Offing: Position of a ship at a distance from the shore.
Pay her head offshore: to cause a ship to sail to leeward or away from the wind.
Play upon: fire at.
Port: the left-hand side of a ship when facing toward the bow. The opposite of starboard. Also called “larboard.”
Pounders: refers to the weight of a cannonball.
Powder monkey: a ship’s boy.
Privateer: an armed private vessel operating under the commission of a government.
Prow: the bow of a vessel.
Quarter deck: that part of the upper deck abaft the mainmast reserved for officers.
Ratlines: one of the small traverse ropes attached to the shrouds and forming the steps of a rope ladder.
Razee: a sail of the line that has had one of its decks removed to transform it into a heavy frigate.
Redoubt: small enclosed work of varying size used to fortify hills and passes.
Reef: that part of a sail which is taken in or let out by means of the reef points, in order to regulate the size of a sail.
Reef point: one of the pieces of small rope used in reefing a sail.
Royal: a small sail immediately above the topgallant sail.
Sail of the line: largest of the warships, carrying from 50 to 120 guns, large enough to have a place in the line of battle. Most often a 74-gun ship with three decks. Also called ship of the line.
Scow: a large flat-bottomed boat, having broad, square ends.
Sheet: a rope that regulates the angle at which a sail is set in relation to the wind.
Slow-match: a slow-burning fuse used to ignite the powder charge in a cannon.
Spring on her cable: a line leading from a vessel’s quarter to her cable so that by hauling in or slackening it she can be made to lie in any position.
Spring tide: a tide greater than usual, occurring at full moon and new moon.
Starboard: the right-hand side of a ship when facing toward the bow. The opposite or larboard or port.
Starboard tack: the course of a ship when the wind is coming over the starboard side.
Stern: the rear end of a vessel.
Stern Sheets: the space at the stern not occupied by the thwarts of an open boat.
Stream anchor: a small spare anchor.
Strike the colors: surrender.
Studding sail: used in a fair wind to extend the sails on a square-rigged ship.
Swivel: a small gun fixed on a swivel on a stanchion so that it can be rotated. Usually shoots a one-pound ball.
Tack: to change direction by bringing the head of a vessel into the wind and then shifting the sails so that she will come up into the wind and then fall off on the other side until she is sailing at about the same angle to the wind as before but on the opposite tack.
Taffrail: the rail around a ship’s stern.
Tender: a vessel employed to attend larger ships, to supply them with provisions etc.
Topgallant: a mast or sail situated above the topmast and below the royal mast.
Topmast: the second mast above the deck.
Topsail: the sail above the course.
Trim: to adjust sails and yards to get the best effect from the wind. Also, to arrange ballast, cargo or passengers so that the ship will sail well.
Veer: to alter the course of ship by turning away from the direction of the wind.
Warp: to move a ship by hauling on a line, or warp.
Wear: to go about or change direction by turning the head of a vessel away from the wind.
Weather gauge: the position of a ship to the windward of another, giving an advantage in maneuvering.
Wherry: a long light rowboat, sharp at both ends.
Windward: the point or side from which the wind blows.
Yard: a long, narrow, cylindrical, tapered, wooden spar that supports and extends a sail.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: The majority of the above definitions are based on Webster’s New International Dictionary of the English Language, edited by William Neilson, 2nd ed. (Springfield, MA: Merriam, 1938).
NOTES
Prologue
2Nothing Porter did had the slightest effect on the Alert: Captain David Porter to Secretary of the Navy Paul Hamilton, Sept. 3, 1812, in William S. Dudley, ed., The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History (Washington, DC: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy, 1985), 1:443–447.
2Porter quickly put up the Essex’s helm: Porter to Hamilton, Sept. 3, 1812, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 1:444; William M. James, The Naval History of Great Britain: During the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2002; first published in 1817), 6:88–89.
3The Alert turned out to be a former collier: Porter to Hamilton, Aug. 15, 1812, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 1:218–19.
3Porter sent First Lieutenant John Downes: Porter to Hamilton, Sept. 3, 1812, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 1:445–46.
4Porter took the Alert’s officers and the better part: Porter to Hamilton, Sept. 2, 1812 in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 1:443–47.
6standing beside the hammock of Midshipman David Farragut: Loyall Farragut, The Life of David Glasgow Farragut (New York: Appleton, 1879), 16–17.
6Porter now turned for home to Chester: John Hill Martin, Chester and Its Vicinity (Philadelphia: William H. Pile & Sons, 1877), 313.
6Porter knew before the uprising that having: Porter to Hamilton, Sept. 5, 1812, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 1:462–63; Farragut, Life of David Glasgow Farragut, 17.
