were laid down as soon as possible. These vessels were the
Constitution 44, laid down at Boston.
taken
to build the
first
President
"
44,
Chesapeake
New
York.
"
Philadelphia.
38,
Constellation 38,
"
Portsmouth, Va.
"
Baltimore.
"
38,
Congress
The most capable builders
Portsmouth, N. H.
mentioned
Vol. I. 23
in the
foregoing
list,
were of
this class
of
NAVAL HISTORY.
266
on
its
The
others
were of
common
English thirty-
was
and
size.
place in the navy, by the side of the two vessels last menBut so much inaccuracy extioned on the foregoing list.
isted at that day,
many
we
shall find
when
the service
we
many
occa-
reach a period
commanders
John Barry,
Samuel Nicholson,
Joshua Barney,
Richard Dale,
Silas Talbot,
Thomas Truxtun.
With
the
exception
of
Capt.
Truxtun,
all
of
these
267
NAVAL HISTORV.
born
selection.
narrow
seas.
was
in his youth,
obtain a ship.
Subsequently to the war, Capt, Talbot had
retired from the sea, and he had actually served one term
in
Congress.
Capt. Barney had served as a lieutenant in many actions, and commanded the Pennsylvania State cruiser, the
Hyder
Ally,
when
Monk.
This
offi-
named
in his place.
war
of
tiie
Revolution.
Capt. Truxtun had a reputation for spirit that his subsequent career fully justified, and had seen much service du-
268
NAVAL HISTORY.
commandof different
private vessels
of war.
The rank of the subordinate officers eventually appointed to these ships, was determined by that of the different
the senior
commanders,
taking rank of
sel
the other
all
first
lieutenants,
and the
cuted, in the event of such a peace, and the President immediately called the attention of Congress to the subject.
A new
tion
act
was
the construction of
ordered
to
was
some
be launched.*
The reader
when it
nation,
would seem
may be
navy
enlarged,
"On
sunrise, a
Crescent frigate, as a signal for getting under way; and at 10, A. M., she
cleared the harbour, witli a fine
Our best wishes follow
leading breeze.
Captain
Newman,
his officers
and men.
May they
269
NAVAL HISTORY.
The President, in his annual speech to Congress, December 1796, strongly recommended laws for the gradual inIt is w^orthy of remark, that, as
crease of the navy.
appears by documents published at the time, the peace
obtained from the Dey of Algiers cost the government of
the United States near a million of dollars, a
sum
quite
to
to the for-
finest
" Blow
all
And hushed in
"The Crescent is a present from the United States to the Dey, as compensation for delay in not fulfilling our treaty stipulations in proper time.
" Richard
O'Brien, Esq., who was ten years a prisoner at Algiers, took
passage in the above frigate, and is to reside at Algiers as Consul General
of the United States to all the Barbary states.
" The Crescent has
many valuable presents on board for the Dey, and
when she sailed was supposed to be worth at least three hundred thousand
dollars.
"
Twenty -six
giers,"
23*
270
NAVAL HISTORY.
and unable
to submit
French government
any longer
to
such injustice,
recommended to Congress a
of
armament
and
that
it was
defence,
plan
hoped would have
protection and defence, was the form in which this high interest was brought before the nation, through its representatives. Twenty small vessels were advised to be built, and,
in the event of
an open rupture,
it
was recommended
Congress
be constructed.
line to
cause
to
in addition to
the
law of 1794.
by
The United States 44, Constitution 44, and Constellation
These three
38, had been got afloat the year previous.
ships are all still in the service, and during the last forty
the
water,
built,
To
and
to see that
$950,000
NAVAL HISTORY.
271
created.
was
in the Dis-
trict
of Columbia,
this
tlie first
same year.
After so long and so extraordinary a forgetfulness of one
of the most important interests of the nation, Congress now
duties in June of the
seemed
made
to
be
in earnest; the
vessels,
and on the 28th of the same month, the President was em-
powered
to instruct the
already
soon passed
into
American
their
for the
vessels that
hands.
might have
were
prizes, and
June, another law
Additional laws
condemnation of such
In
and
in this act,
it
was provided
payment.
By
a clause
27th of April of the same year, should consist of six not exceeding 18 guns, of twelve between 20 and 24 guns, and of
six of not less than 32 guns. The cautious manner in which
the national legislature proceeded, on this occasion, will remind the reader of the reserve used in 1775 and in 1776;
and we trace
moderation of
war of the
272
\AVAL HISTORY.
on the 7th of July, 1798, on the plea that they had been
repeatedly disregarded by France, and that the latter counall,
to
It will
avoided
all,
in all these
throughout
this
moment
the
first
American
cruisers ap-
became
liable to
On
the 11th of July, 1798, a new marine corps was estaby law, the old one having dissolved with the navy
of the Revolution, to which it had properly belonged.
It
blished
contained 881
officers,
non-commissioned
officers,
musicians
nue cutters
Such
is
making a
gave
rise to the
is
com-
273
NAVAL HISTORY.
its
rolled on the
men were
favour.
list
of midshipmen.
Young and
intelligent sea-
war of
the Revolution, or
who by
their experience in
accustomed
to responsibility
and command.
It
may
were
be well
the feeling
entered for frigates in the course of a few hours.
men was hardly experienced at all in this contest
deem
it
by
of
and v^e
an
Want
;
war
medium
of
private cruisers.
France
to
encounter the
expense.
During the year 1707, or previously to the commencement of hostilities between the United States and France,
the exports of the former country
amounted
to 857,000,000,
274
NAVAL HISTORY.
$8,209,070.
NAVAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER
275
XV.
neither
The
want of suitable spars and guns, and other naval stores, fit for
ships of size, had retarded the labour on the frigates, while
vessels had been readily bought for the
sloops of war, which,
though deficient
in
many
was brought
vessel
who was
this
as
command
This ship, then, was the first man of war that ever
got to
sea under the present organization of the
or
since
the
navy,
United States have existed under the constitution.
Capt.
to
much
276
NAVAL HISTORY.
of June, to receive
new
orders.
On
The
fall in
with.
Delaware
20, Capt. Decatur, next went to sea, early in June, under the
last of the foregoing orders, and with directions to cruise to
the southward of
all
Le
was
This ship carried out with her many young gentlesince risen to high rank and distinction in
The
first
was Mr.
Ross; second lieutenant, Mr. MuUony; third lieutenant, Mr. James Barron;
NAVAL HISTORY.
ring immediately
277
its
force
among
the
West
India islands,
were
who now
hoisted a broad
West
Indies, keeping to
windward.
had been
of Cape Henry.*
At the
teen guns, and crews of from fifty to seventy men.
close of the year, many of them were taken into the
navy, and
we
find
some of
their officers,
Early
in
It is
Among
first
vessel ever
got into the water under the new organization, had she not stuck in an
abortive attempt to launch her, at an earlier day.
Vol. I. 24
278
NAVAL HISTORY.
States; several
French
went
to the
Havana, and
sail
in
tle.
By
was
at
employed
States.
279
NAVAL HISTORY.
Of
marked with an
asterisk, w^ere
The
vessels rating
and
20 and 24
nades
in
their
armaments,
batteries
tle
named in
more were already laid down
Besides the vessels
The sudden
exhibition of so
many
Indies, appears to
common enemy;
tain,
men
cruisers in the
West
of
war of Great
allies
Bri-
with sufficient
cordiality, instances
feeling
towards them.
The most
took place, occurred in the autumn of this year, off the port
of Havana, and calls for a conspicuous notice, in a work of
this character.
Moro was
in
sight,
and knowing
that
the English
280
NAVAL HISTORY.
were
in the habit of
Phillips, as
made
strangers,
pursuing a vexa-
merchantmen, Capt.
the
same
was
in the
some of
their
own
con-
Phillips to repair
this invitation, a
cers, in
on board
On complying
his vessel.
tended to take
with
all
the
men
his
offi-
in the act
Taking
his advice.
however,
to consult him,
and
The
by
sailed without a
commission on board
NAVAL HISTORY.
281
been
There may be
some question how far a belligerent can, with propriety,
have any authority over a vessel that has been regularly
admitted into the convoy of a national cruiser, for it is just
as reasonable to suppose that a public
ship of one nation
by countenancing such a
would not
her seizures; and an appeal to the
illegality,
do violence
to right in
Eng-
The papers of a
vessel
under convoy, at all events, can properly be examined nowhere but under the eyes of the commander of the convoy,
or of his agent, in order that the ship examined
may have the
benefit of his
protecting care, should the belligerent feel dis-
It
will
more
be observed, however,
we
have been.
24*
as
282
IVAVAL HISTORY.
regard
of the British
officer,
The
fiable.
right of
impressment
is
totally unjusti-
international right, depending solely on municipal regulations, and in no manner on public law; since the latter can
in their nature,
set
is
attempt to exercise
them
its
at the
which the
rules
all
to arrest a thief.
If
contrary
to
to their
insist
wishes,
it
is
no
affair
on the
own
sub-
of other na-
tions, so
tion
is
attempts to
extend
it
all
the
known and
still
more,
NAVAL HISTORY.
283
man
in the
fail
and
to refer
were accordingly lowered Capt. Loring was informed that the ship was at his disposal, and fifty-five of
the crew were immediately transferred to the Carnatick.
timore
fifty
of these
men were
sent
was
now made
as extraordinary as
squadron,
whom
man
country,
for
man,
in
exchange
for as
many
English-
These Americans, it
presume, had been
impressed, and the whole of these violent outrages on neutral rights, were closed by a proposal to surrender a cermen.
tain
is fair to
number of American
and
in the
citizens,
face of
who were
all
detained
in
weaken
flag,
his
for the
pay.
was
American
commander
no
more
aurejected
possessing
thority to give up any portion of his legal crew, in this
manner, than he had to insist on the services of the AmeriIt
is
cans
the
whom
squadron
he might receive
now made
sail,
government,
284
NAVAL HISTORY.
navy
We
tion, regret
and
surprise.
We
feel
deep mortification
that,
an
officer
that perpetrated
is fair
with
to
his
risk of a conflict
with
on her
merce
com-
protect
power of
active wealth,
have, in
make
all
ages and
in
all
on
which nations or individuals can alone, with any due reliance, trust for character and security. In 1798, the contest
with France was so much the more popular with the merterests temporarily superior to those eternal principles
community, because
were
now
living
it
favoured trade
may
be surprised to
so blinded
NAVAL HISTORY.
find
285
aggressions that followed, and which, after an age of forbearance, finally produced all the evils of the very warfare
seems
that
On
this
government
at
did
now
from an
the
one
commander of any
;
it
vessel but a
to
Frenchman
to
make
show
much
a regular qualifica-
tion in the
this nature, as to
paper signed by
or anv
to
NAVAL HISTORY.
