The Shining Sea

by George C. Daughan

  50The citizens of Essex County responded: Paine, Ships and Sailors of Old Salem, 232–33.

  50Giant trees, felled by expert hands: Leiner, Millions for Defense, 163; Smith, Frigate Essex Papers, 94.

  50Paul Revere contributed copper bolts: Esther Forbes, Paul Revere and the World He Lived In (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1942), 378–80.

  50Revere worked with navy agent Joseph Waters: Frances Diane Robotti and James Vescovi, The USS Essex and the Birth of the American Navy (Holbrook, MA: Adams Media Corporation, 1999), 23–43.

  51Work progressed rapidly: Bern Anderson, Surveyor of the Sea: The Life and Voyages of Captain George Vancouver (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1960), 241.

  51The Essex measured 141 feet in overall length: Smith, Frigate Essex Papers, 290–91.

  51She was built for speed and carried: Chapelle, History of American Sailing Ships, 94.

  51Captain Preble officially accepted her: Quoted in Paine, Ships and Sailors of Old Salem, 237.

  52The first to make the voyage to Canton: Dorothy Schurman Hawes, To the Farthest Gulf: The Story of the American China Trade (Ipswich, MA: Ipswich Press, 1940).

  52“The ship proves a good sea boat”: Preble to Stoddert, December 29, 1799, in Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the Quasi-War, 4:578–79.

  52To Joseph Waters, the navy agent in Salem, Preble wrote: Preble to Joseph Waters, Dec. 29, 1799, in Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the Quasi-War, 4:579.

  52Looking back years later, Preble remembered: Christopher McKee, Edward Preble (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press), 68.

  52On January 6, 1800, the Essex and the Congress: Christopher McKee, A Gentlemanly and Honorable Profession: The Creation of the U.S. Naval Officer Corps, 1794–1815 (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1991), 417.

  53On March 11, 1800, a little over two months: Robotti and Vescovi, USS Essex and the Birth of the American Navy, 56; Leiner, Millions for Defense, 168.

  53For two weeks, while work went ahead: McKee, Edward Preble, 71.

  53After her return, the Essex was refurbished: Robotti and Vescovi, USS Essex and the Birth of the American Navy, 123.

  54When Fox finished with her: Smith, Frigate Essex Papers, 191–93.

  Chapter Six: First Rendezvous: Porto Praia

  55The time for Captain Porter and the Essex: Porter to Hambleton, Oct. 4, 1812, in David Dixon Porter MSS., vol. 2, Library of Congress.

  56“I sail on a long, a very long cruise”: Porter to Hambleton, Oct. 19, 1812, in David Dixon Porter, Memoir of Commodore David Porter of the United States Navy (Whitefish, MT: Kessinger Publishing, nd., reprint of 1875 edition published in Albany, NY by J. Munsell), 101.

  56The Essex was anchored in deep water near shore: Captain David Porter, Journal of a Cruise (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1986, reprint of 1815 edition published by Bradford and Inskeep, Philadelphia), 277.

  57By nightfall, the Essex had moved beyond the Delaware Capes: Porter, Journal, 10.

  58Porter estimated it would take the Essex: Ibid., 25.

  59David Farragut wrote that “I have never since been”: Captain A.T. Mahan, Admiral Farragut (New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1892), 30.

  59“My next cruise I hope will be more profitable”: Porter to Hambleton, in David Dixon Porter MSS, Library of Congress, vol. 2.

  59On November 23, the Essex crossed the Tropic of Cancer: Journal of Midshipman William W. Feltus Kept on Board the US. Frigate Essex, Pennsylvania Historical Society; Lewis, David Glasgow Farragut, 54; Porter, Journal, 28.

  60As the Essex continued on toward Porto Praia: Mahan, Admiral Farragut, 17–18.

  61“I have ever considered this [three watch system] among seamen”: quoted in Caroline Alexander, The Bounty: The True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty (New York: Viking, 2003), 83.

  62“What can be more dreadful,” Porter explained: Porter, Journal, 42.

  62To protect his men against a naturally unhealthy environment: Ibid. 40–42.

  63Porter also had good wind sails rigged: Ibid., 43.

  63The greatest menace to the crew remained scurvy: Porter to Dr. Barton, Surgeon of the Frigate Essex, Dec. 31, 1811, Newport, in Porter Papers, United States Naval Academy Museum, Annapolis, MD.

  63Cook’s experience in the Royal Navy: Alan Villiers, Captain James Cook (New York: Penguin, 1969), 23.

  64There was no excuse for any captain in 1812: Porter, Journal, 40.

  64He was particularly enthusiastic about the good effects: Porter to Dr. Barton, Dec. 31, 1811, Newport, in Porter Papers.

  65Later in life, Porter gave this striking description: Porter, Constantinople and Its Environs, 2:10–11.

  66At sunrise on November 26, a lookout: Porter, Journal, 29–30.

  Chapter Seven: In the South Atlantic, Dreaming of the Pacific

  69David Porter continued on to the next place: Porter, Journal, 43–44.

  70On December 11, the Essex crossed: Journal of Midshipman William W. Feltus, Dec. 13, 1812.

  71Unfortunately, the Nocton never made it back: Lieutenant William B. Finch to Secretary of the Navy Jones, Feb. 13, 1813, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 2:684–85.

  72On December 14, two days after Porter: William Jones to Commodore William Bainbridge, Oct. 11, 1812, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 1: 512–15.