8As the Essex traveled home, Porter felt: Porter to Hamilton, Sept. 3, 1812; Porter to Bainbridge, Sept. 8, 1812, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 1:443–47 and 468–69; Porter to Hambleton, September 7, 1812, in David Dixon Porter, Memoir of Commodore David Dixon Porter of the United States Navy (Albany: J. Munsell, 1875), 97.
Chapter One: President Madison’s War Plan
9David Porter’s victory over the Alert came as a surprise: Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 1:180–82.
11America’s second War of Independence: George C. Daughan, If By Sea: The Forging of the American Navy from the Revolution to the War of 1812 (New York: Basic Books, 2008), 236.
14Rodgers had written on June 3: Commodore John Rodgers to Secretary Hamilton, June 3, 1812, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 1:119–22.
15Stephen Decatur, the navy’s most celebrated captain: Captain Decatur to Secretary Hamilton, June 8, 1812, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 1:122–24.
15It was a course recommended by his friend William Jones: Secretary of the Navy to Commodore John Rodgers, Sept. 9, 1812, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 1:471.
15Once Porter reached the Delaware River he was informed: Bainbridge to Porter, Oct. 13, 1812, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 1:527–28.
Chapter Two: The Making of a Sea Warrior
18mostly in privateers: David Dixon Porter, Memoir of Commodore David Porter, 8.
18The elder Porter’s sea stories stirred the imagination: Washington Irving, Analectic Magazine (Sept. 5, 1814), 22.
18In 1875, he would write of his father: David Dixon Porter, Memoir of Commodore David Porter, 10.
18Young Porter began his naval career in 1796: Federal Gazette (Baltimore), March 1796; David Dixon Porter, Memoir of Commodore David Porter, 10–11.
19This was young Porter’s first encounter with impressment: David Dixon Porter, Memoir of Commodore David Porter, 12–13.
19Given his family background and experience: David Porter, Constantinople and Its Environs (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1835), 2:10.
19In fact, Porter could not have found a better teacher: Retired Vice Admiral George Emery, “Thomas Truxtun: First Mentor of the Federal Navy,” Pull Together: Newsletter of the Naval Historical Foundation (Fall/Winter 2010–2011): 12–14.
19Porter did not get along with one particular officer: David Dixon Porter, Memoir of Commodore David Porter, 19–20.
19On February 9, 1799, the Constellation became embr
oiled: Eugene S. Ferguson, Truxtun of the Constellation: The Life of Commodore Thomas Truxtun, U.S. Navy, 1755–1822 (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1982), 162–67. For a contrary view of what happened to Rodgers and Porter after the battle, see Charles Goldsborough, The United States Naval Chronicle (Washington, DC: James Wilson, 1824), 132–33, and David Long, Nothing Too Daring: A Biography of Commodore David Porter, 1780–1843 (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1970), 9.
20As the Quasi-War progressed, Porter continued: David Dixon Porter, Memoir of Commodore David Porter, 29–37; Long, Nothing Too Daring, 12–13.
21Porter’s next ship was the Constitution: Long, Nothing Too Daring, 14.
21The Quasi-War with France ended on March 3, 1801: Ferguson, Truxtun of the Constellation, 164–72.
22When Sterrett arrived in the Mediterranean with Porter: Long, Nothing Too Daring, 21.
24Together with the shallow draught Vixen: The Vixen was designed by Benjamin Hutton and built in Maryland, as the Enterprise had been.
24Bainbridge and Porter worked well together: David Dixon Porter, Memoir of Commodore David Porter, 56–57.
Chapter Three: Disaster in Tripoli
25David Porter was anxious to distinguish himself in Tripoli: Daughan, If By Sea, 353–54.
26Soon after, Bainbridge became involved: David Long, Ready to Hazard: A Biography of Commodore William Bainbridge, 1774–1833 (Hanover, NH: University Press of New England, 1981), 63.
27The Philadelphia and the Vixen arrived off Tripoli: Bainbridge to Preble, Oct. 22, 1803, in Dudley W. Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers (Washington, DC: 1939–1944), 3:159.
27“My motives of ordering her off Cape Bon”: Bainbridge to Preble, Nov. 1, 1803, in Knox, ed., Naval Documents, 3:171.
27“At 9 A.M., about five leagues eastward of Tripoli”: Bainbridge to the Secretary of the Navy, Nov. 1, 1803, in Knox, ed., Naval Documents, 3:171–72.
27“About 11 o’clock [I] had approached”: Porter testimony during Court of Inquiry on Philadelphia, June 29, 1805, in Knox ed., Naval Documents, 3:189–94.