286
made, ought
to
This officer
Any
was a
ques-
there
was
sufficient
man
educated
in
clearances and registers are indispensable to legality, instead of the decision and promptitude of an officer taught
from youth to rely on the dignity and power of his govern-
which she
may
suit
We
strike
and the
NAVAL HISTORY.
vessel of
war
sees no
means
287
by merely firing a
So far from being
an act of
we concede some-
is
spirit,
it is
to affirm that
injustice in
We
in
think,
manner
that
his
in
not resisting
power.
When
he took the muster-roll from the hands of the English lieutenant, and called his people to quarters, he became master of
own
his
ship,
to leave
was a
effort
the Carnatick
open her fire, all question of blame, as respects Capt. Phillips, would have been immediately settled.
It may be much doubted if the British officer would have
had recourse
to so
to cashier
an officer
288
NAVAL HISTORY.
without
trial.
may
cer-
presence of the commander-in-chief, when disgrace in face of the army or fleet, might seem as approbut,
priate as promotion for conduct of the opposite kind
field, in
open
and the judgment of those who, by their experience, may be supposed to be the most competent to decide
on his conduct. The profession of an officer is the business
of a life, and the utmost care of his interests and character,
tigation,
is
his destinies, in
civil
who
capacity.
learn the danger of precipitation and misconception in such
matters, the reason given by the secretary for the dismissal
of Capt. Phillips being contradicted by the facts, as they are
now
to the
the facts
to be
much more
in his
favour than
it
relieve his
name from
previously rested.
judgment,
were
it is
now
tended materially to
Although many
still
which
it
had
think he erred in
the results of a
the
NAVAL HISTORY.
289
may
set
also
add
down
to the
it
was
indiscreet in
its
same catalogue of
if we
we may
manner; and
errors,
Montezuma
20, Capt.
Murray, Norfolk
to
reconnoitre
in
and getting
diately hauled up towards the three strangers,
near enough for signals, she made her own number, with a
view
to ascertain if they
that he
to
when
Vol. I.25
NAVAL HISTORY.
290
Retaliation
to
be
tiie
Volontaire 36,
and the Insurgente 32, the former carrying 44, and the latMr. Bainbridge was put on board the Volatter 40 guns.
lontaire, while the Insurgente, perceiving that the
schooner
was
Montezuma and
of the
could be thrown
her consort.
sail to join
interesting,
ingly
Norfolk.
As soon
the
crew
crowded
as a prize
two American
vessels being
fully
and
resolution.
commander an
officer of great
vessels
were small
gates.
The
and
on the fore-
the Insurgente
this time, a
who was
senior to the
commander
been
have been as
fully able to
would have
Volon-
come
NAVAL HISTORY.
291
to Capt.
force,
and
to feel certain
of capturing both.
the
The
signal
escaped.
this artifice,
dis-
pleasure.
It is
that a proposition
was made
went with
their prize,
command, or himself, by possessing a monopoly of the American trade for a time, was to send the
Retaliation back to America as a cartel; for, now that the
his particular
United States had taken so bold a stand, the French government appeared even less anxious than our own, to
break out into open war. On the arrival of Mr. Bainbridge
in this country, his
presence of mind.
NAVAL HISTORY.
2t>2
The
efforts of the
The United
commencement
of 1799,
fectly organized,
it is
is
requisite to
marine.
make an
active,
an
efficient
and a glorious
NAVAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER
293
XVI.
The
laid
ments of the
to
United States
vessels, viz
NAVAL HISTORY.
294
To
these must be
vessels,
though
most of
this description
to
little
instructed to
them continued
to
sels, if
men
The United
as a thirty-two,
having a main-deck
large vessel of her
was a
she
the
ship.
Indeed,
it
may
NAVAL HISTORY.
It
ger.
in the rule of
colonies
295
among
in different
known still to
probable that some con-
and
it
is
may have
fusion
smaller vessels
rates,
the senior
windward, running as
far
named,
viz:
Com. Barry.
United States
44,
Constitution
George Washington
Merrimack
Portsmouth
Herald
18,
14, Lieut.
Pickering
Eagle
14,
Scammel
14,
12,
Diligence
This force was
Com.
"
'
"
Preble.
Campbell.
Adams.
Brown.
may
NAVAL HISTORY.
296
ward
as Porto Rico.
It
Baltimore
consisted of the
Com. Truxtun.
Constellation 38,
Richmond
Norfolk
18,
18,
"
14,
Virginia
Williams.
"
Bright.
The Baltimore
Ganges
Pinckney
South Carolina
12,
The Ganges
took
Hayward.
18,
le
"
Vengeur
Payne.
Rabateuse, I'Eugene,
6, la
and I'Esperance 8.
The Delaware 20, Capt. Decatur, with the revenue vessels Governor Jay 14, and General Greene 10, was directed
to cruise in the vicinity of the Havana, to protect the trade
on the coast of Cuba. The Delaware captured the Marsuin
10,
le
The Mon-
tezuma 20, Capt. Murray, after the capture of the Retaliation, and the return of the Norfolk 18, to America, cruised
some time
NAVAL HISTORY.
297
this disposition
of
mer of
measure, remedied
were not
this defect,
as material as might
hended.
On
Com. Trux-
The
ward
at the
he seemed
hoisted the
to think
fired a
gun
to
for
he
windward, by
way
war
an American vessel of
an enemy, of a force likely to render a combat certain, and the officers and men of the Conto get
along side of
eagerness to engage.
On
fire,
Constellation
298
NAVAL HISTORY.
and rigging, and while under the heaviest of the fire of her
antagonist, the fore-top-mast was badly wounded, quite near
the lower cap. The fore-top was commanded by Mr. David
Porter, a midshipman of great promise, and finding that his
communicate
hails to
lowering the yard. By thus relieving the spar of the pressure of the sail, he prevented the fall of the top-mast and all
its hamper.
In the mean time the weight and effect of the
fire
were altogether
in
which decided
the
combat.
After maintaining a
gun
to
when
rake her,
The
the
enemy
struck.
in killed
the latter.
The
sustained a loss of
aloft,
in
her
The
men was
409.
She was a
ship a
little
NAVAL HISTORY.
299
at
America, and
tion in
it
Without pausing
pride.
claimed
it
to
examine
aptitude
national
details, the
country
and the new ma-
any
in the
full
enemy,
gallant
his ship as
come by
tun,
and
to
It is
due
to
who defended
a superior force;
to those
under
and
his
it
is
due
also
command,
to
to
contest
stance,
we
pose.
which a
we
conflict with
* See note
B, end of volume.
an unknown an-
300
NAVAL HISTORY.
The Insurgente struck about half past three in the afternoon, and Mr. Rodgers,* the first lieutenant of the Constellation, together with Mr. Porter,f and eleven men, were
thrown on board
It
and
to superin-
now began
to
blow,
to defer the
The wind
continued to
The
rise,
was
vessel
still
good a second,
could desire.
in
As soon
as
it
was ascertained
soners could not be got out of the ship that night, they were
all sent into the lower hold, the fire-arms were secured,
awkward
situation,
his
In
this
party continued
were constantly on the look-out for an opportuAt the end of that time, they carre-take the ship.
the latter
nity to
Com. Porter.
NAVAL HISTORY.
301
Mr. Rodgers and Mr. Cowper, the first and second lieuwere soon after promoted to be
established, but
it
government ap-
was
the
it
still
gers
was appointed
to the
One
to the
Maryland
Cowper
Baltimore 20.
of the effects of the victory of the Constellation
still
more
was
to
mand
zuma
was given to Capt. Murray, late of the Monteand she was permitted to cruise with a roving
commission.
of her
20,
In the
to
mean
extend
itself,
and
it
began
government appeared
to cast
its
convoy
VoL. I. 26
NAVAL HISTORY.
302
to port, for
repairs,
but Capt.
The
vernment having
and pledges having been given that new ministers
would be received with more respect than had been shown
better disposed that of
tiate,
to the
last
sent,
Rhode
Island,
on the
old ones as
were found
The
defective.
appropriation for
the following
*
is
list
similar accident
first cruise,
when
After
in
her
ship
g'ot into
rolling nearly
at the call,
the officers, this delicate undertaking was accomplished with success, and
the ship's masts were saved. It ought to be remembered that few of the
masts in this war were made, but that they were mostly single sticks.
NAVAL HISTORV.
employed
in the
Indies, viz:
United States
303
West
304
NAVAL HISTORY.
Notwithstanding
this exhibition
were
to be
by the
found
islands,
in the
and the
American
still
cruisers,
principally privateers.
Guadaloupe, in particular, was distinguished for the number of captures made by its vessels;
On
the heaviest
Com.
Guadaloupe, alone,
supposed the ship in sight to be a large English merchantman, from Martinico, of which he had some knowledge,
and, unwilling to .be drawn to leeward of his cruising
ground, he hoisted English colours, b}-^ way of inducing her
to run down and speak him.
This invitation being disre-
when
the
Con-
distinctly
As
out to be a heavy frigate mounting 52 guns.
her metal was in all probability equal to her rate, the only
circumstance to equalize this disparity against the Constelmade
lation,
means of
transmission.
discou-
NAVAL HISTORY.
sea, the chase continued until
305
wind
By
nevertheless,
fast.
before the
It
two
was
ships
speak the enemy, when the latter opened a fire from his
In a few moments the Constella-
having drawn
chase, poured
It was a
in
nest.
when
the firing
commenced,
was maintained with vigour until near one in the
morning, the two ships, most of the lime, running free, side
by side, when the stranger hauled up, and drew out of the
combat. Orders were given on board the Constellation to
brace up in chase; but, at this moment, a report was brought
to Com. Truxtun that the main-mast was supported almost
and
past eight
it
solely
and
little
by
of stoppers impossible. At that time, as has been said already, masts were usually, in the American navy, of single
spars, when they gave way, went altogether.
of this danger. Com. Truxtun ordered the men from
the guns, to secure this all-important mast, with the
hope
sticks,
and the
Aware
But
certainty of taking her, could this object be effected.
no exertions could obviate the calamity, the mast coming
by
sheered
off.
midshipman
in
few minutes
after the
enemy had
All
the
26*
who had
was
lost.
refused
NAVAL HISTORY.
306
The
was no longer in
and her enemy was in a
Constellation
the action,
a situation to resume
far
worse condition,
windward, as soon as
the
wreck was
clear
14
Her
injuries.
masted, and
in
antagonist afterwards got into Curacoa, disa sinking condition, reporting herself to have
had 50 of her people killed, and 1 10 wounded, in an engagement with the Constellation, that had lasted five hours within
pistol-shot.
This statement
is
now known
to
be essentially
la
and
it
Vengeance, Capt.
Pitot.
The armament
now
It is
all
and who
that he
is
who was
said to have
brought
in
number, refused
to fight
307
NAVAL HISTORY.
There
is
brought la Vengeance into port, hut for the loss of the mast.