28They both recognized that the Philadelphia was in serious danger: Bainbridge to Secretary of the Navy Robert Smith, Nov. 1, 1804, in Thomas Harris, The Life and Services of Commodore William Bainbridge, United States Navy (Philadelphia, 1837. Reprint, Whitefish, MT: Kessinger, 2007), 80; Bainbridge to Preble, Nov. 1, 1803, in Knox, ed., Naval Documents, 3:171.
28Reacting quickly, Bainbridge, at Porter’s urging: Bainbridge to Secretary of the Navy, Nov. 1, 1803, in Knox, ed., Naval Documents, 3:171–72.
29With Porter continuing to advise him: Porter to Midshipman Henry Wadsorth, 3/5/1804 (while Porter was in prison), in Knox, ed., Naval Documents, 3:475–76.
29Four hours went by in this desperate struggle: Porter testimony at the Court of Inquiry, in Knox, ed., Naval Documents, 3:190. 29 Their situation was now desperate: Porter to Henry Wadsworth, March 5, 1804, in Knox, ed., Naval Documents, 3:290; Court Inquiring into the loss of U.S. Frigate Philadelphia, in Knox, ed., Naval Documents, 3:190–194 and 475–76.
29“In such a dilemma, too painful to relate”: Bainbridge to Preble, Nov. 12, 1803, in Knox, ed., Naval Documents, 3:174.
29“Some fanatics,” Bainbridge told Preble: Ibid.
30Before surrendering, Bainbridge ordered all the arms: Christopher McKee, Edward Preble: A Naval Biography, 1761–1807 (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1996; first edition, 1972), 180.
30Unfortunately, Bainbridge’s humiliations were compounded: William Ray, Horrors of Slavery, or, American Tars in Tripoli (Troy, NY: Printed by O. Lyon for the author, 1808), 82; David Long, Sailor-Diplomat: A Biography of Commodore James Biddle, 1783–1848 (Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1983), 21–22.
30Around six P.M., the Tripolitans swarmed: Bainbridge to Tobias Lear, U.S. Consul General, Algiers, Feb. 8, 1804 (received April 21, 1804), in Knox, ed., Naval Documents, 3:
30To add to Porter’s misery and shame: Bainbridge to Preble, Nov. 6, 1803, in Knox, ed., Naval Documents, 3:173; McKee, Edward Preble, 180.
31“If my professional character be blotched”: William Bainbridge to Susan Bainbridge, Nov. 1, 1803, in Thomas Harris, The Life and Services of Commodore William Bainbridge, United States Navy (Philadelphia: Carey Lea & Blanchard, 1837), 91–93.
31“Would to God, that the officers and crew”: Preble to the secretary of the navy, Dec. 10, 1803, in Knox, ed., Naval Documents, 3:180.
32With books provided by Nissen, Porter now studied history, French: David Dixon Porter, Memoir of Commodore David Porter, 63.
32As might be expected, the crew received: Journal of Surgeon Jonathan Cowdery, U.S. Navy, from Oct. 31, 1803 to March 1804, in Knox, ed., Naval Documents, 3:529–32.
33Meanwhile, Bainbridge managed to send letters: Long, Nothing Too Daring, 26–27; Frederick C. Leiner, Millions for Defense: The Subscription Warships of 1798 (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2000), 71.
33On February 16, 1804, Decatur: Surgeon John Ridgely to Susan Decatur, Nov. 10, 1826, in Knox, ed., Naval Documents, 3:425.
33The new treatment was so severe: Chipp Reid, Intrepid Sailors: The Legacy of Preble’s Boys and the Tripoli Campaign (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2012), 114–121.
34“I have zealously served my country”: Bainbridge to Preble, Nov. 12, 1803, in Knox, ed., Naval Documents, 3:174.
35Preble wrote to the secretary of the navy: Edward Preble to Secretary of the Navy Robert Smith, Feb. 1804, in Reid, Intrepid Sailors, 106–7.
35Bainbridge worried—far more than Porter—about: Bainbridge to Susan Bainbridge, Nov. 1, 1803, in Knox, ed., Naval Documents, 3:178.
35After the final victory over Tripoli, Porter remained: Long, Nothing Too Daring, 32–34.
Chapter Four: Primed for Battle
37Porter was also occupied with navy business: Spencer C. Tucker and Frank T. Reuter, Injured Honor: The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair, June 22, 1807 (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1996), 140–188.
38On February 22, 1808, the courts-martial were over: John Hill Martin, Chester (and its vicinity) Delaware County, in Pennsylvania . . . (Philadelphia: William H. Pile and Sons, 1877), 85–87; David Dixon Porter, Memoir of Commodore David Porter, 72.
38Porter had already received orders to take command: Long, Nothing Too Daring, 37–38.
39Young Farragut would during the Civil War: Charles Lee Lewis, David Glasgow Farragut: Admiral in the Making (Annapolis, MD: United States Naval Institute, 1941), 1–21; Alfred Thayer Mahan, Admiral Farragut (New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1892), 1–5.
40With war looming, Porter suggested: Long, Nothing Too Daring, 58.
41Commodore Rodgers, the navy’s senior officer: George C. Daughan, 1812: The Navy’s War (New York: Basic Books, 2011), 82.
41Unhappy to be stuck in port while the war: Ibid., 59–60.
42“I detest the idea of trusting to our privateers”: Porter to Hambleton, nd, in David Dixon Porter, Memoir of Commodore David Porter, 99.
42Her skipper, Jacob Jones, needed supplies: Jones did not get the Wasp to sea until October 13.
43Porter feared that if he delayed much longer: Porter to Hambleton, Oct. 4, 1812, in David Dixon Porter, Memoir of Commodore David Porter, 91.
43“cut off from New York and Rhode Island”: Porter to Secretary of the Navy Hamilton, Sept. 5, 1812, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 1:462.
43His concern was unwarranted, however: Porter to Hamilton, Oct. 2, 1812 in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 1:505–6; Porter to Hambleton, Oct. 4, 1812, in David Dixon Porter, Memoir of Commodore David Porter, 91; Daughan, 1812, 53–67.
43Porter blamed Secretary of the Navy Hamilton: Porter to Samuel Hambleton, Oct. 4, 1812, in David Dixon Porter, Memoir of Commodore David Porter, 91.
44Porter’s urge to be back at sea: Lewis, David Glasgow Farragut, 40–41.
44The latest episode involved John Erving: Porter to Hamilton, June 28, 1812; Hamilton to Porter,
June 30, 1812, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 1:171–76.
45The wide publicity afforded this latest controversy: Rear Admiral George Cockburn to Vice Admiral Sir Alexander F.I. Cochrane, July 17, 1814 in Michael Crawford, ed., The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History (Washington, DC: Naval Historical Center, 2002), 3:136–137.
45Yeo’s challenge, thus, came as no surprise: John Randolph Spears, The History of Our Navy from Its Origin to the Present Day, 1775–1897 (New York: Scribner’s, 1897), 2:46; Lewis, David Glasgow Farragut, 47–48.
45Porter pleaded with Secretary Hamilton: Long, Nothing Too Daring, 69–70.
Chapter Five: The Essex: Past and Present
47In October 1812, Captain David Porter was anxious: Porter to Hamilton, Oct. 12, 1811, in Long, Nothing Too Daring, 60.
47“I am much pleased with my ship”: Porter to Hambleton, Nov. 20, 1811, in David Dixon Porter MSS., Library of Congress, vol. 2.
47Porter remained so disgruntled: Porter to Hamilton, Oct. 14, 1812, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 1:528.
48Porter’s hyperbole did not move Hamilton: Porter to Hamilton, Oct. 14, 1812, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 1:528; Porter to Hamilton, Oct. 12, 1811; Hamilton to Porter, Oct. 31, 1811, in Long, Nothing Too Daring, 60–61.
49The Essex had not been designed to carry primarily carronades: Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the Quasi-War, 7:366.
49Her first skipper, thirty-eight-year-old Captain Edward Preble: Captain George Henry Preble, The First Cruise of the United States Frigate Essex, Under the Command of Captain Edward Preble (Essex Institute Historical Collections), 10:12.
49In spite of his grumbling and penchant for hyperbole: Essex Institute Proceedings, 2:74–78; Philip Chadwick Foster Smith, The Frigate Essex Papers: Building the Salem Frigate, 1798–1799 (Salem, MA: Peabody Museum of Salem, 1974), 19–36.
50William Hackett, the well-known naval architect: Howard I. Chapelle, The History of American Sailing Ships (New York: Bonanza Books, 1935), 94.
50Enos Briggs of Salem took charge of building the frigate: Salem Gazette, Nov. 23, 1798; Ralph D. Paine, The Ships and Sailors of Old Salem (Chicago: A.C. McClure & Co., 1912), 231–32; Frederick C. Leiner, Millions for Defense: The Subscription Warships of 1798 (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2000), 163; Philip Chadwick Foster Smith, The Frigate Essex Papers: Building the Salem Frigate, 1798–1799 (Salem, MA: Peabody Essex Museum, 1974).
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