It is even said, that la Vengeance did strike her colours
three times, during the action, but findhig that the ConstelIf such an
lation continued her fire, they were re-hoisted.
event occurred,
it
it
lation was now given to Capt. Murray, who had just returned from a short cruise in the Insurgente, and that officer
went
in
her to
the
West
Indies,
aft;
many passengers, all of* whom were mustered at quarLa Vengeance was described by Mr. Howe to have suffered severely,
having received 186 round shot in her hull. The slaughter on board was
including a good
ters.
terrible.
Howe was
armament
is
very
a heavy French
on board of which carronades had been introduced.
report that she was a ship on two decks, which was current at the
may very well have arisen from the circumstance of her carrying so
many guns on her quarter-deck and forecastle; but it is probable that Com.
time,
Truxtun would have reported her as a two-decker, had such been the fact.
The number of the crew is a circumstance in which a passenger might
very well be mistaken; and it is well known the French were in the practice of over-manning, rather than of
under-manning their
ships.
NAVAL HISTORY.
308
The latter
St.
Domingo
officer
station,
pedition that
was
termined
to
in
cargo of
cofiee, to
first
one of the
frigate's cutters,
was compelled
An
in,
at night, in
want of a proper
one
was found by
fortunately
American sloop called the Sally had been
to defer the expedition, for
accident.
went
when
by a boat of the
command
to
Mr.
further delay.
tection, and she sailed at an hour that
to
sail,
NAVAL HISTORY.
309
hove
to,
He was
out also
in
only waiting
order to cut her
The
icans
to a girtline,
Before sunset she had royal yards across, her guns scaled,
her new crew quartered, and soon after she weighed, beat
out of the harbour, and joined the frigate.
No enterprise of the sort was ever executed with greater
steadiness, or discipline. Mr. Hull gained great credit by the
fulfilled
his orders,
and
it
was not
absence of
loss, in all
NAVAL HISTORY.
310
in
May
all
the
the prize
money
Chesapeake
38,
went
to sea,
under the
command
her.
latitude
to cruise
after
der was
The Pickering
the
Guadaloupe
their friends.
station,
in the case
and
it
was known
be already
These two ships swelled the
it
been
to
lost in this
manner
filled
list
little
of vessels of
war
that
Saratoga
had
16, the
NAVAL HISTORY.
311
was saved.
The nature of
to
which may be
the warfare,
principally to chases and conflicts with small fast sailing privateers, and a species of corsair that went by the local name
soon
satisfied the
government
that, to
carry on the
of which so
Two
test.
many were
each of them
fully
cruiser, that
clumsy
from the Revolution.
One of
these vessels
was
called the
not extend
did
to
ihe
capturing
la Seine 6,
la
and
11
a long distance to
strange
and hauled up for her.
made a
windward,
Night coming on, the chase was
lost
NAVAL HISTORY.
312
when
now
When
windward
last
day dawned
the
to
the stranger, a
been observed.
Both vessels
At noon
the Enter-
made
the
American
ply.
enemy
of a force at least
equal to his
sailing
uncommonly
fast, it
would be overhauled.
As soon as the French were
my
satisfied that
possible, they cleared for action, and, waiting until the Enterprise was within half a mile to leeward, they began to
destructive
when
fire,
which lasted
for a
little
The
prize
was
the
Flambeau
privateer.
She mounted 14
guns, and had more than 100 men. Her loss was very heavy,
about half her crew having been killed and wounded. The
of so small a force.
Lieut.
activity while in
NAVAL HISTORY.
command
313
American
tons,
crew
to the
Point of
way
St.
to Port-au-Prince, nine
towards the
vessels,
coming from
Go-
The
naives, with every appearance of hostile intentions.
barges were large, as usual, pulled 20 oars, and contained
40 men each. As soon as their characters were
made
out, the guns of the Boston were housed, and
properly
the ship was otherwise disguised. This stratagem succeeded
so far as to draw the barges within gunshot; but discoverfrom 30
to
ing their mistake before they got as near as could have been
them, with
Vol. I. 27
an encounter.
Both
NAVAL HISTORY.
314
when,
enenny struck.
The
French corvette
cut up, and shortly after the action, her fore and main masts
Her loss in killed and wounded was never ascer-
went.
were her
first
lieutenant, master,
force
in proportion to
the difference.
ficient to
subdue a
letter of
marque by boarding;
but, as
during
this year.
la Brilliante
NAVAL HISTORY.
a vessel whose
name
is
not
315
known;
the
Merrimack
24,
Capt. Brown, the Phenix 14, with 128 men; the Connecticut 24, Capt. Tryon, le Piege 2, with 50 men, I'Unite 1,
le Chou Chou; the Boston 28, Capt. LitFortune, I'Heureux, and an open boat; Pickering 14,
Capt. Hillar, hi Volligeuse 10, with 6 men, the Fly, and I'Active 12, with 60 men; Boston 32, in company with diflerent
Adams
50 men,
la
Decade;
and
de
la
Patrie 6, with 72
Dorade
des, la
ris,
Renommee,
the
Dove, and
le
Mas-
sena
by
6,
with 49 men.
boats, or
were bilged
in striking.
The
privateers taken
and brought into port, during the years 1798, 1799 and
To
1800, amounted in all to rather more than fifty sail.
But
of
few
must
be
these
added several letters
marque.
among
the islands.
occurred among the commanders of the different vessels, render it difficult to give
that
returning
home
captains, at
its
close.
NAVAL HISTORY.
316
like the
mand
of Lieut.
in
commencement of
was becalmed
in the
Bight of Leogane, wiih several sail of American merchantmen in company and under convoy. While the little fleet
lay in this helpless condition, a good deal scattered, ten of the
filled with negroes and mulattoes, came
The barges contained from 30 to 50 men
each, who were armed with muskets, cutlasses and pikes,
and in some of the boats were light guns and swivels. As
the Experiment was partially disguised, the enemy came
within reach of her grape before the assault was made,
when Lieut. Com. Maley ran out his guns and opened his
fire.
This was the commencement of a long conflict, in
which the barges were beaten oft'. It was not in the power
barges mentioned,
out against
it.
periment endeavoured
to follow,
The Ex-
NAVAL HISTORY.
317
shot, she
ment was fought with spirit, and handled with skill. The
absence of wind gave the enemy every advantage;
total
numbers, they
of the barges were sunk, and
and wounded was known to have been
Two
whom was
Lieut.
David Porter.
was given
to
command
of the Experiment
of the United
otiicer
fell
in with,
having soon
own
manoeuvred
and
vessel,
in
way
to
At length,
finding that the Frenchmen had given up the chase, and
that the brig was ahead (jf the schooner about a league, he
cleared for action, closed with the latter, by running up on
to
much
21*
ahead, dur-
318
NAVAL HISTORY.
his suc-
was
of a
the
first
station, the Experiment now had a comwas of a less agreeable nature. A suspicious sail had
been made in the course of the day, and chase was given
Returning to her
bat that
until dark.
the
Experiment
to
be kept
in the
but, in a
gun
Mr. Porter,
the
first
lieutenant pf the
prize, but,
to board.
As soon
as this
was known
line
of
fire,
with a view
319
NAVAL HISTORY.
recommence
to
when
the action,
he submitted.
As soon
Her
the
She was
when
every aid
known,
ment lying by her
was
all
she
wounded.
was
of
in-
a boy
wounded.
Active negotiations had commenced, and
in the
autumn
the
many
ships, that
was suspended.
In
May
for distant
Dey
of Algiers.
We
now
look
close blockade,
and a vigorous
and the Adams, John Adams, and Boston, thirty-twos, we follow the irregular rule which appears to have been laid down in the service at the
time.
a thirty-two in size,
than most of the twenty-eights of the navy, though in the official reports
she is called a twenty-four. The tonnage of this ship was 624 tons, while
that of the Boston was only 530.
sold out of service, in 1803, returned to her old employment. The prothan any
per rate of this ship would have made her nearer a twenty-eight,
thing else.
Her
last service
320
NAVAL HISTORY.
No
war.
now
appeared
to
to the country.
justice than
by motives peculiarly
example of
for that
little
ence, under
self-respect
marine, which
all
and wisdom.
It
was reserved
was
it.
it
may
suit the
tone of
diplomacy
a request was made to Capt. Bainbridge to place his ship
at the disposal of the Dey, with a sole view to the convenience and policy of that prince.
It
321
NAVAL HlSTORV.
The good
presents.
solicited in
to Constantinople.
As soon
Bainbridge sought an audience with the Dey, and having obtained one, he expressed his regret at not being able to comply wath his request, as it would be disregarding the orders
of his superiors at home. The Dey now gave his guest to understand that both he and his ship were in his power, and
his request
long and
in the
shape of a demand.
by
A
the
hundred
preferred.
When the ship
this claim,
he affirmed that
it
was
a compli-
was beyond
the reach
322
\AVAL HISTORY.
own
ensign as usual.
France was
at
also at
war with
officers
and
life
liberty,
spirit,
ought
by a
refusal to
whether
comply with
the
demand of
the
Dey, or
our
Algiers
pay
his
own
in
time.
But Capt. Bainbridge was not before
an age when America was as ready as she is to-
tions
are to be maintained at
all.
He
which na-
their blood
NAVAL HISTORY.
323
ployed
in
law of
his country,
sumption indeed,
to
and
it
violent pre-
first
the
money
government.*
It is understood that Capt.
Baiiibridge was much influenced by the advice and opinions of Mr. O'Brien, the consul.
taken by Algiers
probably
is
ready
saw
little
to sacrifice
immediate interest
in perspective a piratical
to future
warfare, and
good, and
captivities like
his
little
is
the
This
is
is
the desire to
who
It has been
conjectured that Capt. Bainbridg-e consented to go to
Constantinople, with the view to show the American flag- to the Ottoman
Porte, and to open the way for a treaty, and a trade in the Black Sea; but
we know
It oug-ht to
be
added, moreover, that the ships of the greatest powers of Europe, often
performed offices like that required of Capt. Bainbridg'e, for the Dey,
fact.
NAVAL HISTORY.
324
polity,
and were
it
not redeemed
mankind.
had
been
educated
a
Mr. O'Brien, too,
as
ship-master, and
probably reasoned more like the agent of a commercial
wanted none of
That neither he nor
detecting the necessity of submission, would have anticipated the final demand, and averted the more disagreeable
features of compulsion, by apparently conceding that to solicitation,
When
which was
finally yielded to
menace.
the resistance
many
those
litical
who
way
of principle,
at her
mercy
the Geo.
Wash-
lie
by conquest.
It
was
when
NAVAL HISTORY.
325
He
at the
had no firman,
his
coun-
some
manner
in
to
the defences,
When
when
beyond
their reach.
his leave.
that his
officer, to
flag she
The
Vol. I. 28
NAVAL HISTORY.
326
The
explicit answer.
officer
and
to request
was now
sent
some more
which
to
it is
it
landed
to be indignant at his
ballast,
in lighters,
when
the light-
ermen
to
The
to
that
to
of old guns.
Capt. Bainbridge soon after had an audience with the
Dey, when the latter got into such a rage as to threaten
NAVAL HISTORY.
of protection.
now
327
presented, and
it
im-
mediately changed
From that
expressions of friendship and offers of service.
moment the tone of the Dey was altered and the man,
;
whom
was
many
One of
To
cut
which
still
existed between
No other
at Alicant, and
where
the
conduct
of
her commanhome,
der, throughout these novel and trying circumstances, met
with the fullest approbation of the government, and he was
in Algiers.
immediately transferred
to a
much
Essex
32.
While these events were taking place in the Mediterranean, the negotiations for peace with France had been going on at Paris, and a treaty to that effect was ratified by
the Senate on the 3d of February, 1801.
328
NAVAL HISTORY.
was
vi'ith
sent to the
on both
West
sides, the
Herald
in
commenced
istence.
their
careers as
now
in service
midshipmen during
having
its
ex-
329
NAVAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER
XVII.
In a
peculiar to
itself.
be found
and
in the
want of establishments
perience evils of
this
commands the
expenditures made
best
in
The commencement
who were
usually
known by
28*
the
name
of the repub-
330
NAVAL HISTORY.
Adams
at their head,
One
was an undue
votes.
to de-
ceive the ignorant, by pretending to a nakedness of legislation and an absence of precautionary measures, which, while
danger.
In this controversy, as is commonly the case', both parties maintained
principles that were false, and insisted on
measures, which,
The
impolitic.
ought
pay
to
if
be taxed,
if it
the
demands of
attend to
its
own
The
wants.
first
to the
young
who
by
his
erase as
many
is
little
NAVAL HISTORY.
officer,
331
enlarged and liberal policy, as most of the vessels not excepted had been bought
into,
to the ser-
more
French, were
The law
fast
mode of
guns and
construction.
sold to be preserved, a
provision that proved singularly unin
the
as
the carronade now began to superend,
profitable
sede the small long gun, in naval warfare, and two of the
sloops would probably have supplied all the nines and sixes
that have been used in the
navy for the last five and thirty
years.
limitation
it
The whole
law was
this
ranks of
in the
officers.
were confined
commandant being
fifty
fit
to
all
stress
on others
it,
at
NAVAL HISTORY.
332
its
authority
under the
statute,
gard
to liberality.
predecessor
in
must follow
it
falls
when they
in the footsteps
of his
the nation, though the party that went out of power did not
appear to recognise (he wholesome but unanswerable truth,
that, in
all
administrations must be
mode
right, in their
form professional
men
fit
to
command
This part of
them.
his
good
delegated
faith,
ap-
We
and
as a subject of
the names
we add
of
all
American name.
Although some meritorious
officers
is
were necessarilv
dis-
NAVAL HISTORY.
was
ner in which
also
some
the hurried
man-
the
333
who were
unfitted for
irregularity in the
mode
its
many
persons into
duties.
There was
of reduction, the
name
by
few more
ascertain
officers
if all
those
who were
first
serve.
In the case of Capt. M'Niell, he was on foreign service at the time the reduction was made.
The law
named
24,
NAVAL HISTORY.
335
were
service
the best
thirty-four in
were
retained.
No
was
sold,
and
this ship
had
perhaps four-
and most men counted one gun as another, without reference to its weight, or its disposition in the vessel. The most
impolitic of the measures of the government, and it, was one
of which it soon had reason to repent, was the law suspend-
ing the construction of the six ships, to carry not less than
seventy-four guns each, authorized by the act of 1798.*
The
important measures in the formation of a serviceable marine, meeting with all the ridicule that ignorance and hostieven from those who professed to be the
lity could invent,
strongest friends of the navy. Profiting by the most vulgar
association that a want of knowledge could connect with the
word "dry,"
the changes
on
common
The
were
to
NAVAL HISTORY.
336
of ships. Thus did the gallant little service, which alreadymerited so much from the nation, and which is so inseparably connected with all the great considerations of national
character, national rights, and even of national existence,
find itself compelled to struggle
nominal friends,
its
through
infancy, equally
who were
horse
by
its
in their
way
all
to
it
saw a
flattering perspective
it,
who
felt
had
that they
profession for
This period
fairly
embarked
in
an honourable
life.
may
1783, the service had been entirely disbanded, and even the
readiness to resist the aggressions of another of those semipirates who then infested the Mediterranean.
France, agreeably
sels
of
to the conditions of
war captured on
either side
lost,
were
this
stipulation
became
NAVAL HISTORy.
337
impracticable
Vengeance,
were returned
to the
French.
into the
was retaken,
and the remaining sixty-eight were condemned and sold.
The loss of American shipping in this war was consideracquitted as illegal captures, one,
able
tilities
le
were taken,
Croyable,
in
this
been previously seized. No vessel of war but the Retaliahands of the French, under any circum-
stances.
On
on this important
branch of national policy, ^and it is believed they were
neither as liberal, nor as far-sighted, as comported with
his views in general, though they were far from merit-
who rendered
who continued for
gentleman
service,
serve
left
its
all
who
who
has
though scarcely a merchantman sailed without an armament, and a crew at least double that she would have carVoL.
29
NAVAL HISTORY.
338
were
civilized world,
was
as actively
employed as
at
any pre-
vious or subsequent period of its teeming history. Notwithstanding these circumstances, the American government,
while it suffered many inconveniences from the shortness of
the enlistments, found no difficulty in obtaining men during
although a number but little short often thou-
this struggle,
was
number of seamen.
The enemy was very active, a fact that is proved by the
circumstance that more French privateers were taken and
half what
it is
to-day, as
and of
in
country amounted to a
little
1798,
in
the
same
three
years,
;
was
as follows:
1800, $9,080,932.
NAVAL HISTORY.
339
marque and
are
full
the boastful representations of most similar ex parte statements, it is known that some are essentially true. Among
to
be
most
critical
moment by a young man of Philadelphia, unwe regret to add, was lost at sea, in the suc-
full
of
men
was
NAVAL HISTORY.
340
cepted, there
was
was
enemy
He knew
if
the latter
delphia, the port that then furnished the readiest, the best,
and many of the brav^est mariners that sailed out of Amer-
ica.
the enemy.
was swept of
fire
and were
was poured
in time to
in,
meet
the bowsprit
raking
boarders, the privateer tacked and hauled
and
the
was
off,
brig
permitted to proceed without further
The Louisa entered the roads of Gibraltar in
molestation.
its
b}^
thou-
NAVAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER
341
XVIII.
of the narrow limits to which the policy of the day had rethis important branch of the public service, but,
duced
from
no
officer has
in
or of a disposition
to
The
security
which
this state
permanent
hand, and fostering policy on the other, have not been the
work of a day, however, but are the consequences of a long
train of historical events, that
it
record.
It
342
NAVAL HISTORY.
France, and
pursuing the regular chain of events connected with our subject, we are next to turn our eyes towards the Mediterranean and to the coast of Africa, as
in
their scene.
As early
malli,
as in 1800, the
his
Bashaw of Tripoli,
Jussuf Cara-
now
sat
on
manner
to Algiers, the
was
in
that
regency
do
rally
known.
He
"we
could wish that these your expressions were followed by deeds, and not by empty words. You will therefore endeavour to satisfy us by a good manner of proceeding." "But if only flattering words are meant, without
We
NAVAL HISTORY.
343
money, and
if it
Bashaw informed
the
American consul
at Tripoli, that he
would wait
six
flag-staff of the
14th of
May,
Ameri-
1801, and
While Tripoli went so directly to work, difficulties existed with the other states of Barbary. Algiers complained
that the tribute was in arrears, and Tunis found fault with
the quality of various articles that had been sent to her, by
way of bribing her not to seize American vessels. Certain
Morocco was
also dis-
States,
and
dis-
much
flushed with
too proud of
its
Before
it
was known
that Tripoli
to
be
differ-
head of
we have had
President 44.
who now
NAVAL HISTORY.
344
The
proceed
to Gibraltar,
the
among
things
instructions given to
governed by circumstances.
war, he was to act against
Had
either
power declared
and
in the
he was
it,
to
home
in
have commenced
authority as to
to leave the
it
latest,
October.
Mediterranean on the
1st of
December,
at the
the winter.
Soon
voused
tination.
were received,
On
name
the
two
shaped
latter,
their course
and Enterprise
ordered.
The
on duty.
NAVAL HISTORY.
The appearance of a
345
weight
in
preserving the peace, than if the George Washvessel was soon expected, had come in with
ington, which
the tribute.
On
Com.
En-
Sterrett,
fell
in
her
fire
some
further though fruitless resistance, the Turkish captain appeared in the waist of his ship, and threw his ensign
into the sea,
bending
his
for quarter
by
signs,
her enemy repeatedly, and the consequences were dreadfully apparent in the result, 50 of the corsair's people
having been kUled and wounded in the battle. The ship
herself
On
shot away.
little
injury
NAVAL HISTORY.
346
even
aloft,
materially
The
in
man
hurt.
hull.
in,
him
to
sion,
sail,
to reach port.
even
When
in.
his
placed on a Jack Ass, paraded through the streets, and received the bastinado. The effect of this punishment appears
to have been different from what was expected, for it is
among the sailors became so great, in conit was found difficult to obtain men for the
corsairs that were then fitting for sea. One thing is certain,
that, though this war lasted three years, and in the end became both spirited and active, very few Tripolitan cruisers
said the panic
sequence, that
its
from the
to
land.
Enterprise and the Tripoli, after relating the facts, the pre" Unauthorized
sident adds
by the constitution without the
was
liberated with
consider, whether,
it
will place
its
crew.
The
also,
its
adversaries."
It
this
was carrying
the doctrine
347
NAVAL HISTORY.
of
construction to extremes.
literal
While,
nature
in the
of things,
it
different countries,
of a state of peace,
from those of a
it is
opposed
to
state of
warfare
to those
to
say
it is
The power
to
commence
hostili-
ties,
as
to states,
it
ed with
first,
war; and
as
it is
the latter, as
it
the authority
not be guilty of treason, because congress had not yet declared war, though the enemy had and it is equally fallacious to maintain that one nation can carry on war, clothed
;
with
all
the
powers of a
belligerent, without,
enemy with
the
same
by the very
The
provision
of the constitution which places the authority to declare
war in congress, can only allude to the exercise of the afrights.
is
known
to the
all
The
equally opposed to common sense and justice.
error of this opinion was in supposing that, by curtailing
and dividing the powers of their servants, the people of the
that
is
What
\AVAL HISTORY.
348
still more
singular, is
established a blockade, and ac-
were entering
Tripoli, as will
be presently seen.
The President appeared off Tripoli on the 24th of August,
when an ineflectual attempt was made to establish a truce.
down
the coast
in
and
some
in
Malta, in order to water his ship. As soon as this necessary duty was performed, the President returned to Tripoli,
this vessel
was an
officer
and 20 Tripolitan
ship
On
soldiers,
by means of
change.
Nissen, the
lucky capture,
to establish a
system of ex-
benevolence, philanthropy and probity, has beindissolubly connected with the history of the Ameri-
means of
come
this
The
his
can marine.
It was soon discovered that the Bashaw cared very little
about his subjects, as he declared that he would not exchange one x^merican for all the soldiers. There was a
little
with
altogether, as non-combatants,
three
Americans
and consenting
to
take the
NAVAL HISTORY.
349
Finding it necessary to go down to Gibraltar, the commodore now left Tripoli, and proceeded direct to the former place. He was soon succeeded by the Essex, which
also
mean
two Tripolitan cruisers at Gibraltar, on its being ascertained that it was impossible for them
to get out while they were so closely watched, were disIn the
time, the
Teutan
in
to
boats,
men enough
find
their
way home by
land; just
and to
being
occur
to
should
an
opportunity
get to sea.
navigate them,
of
the
as
an innoThe Bashaw complained loudly
blockade,
mode
of
vation on the received
warfare, and the governleft
two
view to aid
was denied.
manner described, from one
While passing,
in the
port to
pilot,
The
the harbour.
the time,
tion
was
ship
had
five
or six knots
impression
It
was a
was very
way on
her, at
mofirst
go
down.
his
orders with
The ship stood through the narand having got room, she was brought to the
row
outlet,
NAVAL HISTORY.
350
On sounding
ed.
quantity of water
were against
heavy weather
set in,
and that
ed
in
safety,
when
the ship
was
stripped, lightened,
hove
As soon
as
its
as
a view
was obtained
been fastened into one made by the junction of the apronpiece and the stem, so that when the piece was wrenched
off,
the
officers,
who
tight.
The French
skill
then novel, and they were so much pleased with the model
of the frigate generally, that they took accurate measurements of all her lines.*
workman
stood erect.
It
NAVAL HISTORY.
351
was ordered
to take place
on the
1st
of December, at the
latest, but discretionary powers appear to have been subsequently given to him, as he left the Philadelphia and Essex
behind him, and proceeded home with his own ship and the
The practice of entering men for only a twelveprevailed, and it was often imperative on vessels
to quit stations at the most unfortunate moments. The Philadelphia was left to watch the Tripolitans, making Syracuse
Enterprise.
month
still
two
vessels at Gibraltar,
to terms,
in raising the
At
of the service.
was soon
lists
of those
who would
be likely to
and had
sufficient
room
and
his tools,
it is
evident that he
staging',
352
NAVAL HISTORY.
on improving,
was
until the
353
NAVAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER
Early
viated
which
in the
XIX.
and
any
tion of
war, while
it
provided for
all
the contingencies of
it
may
act of the
enemy was
it
was supposed
the
sufficient to
by enabling crews
two years.
As the President and Enterprise had returned home, and
the time of service of the people of the two ships that were
left in the Mediterranean was nearly up, preparations were
to be shipped for
now made
following ships
were commissioned,
Murray; New-York
36, Capt.
For
this
service the
Rodgers; Adams 28, Capt. Campbell; and EnterCom. Truxtun was selected
prise 12, Lieut. Com. Sterrett.
to command this squadron, and he had proceeded to Nor28, Capt.
when
30*
NAVAL HISTORV.
354
to
was induced
to resign.*
in the Chesapeake.
shortly after he hoisted his broad pennant
Thomas Truxtun, who will appear no more in our pag'es, was born on
Long' Island, New-York, February the 17th, 1755, and went early to sea.
At the commencement of the Revolution, he entered on board a heavily
*
privateer, in the capacity of a lieutenant, and was frequently enthe enemy's letters of marque and privateers. In 1777, he
with
gag-ed
commanded a private cruiser, called tlie Independence, with success, and
armed
shortly after, he
was transferred
ter of
loss.
Capt. Truxtun
in 1794,
he was com-
missioned
in
he went to sea, in the war against France, and in 1799, he captured rinsurgente 36.
The following year, he had the well-known and
bloody combat with la Vengeance and soon after, he was transferred to
the President 44.
In this vessel. Com. Truxtun made cruises in the
this ship
under
his orders;
discretion.
He was
longs the credit of having fought the first battle under tlie present organization of the navy, in which he acquitted himself skilfully and with suc-
the
hi.^
department, however, was opposed to this idea, and he consequently retired to private
life.
filled
one or two
civil offices.
He
355
NAVAL HISTORY.
The
vessels fitting for the Mediterranean being in difand there existing a necessity
Chesapeake did not get out until April, and the Adams followed her in June. The two other ships were detained until
September. There was, however, one other vessel at sea,
all this
time, to
which
it
will be
allusion.
Shortly after his accession to oflice, in 1801, Mr. Jeflferson appointed Mr. Robert R. Livington minister to France,
and the Boston 28, Capt. M'Niell, was directed to carry the
new envoy
to join the
squadron in the
Mediterranean, for service in that sea. The departure of
the Boston was so timed as to bring her on the station under both commands, that of Com. Dale, and that of Com.
This cruise has become memorable
Morris.
in the service,
officer in
command
larly
and the utmost coolness, under circumstances particutrying, Capt. M'lNiell landed his passengers, and pro-
ceeded
to
the Mediterranean.
home, and was put out of commission, her commander quitThe Essex and
ting the service under the reduction law.*
Philadelphia also returned home, as soon as relieved.
*
The
vice.
While
regiments quartered
at Messina,
ship,
and he
NAVAL HISTORY.
356
We
movements of
the dif-
the
American trade
As
more or
less
into use,
of them
it is
true,
and most
brought the musicians to America, it is said, without their consent. A pormen were on their way back in the Chesapeake, in 1807,
when that ship was attacked by the Leopard. On another occasion, he is
tion of these
own
officers
on shore,
and carrying off three French officers who had been dining on board,
with a view to keep up his complement! The latter were carried across
to the African coast, and put in a fishing vessel; but many months elapsed
all his own officers could rejoin their ship.
Capt. M'Niell sub-
before
who commanded
common
report.
we
Neither his
357
NAVAL HISTORY.
ticularly unfitted for
it is
difficult
was
also
had yet been launched to supply the defect. The government, however, had become aware of the great importance
of lisht cruisers, and several were laid down in the summer
of
this
As has been seen, the Enterprise 12, Lieut. Com. Sterrett, was the first vessel of the new squadron that reached
the Mediterranean. She was soon followed by the ConstelMurray, which ship arrived off Tripoli early
in May, where she found the Boston 28, Capt. M'Niell,
blockading the port. The latter ship, in a few days, quitted
lation 38, Capt.
Constellation
M-as lying three or four leagues from the town, when the
look-out aloft reported several small vessels to the west-
ward, stealing along shore. The wind was quite light, and
the Swedish frigate, at the moment, was a long distance outSail was got on the Constellation, and towards noon
side.
the strangers
gun-boats, which, as
it
to be
seventeen Tripolitan
was afterwards
ascertained, had
which had
failed to appear.
all,
or a
NAVAL HISTORY.
358
The
were divided
latter
windward, effected
its
The
escape.
into
two
by pulling directly
division in the rear,
led,
mainder.
fire in
and
to pull
above them,
sand-hills
imprudent
to
prevent a landing.
Deeming
it
and
it
had the
effect of
rendering the
The gun-boats
was never ascermaterially, and it was
The
der their
ship, also,
fire
on
very serious.
this
The
occasion, but
batteries
all
their shot
fell
short.
to
quit
359
NAVAL HISTORY.
Tripoli
was again
left
without any
it.
was
Capt. Bainbridge,
repairs,
28, Capt. Campbell, late in July, however, placed the flagship at liberty, and she sailed with a convoy to various ports
bility
and
make
with those
the
to
who
seem
to
for,
by circumstances.
The
At Leghorn
of October.
was
the Constellation
met, which
while the
Constellation
boat of the Enterprise going off to the schooner, carrying- sail in a way
was thought dangerous. At that moment, the gentlemen were sum-
that
moned
to their supper,
overboard.
man,
and while
in fact,
at table, an alarm
to the
NAVAL HISTORY.
360
Orders were
now
ceeded with
his
own
ship.
in
Here,
the
course of the
to
to
run
down
to Tunis,
where
it
was
at Gibraltar
to
appear
off the
when
enemy's
he was got in, nearly exhausted. All he could utter was " Sterrett's boat."
This recalled the boat that had been seen, and three cutters immediately
left the ship, to
regretted Caldwell.
object was almost hopeless.
The
and Mr. Jones picked up a man, outside tlie ship. Mr. Caldwell, after a
long pull, found no one. Mr, Stewart went a mile to leeward, and found a
and
sea,
last
may
appear.
NAVAL HISTORY.
361
port,
home by
The squadron was now reduced
the
navy de-
partment.
to
the
York
36,
Enterprise
Adams
the
12.
Act.
the
28,
Capt.
New
was immediately
filled
with smoke.
It
was an
appall-
ing moment, for every man on board was aware that a quantity of powder, not far from the magazine, must have exploded, that fire was necessarily scattered in the passages,
that the ship was in flames, and that, in all human probaAct. Capt. Chauncey
bility, the magazine was in danger.
was passing
the
drummer when
to beat to quarters.
not been given a minute, when the men were going steadily
to their guns, and other stations, under a standing regulation, which directed this measure in the event of a cry
of
fire,
as the
most certain means of giving the officers enof the ship, and of preventing confusion.
tire
command
The
influence of discipline
occasion;
for,
man
while there
was
is
Vol. I. 31
NAVAL HISTORY.
3G2
to
execute
it,
sprit-sail-
magazine.
Some even
swam
for
was
made
to extinguish the
nothing of all
on board, but their names. Mr. David Porter, the first
lieutenant, who meets us in so many scenes of trial and
left
got
in
plied,
from the spars forward, water was abundantly supand the ship was saved.
This accident
is
in
conse-
room
that led
NAVAL HISTORY.
and nearly
Nineteen
all
363
officers
The
four-
died.
have behaved
sentinel
well.
at the
The order
to hoist
but
we have
recorded the
to the
to or-
The
May, however,
the
with orders
reached her
to
station, she
made
On
the
Shortly after
sail in
3d of
the offing,
ship
which
to get
home
About the
close
in sight,
* It is
a tradition
that,
"a
when
fire
signal for "a mutiny on board," was shown. Capt. Rodgers of the
John Adams, observing an alarm in the New York, and smoke issuing
from her ports, beat to quarters, and ranged up under the stern of the
commodore, with his guns trained, in readiness to fire. The threatened
consummation to a calamity that was already sufficiently grave, was prevented by explanations.
and a
NAVAL HISTORY.
364
in the
New
pany.
As
vessels,
York, with the Adams and Enterprise in comflag-ship neared the coast, several small
the
covered close
in
were
dis-
way
boats,
Chase was immediately given, and finding themselves cut oft^ from the harbour, the merchant vessels, eleven in all, took refuge in Old Tripoli, while the gun
towards the
boats,
port.
by means of
their sweeps,
were enabled
town
No
itself.
to pull
under
man
the breast-works.
lieutenant of the flag-ship, volunteered to go in that night, with the boats of the squadron, and
destroy the enemy's craft; but, unwilling to expose his people under so
first
much
uncertaint}', the
commodore decided
to
all his
force.
in
alone and
fire
from the
was very
fire,
which
NAVAL HISTORY.
party landed, set
fire
to the feluccas,
365
and regaining
their
boats, opened to the right and left, to allow the shot of the
The enemy now appeared as
ships to complete the work.
desperately bent on preserving their vessels, as their assailants, a few minutes before, had been bent on destroying
on
all
engaged.
the
close.
Americans,
The
and
their
The
parties
were
Mr. Porter,
musket ball through the
Lawrence was
particularly distinguished, as
The harbour
my.
may
be a
little
more.
On
its
western
much
less perceptibly,
31*
NAVAL HISTORY.
S66
oft'
is
in a northeast
direction a
water for
tected from
galleys,
It is
this
scarcely necessary
mole, in which there
any winds.
sufficiently prois
small,
crowd-
ed, and walled, stretches along the shore of this port, for less
than a mile, then retires inland about a thousand feet, and
following the general direction of the wall along the harbour, it strikes the sea again at the distance of about a
coast.
Of
course,
the
town
The
open
and
rocks
lie
in
shore, however,
rocky, though low,
sight
On one of these rocks,
at some distance from the beach.
extends
the
latter
distance
along
the
sea.
is
sea, a
batteries,
tificial
one of which
mole
is
is
in
two
tiers; at the
end of the
ar-
tween the two being about a quarter of a mile. The advanced peninsula, which forms what we have termed the natural
mole,
selves
pistol
surrounded by broken rocks, which show themabove the water, but which suddenly cease within
shot of its batteries.
At a distance of a few hundred
is
feet,
oft'in
however, the
NAVAL HISTORY.
367
gether
to-
make
little
much advanced as ihe western. The main entrance is between the end of the rocks and the shoals towards fort
English, the water being deep, and the passage near half a
mile wide.
Thus a
about south-west
raking
fire
batteries,
vessel
in entering,
from the
castle,
and a cross
fire
from
fort English.
There
is,
how-
may
head, they open those of the castle and of the town also.
In addition to the fixed batteries of the
place, were the gun
boats and galleys.
class, latine-rigged,
as
ofilcers,
11|^
zers
aft.
pounds.
commonly
artificial
fine pieces,
When
mole, where they answered the purpose of addicommand the entrance. By this dispo-
tional batteries to
'
NAVAL HISTORY.
368
sition of his
means of defence,
the
Bashaw
could, at
all
times,
open a fire of heavy guns afloat, on any vessel that ventured close in, in addition to that of his regular works.
light
cruisers
moored
in
the
upper part of the harbour, that could be of little use except as against attacks within the rocks, and two galleys.
On emergencies, the smaller vessels could take shelter behind the rocks, where they were nearly protected from fire.
At the time of which we are writing, the gun boats were
stationed well out, near the rocks
man-
in a
New
to
the
the
In consequence of these unforeseen circumstances, the attack proved a failure, in one sense, though the boats soon
To
good.
NAVAL HISTORY.
369
the latter place, Com. Morris received intelligence concerning the movements of the Algerine and Tunisian corsairs,
that induced
him
to
to raise the
Capt. Rodgers
him, as soon as circumstances would permit, at Malta,
After the departure of the flag ship, the John Adams 28,
Capt. Rodgers, and the Adams 28, Capt. Campbell, composed the force left before the enemy's port. The speedy
by
Lieut.
Com.
ments
in the
Hull,
Some movesquadron.
harbour, on the evening of the 21st of June, in-
added that
rett,
it
was intended
With a view
Adams was
to defeat
Adams
re-
On
the following morning, about 7 o'clock, the Enterprise was seen to the southward and eastward, with a
At that moment, the John Adsignal flying of an enemy.
ams
w-as a
before
the
Rodgers now found that a large ship belonging to the Bashaw, had run into a deep narrow bay, about seven leagues
to the eastward of Trij)oli, where she had taken a very favourable position for defence, and anchored wuth springs on
The
ship
was known
remain-
was very
full
of
men.
Capt. Rodgers
owed
now
offered to
NAVAL HISTORY.
370
prevent his
enemy from
getting
into port.
The
both
dispositions of Capt.
minutes,
when
shore.
tention of the
enemy on
But a boat
re-
The
explosion
Tripolitan
air, to
all
the
were
it
Adams was
enemy
repeatedly,
NAVAL HISTORY.
the corsair
also supposed to
is
first
371
abandoned
loss
her.
division of
gun
seaward of tliem,
Knowing
the
to
render the
fire
latter
were enabled
to escape.
to the orders of
that officer,
when
the straits with a convoy; the Adams to Tunis and Gibraltar, and the Enterprise back to Malta, in quest of des-
patches.
after, the
at
Adams, was
trans-
in
an-
command.
In
NAVAL HISTORY.
372
little
power
was
precipitate
is
and wrong.
The
be exercised only on important occasions, and for the pubgood; and it has been much questioned, whether the
lic
power
itself is
who
does not do
men.
The
his duty,
why no military
of
his commission, except in
man should ever be deprived
very extraordinary instances, unless by a solemn trial and a
formal finding of a court. His profession is the business of
a
life;
his
conduct
is
by
greater disgrace
is
apt to attach
There was
as to supersede even the necessity of trial.
with
have
the gomotive
that
to
another
weighed
ought
vernment, before it resorted to the use of so high a power.
on general principles,
benefit
the
a
to
the
of
had perfect right
exception, and was
picion, as to motives, the accused,
NAVAL HISTORY.
entitled to
was
demand
finally
all
373
condemned.
has,
sided in
its
councils, the
men who
power,
in
sensibilities
of military pride.
to
of the consequences
habits of
on the fortunes
educated,
be traced in the manner in which the executive au-
civilians,
is
One
ately heard
The death
of
Com. Barry,*
the
resignation's
of
Com.
*
John Barry was a native of the count)' of Wexford, Ireland, where
he was born in 1745, He came to America a youth, having adopted the
of a seaman as a profession.
Circumstances early brought him into
and he was one of the first officers appointed to a command in the
navy of the united colonies. He is also supposed to have been the first
life
notice,
regular officer
who
Edward
In 1777, he performed a
handsome exploit
in the
In 1778, he
made
sey.
a superior force,
Raleigh 32, losing his ship, but saving most of his crew. In 1781,
in the Alliance 32, he took the Atalanta and Trepassy, after a bloody
combat, in which he was severely wounded. In 1782, he fought a close
in the
Vol. I. 32
NAVAL HISTORY.
374
Dale,*
under the present g-overnment in 1794, Capt. Barry was named the
officer, in which station he died.
scnioi*
Com. Barry,
as an officer
Sept. 18th, 1803, in the city of Philadelphia, where he had made his home,
in the country, and where he had married.
Richard Dale was born in the year 1757, at a short distance from NorHe went to sea young, and was mate of
The succeeding year he sailed, as a masLexington; was in her, in her cruise round Ireland, and
was captured in her by the Alert, after a long action. Mr. Dale escaped
from Mill prison in February 1778, was retaken in London, and sent back
he was active
in
her recapture.
celebrated squadron fitting under Paul Jones, an officer who soon discovered his merit, and made him first lieutenant of his own ship, the Bon
Homme
Richard.
in that capacity,
is
recorded
in the text.
America with him in the Ariel 20, in 1780. Mr. Dale was not yet twenty
three years old, and he appears now to have first obtained the commission
of a lieutenant in the navy from the government at liome, that under which
he had previously acted having been issued in Europe. Mr. Dale was
was made
he was shortly
after ex-
changed.
Mr. Dale does not appear to have served any more, in public vessels,
during the war of tlie Revolution, but in 1794, he was commissioned as the
fourth captain, in the present marine.
Capt. Dale commanded the Ganges 20, the first vessel that went to sea under the new organization. He
in this ship,
getting a fiu'lough in 1799, to
make
NAVAL
375
HISTORY'.
Few men passed youths more chequered with stirring' incidents than
Com. Dale, and few men spent the evening of their days more tranquilly.
On
death, which event occurred February 24th, 1826, in the 69th year of
his age.
He was
officer
and a good
seaman.
cool, brave,
the country, which has been seated a century and a half at Morrissania, in
West Chester county, New York. He was the youngest son of Lewis
Morris, of Morrissania, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of
and
fair
credit, in the
command
of the
Adams
At
the reduction of the navy, in 1801, Capt. Morris was retained as the
fifth in rank, and his selection to command the Mediterranean squadron
to his place on the list; the age and state of health of the few
above him, rendering them indisposed to actual service of the nature on which he was sent.
was due
officers
The
fault
merely one of judgment, for neither his zeal nor his courage was ever questioned. Had he been regularly tried by a court martial, a reprimand, in all
probability, would have been the extent of the punishment; and it is due
to his character, to add, that his dismissal from the navy has usually been
deemed
nation.
a high-handed political measure, rather than a military condemHe lived respected, and died in his original position in life, while
376
NAVAL HISTORY.
making
filled
the second
member
of the
APPENDIX.
Note A.
AGREEMENT
Between Capt. John Paul Jones and the
Officers
of the Squadron.
[Translation.]
Homme
shall act but by virtue of the brevet which they shall have obtained
from the United States of America and it is agreed that the flag of
;
The
squadron, shall be
made agreeably
to the
American laws
but
it is
32*
378
APPENDIX.
shall be
annexed
to the present
after
agreement,
Bon Homme
termine as to what
it
may
is
States,
shall be executed.
each
is
of
le
up
coming
and
to
to give
each
indi-
same
Whereas
injuring the
in his
own
proper name.
common
it
has been
may
suit-
able for the purpose, and that they shall have such proportion of the
prizes which shall be taken, as the laws of their respective countries
allow.
In case of the death of
own
ship, or give
up
to the
command of
the
vacant ship.
It has moreover been agreed, that the commander of the Stag (le
Cerf) shall be excepted from the last article of this present agreement, because,
in
APPEXDIX,
replaced by his second in
379
command, and
so on
by the other
officers
(le Cerf.)
J.
P. JoiN'ES,
P.
Landais,
De Cottineau,
Vaeage,
p. RiCOT,
Le Ray de Chaumont.
(Sparke's Diplomatic Correspondence, page 205, vol.
Note
iii.)
B.
wars
to
either
however, down
were obtained
tion,
to the close
in particular laboured
were injured by the bursting of guns, than by the fire of the enemy,
and the shot, from imperfect casting, frequently broke when they
struck.
Another consequence of
momentum.
was a dimi-
The
latter fact
having been alluded to, in the course of the war, the writer, with a
view to this work, personally weighed a quantity of shot, both Eng-
but in no instance
On
was an
380
APPEXDIX.
The
reader will
better than
if
pounds.
It has been asserted that the
English shot were over- weight, but
the writer weighed a good many himself, and he found them all surprisingly accurate.
Note
C.
Law
CAPTAINS.
John Barry,
Samuel Nicholson,
Thomas Truxtun,
Silas Talbot,
Stephen Decatur,
Christopher R. Perry,
Richard Dale,
James Sever,
APPENDIX.
Richard V. Morris,
381
George Little,
John Rodgers,
Alexander Murray,
Daniel M'Niell,
Edward
Thomas Tingey,
John MuUowny,
James Barron,
Patrick Fletcher,
Preble,
Thomas Baker,
George Cross,
Samuel Barron,
Henry Geddes,
Moses Brown,
Moses Tryon,
Thomas Robinson,
Richard Derby,
Hugh G.
William Bainbridse,
Campbell.
MASTERS COMMANDANT.
Charles C. Russell,
Cyrus Talbot,
David Jewett,
Benjamin Hillar,
John A. Spotswood.
William Cowper,
Richard Law, Jr.
L
EUTEN
David Ross,
Charles Stewart,
Richard C. Beale,
Isaac Hull,
ANTS.
Wilson Jacobs,
John Ballard,
John Warner,
Zachariah Rhodes,
Archibald M'EIroy,
James Burns,
Andrew Sterrett,
Thomas Wilkey,
Samuel Heyward,
John Archer,
David Phipps,
Josias M. Speake,
Killian
Joseph Strout,
Francis H. Ellison,
Ambrose
Shirly,
John Shaw,
M. Simmons
Bunburj'',
H. Van Rensselaer,
John Davidson,
Henry
Seton,
Richard Marner,
Thomas Laing,
Isaac B. Hichborn,
Robert Has well,
John M'Rea,
Samuel
Isaac Chauncey,
William Smith,
John Rush,
Robert
W.
Hamilton,
John Cruft,
Samuel Chase,
Phillips,
Robert Palmer,
William Flag,
APPENDIX.
382
John Smith,
Charles Jewett,
Jeremiah Fenner,
John Cassin,
Saml. M'Cutchen,
Samuel Parker,
John May,
Jos. E. Collins,
Cornelius O'DriscolI,
James Murdock,
Edward Meade,
Richd. Clark,
Thomas
Freeborn Banning,
Richard Somers,
Stephen Decatur,
Jr.
B. Davis,
Samuel Evans,
John Love,
Joseph Saunders,
George G. Lee,
Mark
Charles Gordon,
Fernald,
W.
"William Peterkin,
John
John H. Jones,
John Carson,
Richd. H. L. Lawson,
Thos. N. Gautier,
Joseph Ingraham,
Godfrey Wood,
George Cox,
Wm.
Gerald Byrne,
Jonathan Titcomb,
Edward
James
Jr.
Edwd. Wyer,
George W. Tew.
Jos. Beale,
Watson,
Robert Wells,
Henry Vandyke,
James Smith,
Samuel Brookes,
John H. Dent,
Thomas Robinson,
Wells,
Stephen Clough,
Boss,
P.
Whidbie,
John Galven,
Jr.
Miles King,
John M. Claggett,
Phil. C. Wederstrandt,
John Latimer,
Joshua Blake,
John Cowper,
Seymour Potter,
Edwd. Brock,
L. S. Daubeney,
James Campbell,
John T. K. Cox,
Abraham Ludlow,
Redmond M'Clannan,
Joseph Tarbell,
John Foot,
William C. Jenks,
Wm.
David Porter,
James R. Caldwell,
Crispin,
Benjamin F. Knapp,
Wm.
Robt. Harrison,
Lewis C. Bailey,
Wm.
Jacob Jones.
Penrose,
Davis,
APPENDIX.
383
SAILING MASTERS.
Nathanial Harraden,
James Trant,
Lemuel
Joshua Johnson,
Little,
Nathl. Stanvvood,
Benj. Sayer,
Loudon Bayley,
William Glover,
William Knight,
George A. Hallowell,
Edward
Shubael Downes,
James F. Goelete,
John King,
Thos. Rodgers,
Samuel Plummer,
Josiah Hazard,
William Wescott,
Moses Durkham,
Neils C. Bang.
Ballard,
Levi Barden,
Rich. C. Brandt,
MIDSHI P3IEN.
James Macdonough,
John
Wm.
Joseph Bush,
William Morrell,
W.
Duncan,
M. Livingston,
W.
Thomas Burrows,
George
Robert C. Pugh,
George Boyd,
John Gault,
George Calder,
Arthur Sinclair,
Reed,
Benj. Carpender,
Samuel Douglass,
Daniel M'Niell, Jr.
Jacob R. Valk,
James Roache,
Richard Thomas,
Robert Warren,
Abner WoodrufT,
Theodore Hunt,
Michael Carroll,
WiUiam Lewis,
William Fleming,
James Lawrence,
Arnold Whipple,
Christ.
Benjamin Smith,
Charles V. S. Carpenter,
John Gallaway,
James T. Leonard,
Joshua Herbert,
Th. R. Hardenburgh,
William Rhodes,
Humphry Magrath,
Gadsden,
Thomas
Joseph Murdock,
Jr.
Ellis,
James Decatur,
Samuel Ling,
Charles Ludlow,
John T. Ellsworth,
Thomas Truxtun,
Samuel
Elbert,
jr.
Henry Morrison,
Joseph Maxwell,
384
APPEiVDlX.
Peter Bonnetheau,
Simon Hart,
Maurice Simons,
Joseph Willitson,
Thomas Deveau,
Aaron F. Cook,
Habijah Savage,
James E. West,
Hugh K.
Richard B. Randolph,
Toler,
Daniel Polk,
Joseph Prince,
Edward Ford,
Kennith M'Kenzie,
Henry Somes,
David Service,
Charles Morris,
George Pierce,
John Dubose,
Timothy Pickering,
Lewis W. Henop,
Benjamin Yancy,
William M. Miller,
Walter Winter,
Daniel C. Heath,
W.
George
John Trippe,
Coffin,
Edward N. Cox,
Joseph Gantt,
John E. Fisher,
William Giddeons,
Robert Stewart,
William Ingraham,
William Neilson,
Oliver H. Perry,
Joseph B. Hennessey,
Thomas Gordon,
Robert Henley,
James P. Hunt,
Samuel G. Blodgett,
Joseph Bainbridge,
Isaac Cox,
Wm.
William Hartigan,
Charles Miles,
Archibald Frazer,
James Gibbon,
Robert L. Tilghman,
Whitesides,
John M. P. Gardner,
Alex. Harrison,
Owen
Samuel Bullen,
John G. Norwood,
Smith,
George Williamson,
I. T.
Clark,
Abel Lincoln,
Fred. N. Hudson,
John Kiddall,
Joseph Cordis,
Archibald B. Lord,
Benjamin Conant,
Thomas
Joseph Richardson,
Enoch Brown,
James Dick,
William M. Crane,
Franklin Reid,
Joseph Williston,
Daniel Murray,
John S. Webb,
John Garlick,
Elias Willis,
George
Jones,
William M'Hatton,
W.
Spottswood,
APPENDIX.
Richard Gantt,
L. Warfield,
385
George Jewett,
John N. Chester,
John F, Fox,
William Dunn,
Charles Bulkley,
S. Leonard,
Samuel Angus,
Edward
O'Brien,
John Longley,
Caleb Allen,
Benjamin Shattuck,
James MuUie,
Robert Flinn,
J.
Jon a. P. Hitchcock,
William F.
Thomas N.
Willis,
William B. Suggs,
James Cox,
Thomas Homan,
Henry Wadsworth,
B. Wilkinson,
Gist,
George Dabney,
Keyran Walsh,
Philip
Henop,
Francis Patton,
James Penrose,
John Livingston,
Geo. A. Marcellin,
Daniel Sim,
Benj. B. Provoost,
Joseph Dorr,
James H. Adams,
Samuel Stubbs,
George Tryon,
Owen Tudor,
Matthew Talcott,
John Shattuck,
John Rowe,
Thomas Robinson,
Thomas Randall,
George W, Ridgely,
John Polk,
Samuel Conant,
William Scellend,
Samuel Clements,
John Wood,
David Deacon,
Joseph Field,
Ralph Izard,
John D. Henley,
Charles Read,
William Butler,
George H. Geddes,
Louis M'Lane,
Charles G. Ridgely,
WiUiam Smith,
Joseph B- Wharton,
Charles Wilson,
Clem. Lindsey,
John Legg,
James
Hite,
Reuben Bronghton,
William Campbell, Jr.
Charles G. Cannon,
James S. Higinbotham,
William Blake,
Thomas M. Rogers
Vol. L--33
John Goodwin,
Jr.
Jonathan Bulkley,
William Kean,
William Burrows,
Westwood T. Mason,
386
APPENDIX.
Edward
Bennett,
P. L. Ogilvie,
W.
Charles
William Henderson,
Charles Coombes,
Jones,
Lewis Warrington,
Octavius A. Page,
Allen J. Green,
James Rogers,
Darius Dunn,
William Gregory,
Archibald M'Call,
John Stevens,
Robert C. Rosseter,
Ephraim
Blaines,
John Hartley,
Alfred Hazard,
John Rawling,
Robert M'Connell,
John Tapley,
Phineas Stone,
Benjamin Page,
Daniel Brown,
Wm. W.
George Parker,
Thomas
George
Merrill,
Robert Dorsey,
Johnston Blakeley,
Barker,
F. Pennington,
Peter Ferrall,
William H. Smith,
Isaac Whitlock,
Shinkin Moore,
Joseph Tuffs,
Henry Page,
Jesse V. Lewis,
Wirilock Clarke,
Peter E. Bentley,
Charles Moore,
Seymour Hooe,
Thomas Macdonough,
George Gray,
John Witherspoon,
Richardson Taylor,
Mordecai Gist,
Charles Chilton,
John D.
James Biddle,
Henry Bettner,
Thomas O. Anderson,
Thomas Hunt,
Edward
Biddle,
Matthew French,
William
Griffith,
Richard Carson,
Sloat,
Clem. Biddle,
Thomas T.
Jr.
Beall,
William T. Nicholls,
Abijah
J.
Henton,
Foster Perkins,
W.
Steinhauer,
George
William Duncanson,
James Eakin,
Samuel Child,
James Harmum,
Jr.
William Whistler,
Edward Trenchard,
Wm.
M'Intosh,
John Smith,
Thomas Hughes,
George Mitchell,
Sloss H. Grinnel,
Stephen Cassin,
Archibald K. Kearney,
APPENDIX.
Jr.
Henry Geddes,
Jonathan Thorn,
Robert Miller,
WiUiam Thornton,
John Rowand,
David Byers,
WiUiam H.
387
James Renshaw,
Walter Lawrence,
Samuel Aldrick,
Allen,
Joseph Stickney,
James Bryden,
Andrew H. Voorhees,
John Nicholson,
Henry
John Palmer,
Robert N. Page,
John Wood,
P. Casey,
Sidney Smith,
Philip C. Blake,
Ezra Manfz,
George Levely,
A. D. Wainvvright,
James Nicholson,
Charles Robinson,
Samuel Proctor,
Isaac B. Forman,
Charles Neyle,
Wm.
Wm.
John Cochran,
Edward Giles,
M. T. Woolsey,
Miller,
H. Thorn,
Walter Boyd,
Daniel S. Dexter,
John M. Haswell,
John D. Henley,
Wilson
Edward Randolph,
Elliott,
Calvin Stevens,
John Pemberton,
Alexander Lavv^s,
Edward Attwood,
Daniel T. Patterson,
Charles Angier,
James Mackay,
James Saunders,
Robert T. Spence,
Sewall Handy,
Philip Moses,
George D. Evans,
Robert Innes,
Benjamin Fendall,
Leroy Opie,
James Ferguson,
Benjamin Turner,
John Davis,
Marshall Glenn,
Benjamin F. Stoddert,
Bernar Henry,
John Harris,
Charles Morris,
John Goodwin,
Montg. Newman,
Wallace Wormly,
Jr.
James Biggs,
Lawrence Keen,
John Patton,
William Cutbush,
Thomas Swartwout,
John Brown,
388
APPEM>IX.
Samuel Allen,
Wm.
Jon. C.
Jos. Israel,
Shaw,
Smith,
Lloyd Nicoll,
George Mann,
Geo. S. Hackley,
Richard B. Baker,
Samuel Cooper,
Jno. Provaux,
Charles Clarke.
Wm.
M. Smith,
We
have
set opposite to
in
CAPTAINS.
John Barry
Samuel Nicholson
do.
Richard Dale
Thomas Truxtim
do.
resigned in
-
do.
in
do.
in
1811.
1802.
1802.
Richard V. Morris
dismissed without
Alexander Murray
Samuel Barron
died at the
died 1810.
John Rodgers
Edward
died in 1807.
Preble
trial, in
1804.
head of the
James Barron
at the
William Bainbridge
Hugh G. Campbell
died in 1833.
service,
1821.
in
Nov. 1838.
died in 1820.
LIEUTENANTS.
Charles Stewart
second on the
Isaac Hull
third
Andrew
John Shaw
Sterrett
John M'Rea
Isaac
list
do.
resigned 1803.
Chauncey
do.
fourth on the
list
805.
APPENDIX.
Robert
W.
Hamilton
John Ballard
389
resigned 1802.
resigned 1801.
John Rush
resigned 1802.
John Smith
resigned 1802.
Freeborn Banning
Richard Somers
killed in battle, a
Stephen Decatur
resigned, a master
Thomas Robinson,
Jr.
resigned, a master
resigned in
1822
in
1824.
George G. Lee
resigned in 1805.
Charles Gordon
died, a captain, in
Richard H. L. Lawson
Wood
resigned
in
1826
in
Samuel Evans
1817
1804.
resigned in 1802.
Edward Wyer
resigned in 1805.
W. Tew
a duel, in 1803,
killed in
lost in the
Wederstrandt
Joshua Blake
Joseph Tarbell
James R. Caldwell
Lewis C. Bailey
808.
commandant, in 1809.
resigned, a captain, in
-
Henry Vandyke
John M. Claggett
in 1
1801.
died, a captain,
died, a captain,
Phil. C.
commandant,
dismissed in 1804.
David Porter
Geo.
1804.
resigned in 1804.
William C. Jenks
Godfrey
in
1820.
John Cowper
John T. R. Cox
John Cassin
master com.,
killed in battle, in
1804.
tion law-
Jacob Jones
fifth
on the
list
MIDSHIPMEN.
Wm.
killed in battle, a
Henry Allen
Samuel Angus
1807.
resigned, a lieutenant,
Thos. O. Anderson
33*
390
APPENDIX.
William Butler
resigned 1807.
died, a captain, in 1824.
Joseph Bainbridge
William Burrows -
William Blake
Samuel G. Blodgett
Clement Biddle
drowned, a lieutenant,
resigned 1804.
James Biddle
ninth captain,
P. C. Blake
resigned 1804.
died, a lieutenant, in 1810.
November, 1838.
Edward Bennett
Johnston Blakely
lost at sea,
Thomas T.
resigned 1803.
dismissed in 1810.
resigned 1802.
Beall
Walter Boyd
Peter E. Bentley
a mast, com.,
James Biggs
resigned 1803.
E. R. Blaine
resigned in 1804.
in
1814.
Thos. Brown
Michael B. Carroll
George Calder
Edward N. Cox
resigned 1802.
-
Aaron F. Cook
William Campbell
William M. Crane
eighth captain,
Stephen Cassin
fifteenth captain, in
J.
Orde Creighton
resigned 1802.
H.
P. Casey
William Cutbush
Henry
J.
Cobb
D. H. Craig
Richard Carey
J. P.
Charles
1805.
resigned 1805.
resigned 1803.
retired in
1805.
retired
Coomb
AVinlock Clark
1838.
November, 1838.
died in 1804.
-
drowned, a lieutenant,
in
1810.
James Decatur
William Duncanson
dropped from
John Dorsey
Daniel S. Dexter
killed in battle, in
John Davis
1804.
list,
1804.
1818.
APPENDIX.
David Deacon
391
twenty-first captain,
George Dabney
John Downes
resigned 1805.
Samuel Elbert
died, a lieutenant, in
John Gallaway
James Gibbon
died in 1804.
twelfth captain,
M.
P.
November, 1838.
1812.
J.
November, 1838.
Gardner
1811.
died, a master
commandant,
Sloss H. Grinnell
retired, a lieutenant, in
Ed. Giles
resigned 1804.
Allen
J.
Green
in
resigned 1803.
died in 1804.
Geo. H. Geddes
Wm.
Gregory
Jas. S.
Higginbotham
Alex. C. Harrison
Philip
J.
in
1808.
died in 1805.
resigned 1802.
resigned 1804.
did not join,
resigned 1801.
Henop
Hinton
John D. Henley
a lieutenant,
Sewal Handy
Thos. R. Hardenburgh
A.
died,
Bernard Henry
George Hackley
James Haight
1815.
1807.
Seymour Hooe
Alfred Hazard
resigned 1801.
John Hartley
John Montresor Haswell
resigned 1802.
resigned, a lieutenant, in 1810.
Theodore Hunt
Daniel C. Heath
dismissed in 1809.
1828.
Robert Henley
died,
Ralph Izard
Joseph Israel
Robert Innes
drowned on
in
killed in battle, in
A. K. Kearney
Charles Ludlow
a captain,
1804.
service, in 1802.
in
1813.
392
APPENDIX.
James T. Leonard
died,
James Lawrence
William Livingston
A. B. Lord
Daniel M'Niell,
Jr.
Joseph Murdock
Louis M'Lane
a captain,
1832.
unknown.
retired,
in
a captain, in 1813.
resigned, a lieutenant, in 1804.
killed in battle,
1807.
lieut., in
died in service.
resigned in 1802
afterwards secretary
of state, &c.
William Miller
retired in
Joseph Maxwell
died,
1807.
a lieutenant, in 1806.
Charles Mills
resigned 1804.
Daniel Murray
Geo. A. Marcellin
Charles Morris,
sixth captain,
Jr.
Charles Moore
George
a lieutenant, in 1810.
November, 1838.
Merrill
died,
Archibald M'Call
William M'Intosh
Mitchell
a lieutenant, 1822.
resigned 1802.
resigned, a lieutenant, in 1808.
fate
unknown,
George
James Mackay
resigned 1803.
Thomas M'Donough
Humphrey Magrath
George Mann
W.
killed in a duel, in
R. Nicholson
Jno. B. Nicholson
James Nicholson
resigned 1804.
William F. Nicholls
resigned 1804.
William
Newman
1805.
resigned 1803.
Edward O'Brien
retired in 1 804.
Peter S. Ogilvie
lost at sea,
Daniel Polk
Oliver H. Perry
Benj. Page
Octavius A. Page
Henry Page
Daniel T. Patterson
a lieutenant,
in
1805.
resigned 1804.
died at sea, a
captain, in 1818.
resigned 1803.
died,
a lieutenant,
in
1813.
resigned 1803.
eleventh captain, November, 1838.
393
APPENDIX.
George Parker
States Rutlcdge
resigned 1803.
resigned 1802.
Charles G. Ridgely
tenth captain,
Stephen Proctor
Heathcote
George
Reed
J.
W.
Reed
Charles Reed
Read
died,
a master commandant,
died, a lieutenant
in
James Renshaw
resigned 1807.
Benjamin Smith
Arthur Sinclair
died,
drowned, a lieutenant.
resigned 1806.
John Shattuck
fate
unknown, a
Spottsvvood
lieutenant.
declined.
Simms
resigned 1804.
resigned 1803.
H. Savage W. P. Smith
resigned 1801.
Sidney Smith
died, a
Thomas Swartwout,
Jr.
master commandant,
killed in a duel, in
M. Smith
declined.
-
John Trippe
Rob. L. Tilghman
William Thorn
resigned 1802.
died, a lieutenant
commandant,
in 1810.
resigned 1802.
-
retired in
1805.
Edward Trenchard
Jonathan Thorn -
Benjamin Turner
Jacob R. Valk
killed in a duel,
resigned in
Jacob Vickery
1827.
a captain, in 1827.
died,
Simon Smith
Richard Thomas
in
1801.
Robert T. Spence
W.
1808.
resigned 1803.
Maurice Simons
John Shore
1812.
a lieutenant, in 1807.
Robert Stewart
Daniel
in
in
William Scallen
W.
1813.
November, 1838.
fifteenth captain,
Charles Robinson
G.
in
commandant,
resigned 1803.
resigned, a lieutenant,
Richardson
John Rowe
1812.
a lieutenant,
resigned 1806.
Benj. Franklin
Jos.
November, 1838.
died,
blown up, a
declined.
lieutenant, in 1810.
a lieutenant, in 1807.
1808.
APPENDIX.
394
Sybrant Van Schaick
A. Woodruff
resigned in 1803.
resigned in 1802.
Daniel Wurts
E. Willis
drowned
Wood
John
in
Henry Wadsworth
resigned in
1804.
1804.
1813.
Walter Winter
drowned, a lieutenant,
Lewis Warrinsjton
Charles Wilson
M. T. Woolsey
died,
Wallace Wormley
Samuel Woodhouse
This
list
a captain, in 1838.
contains the
many
names of the
changes, and
it
dery,
who were
left in
declined.
Among
these
now
is still
the
Officers,
ficers
Brig.
officers
will
Of
in
in service.
left it,
who
Of
still
Cow-
thirty-one of-
is
was
we can
artillery.
Note. In describing' Tripoli the author was unable to procure an accurate chart, though he has since been more successful. On examination,
he finds that his distances are a ti'ifle too great. The town is also a
little
larger in
some
directions than he
had supposed.
END OF
VOL.
I.
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