  72Now began a game of false identities and coded messages: Thomas Harris, The Life and Services of Commodore William Bainbridge, United States Navy (Philadelphia: Carey, Lea, & Blanchard, 1837), 138–39; William Jones to Commodore William Bainbridge, Oct. 11, 1812, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 1: 512–15; Porter, Journal, 51–54.

  73On December 20, the Essex spoke a Portuguese vessel: Porter, Journal, 56–57.

  74It did not take long to get there: Dixon to Croker, March 19, 1813, in Gerald S. Graham and R.A. Humphreys, eds., The Navy and South America, 1807–1823: Correspondence of the Commanders-in-Chief on the South American Station (London: Naval Records Society, 1962), 85–86; Porter, Journal, 58.

  74During the few days that the Essex patrolled off Rio: Long, Nothing Too Daring, 78; Porter, Journal, 59–60; Dudley ed., The Naval War of 1812, 2:690.

  75On January 2, 1813, Porter stopped a Portuguese: Porter, Journal, 60–63.

  76Porter had no way of knowing that meeting Bainbridge and Lawrence: Daughan, 1812, 140–45.

  78Bainbridge also had to think about Lawrence: Ibid., 135–49.

  79At the moment, Porter had no inkling: Porter, Journal, 63–65.

  79“With my water and provisions getting short”: Porter to Bainbridge, March 23, 1813, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 2:689.

  80On the way to St. Catharine’s, Porter distributed: Porter, Journal, 65.

  80On January 18, Porter spoke to: Ibid., 68–77.

  83As far back as 1809, Porter had written to former president Jefferson: Porter to Jefferson, Aug. 17, 1809, in J. Jefferson Looney et al., eds., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2004), 1:443–49.

  83Porter sent a copy of the letter to Charles Goldsborough: Charles Goldsborough to James Madison, Sept. 20, 1809, Papers of James Madison: Presidential Series, 1:388; J.C.A. Stagg, Borderlines in Borderlands: James Madison and the Spanish-American Frontier (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2009), 185–90.

  83Still not deterred, Porter wrote on February 7, 1811: David Porter to Secretary of the Navy, Feb. 7, 1811, USND, vol. I, LRMC (Letters Received by Secretary of the Navy from Masters Commandant, USND); Long, Nothing Too Daring, 58.

  83Porter had also urged his plan on Bainbridge: Porter, Journal, 72–73.

  84He wrote later to Bainbridge explaining his thinking: Porter to Bainbridge, March 23, 1813, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 2:688–89.

  84Porter claimed that he had no idea: Porter, Journal, 73–74.

  85Porter understood well the disadvantages: Ibid., 74.

  Chapter Eight: Doubling Cape Horn

  87It was an American sealer, the Topaz
: Alexander, The Bounty, 346–48.

  87As the Essex plowed south, the temperature dropped steadily: Porter, Journal, 79–81.

  88The Essex was running fast: Ibid., 82.

  89The following day, February 4: Ibid., 89.

  90Captain Cook on his first voyage in 1768: Richard Hough, Captain James Cook: A Biography (New York: W.W. Norton, 1994), 73.

  90Sailing to the east of Staten Island: Porter, Journal, 84–86.

  92Staten Island and the Strait of Le Maire: Ibid., 90.

  92Before long, they were there: Ibid., 91–98.

  94The terrifying deluge persisted: Ibid., 98.

  95Birds, kelp, and whales appeared: Ibid.

  95David Farragut remembered that: Farragut, Life of David Glasgow Farragut, 20; Mahan, Admiral Farragut, 22.

  95Miraculously, the men at the wheel stood firm: Farragut, Life of David Glasgow Farragut, 20

  95Porter, though severely bruised, led the fight back: Porter, Journal, 101–5.

  Chapter Nine: Navigating Chile’s Political Waters

  97Porter ran north with the Humbolt current: Edouard A. Stackpole, Whales and Destiny: The Rivalry between America, France, and Britain for Control of the Southern Whale Fishery, 1785–1825 (Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 1972), 275–76.

  98Porter thought he could scoop up enough prizes: Porter, Journal, 101–2.

  98As the Essex approached Mocha: Farragut, Life of David Glasgow Farragut, 21; Porter, Journal, 108.

  99The incident cast a pall over the ship: Farragut, Life of David Glasgow Farragut, 21.

  100As Porter steered for Santa Maria: Porter, Journal, 112.

  101The unexpectedly dreary landscape: Ibid., 113–14.

  102Young Farragut, who knew how much: Farragut, Life of David Glasgow Farragut, 21–22.

  102For some reason, perhaps the obviously deteriorating: Porter, Journal, 116–17.

  103Porter was surprised that Chile had a new, pro-American: John Lynch, The Spanish American Revolutions, 1808–1826 (New York: W.W. Norton, 1973), 1; Alan Schom, Napoleon Bonaparte (New York: Harper, 1997), 453–72.

  105When Chileans received reports of the Napoleonic conquest in 1808: Luis Galdames, A History of Chile, translated and edited by Isaac Joslin Cox (New York: Russell & Russell, 1964, first published in 1941 by the University of North Carolina Press), 173.

  105Alexander von Humbolt, the Prussian explorer: Quoted in Lynch, Spanish American Revolutions, 1.

  108When Porter arrived on the scene: Galdames, History of Chile, 178.

  Chapter Ten: A Packed Week at Valparaiso

  111“With respect to Spanish America generally”: Madison to Ambassador Pinkney, Oct. 30, 1810 in Ralph Ketcham, James Madison (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1990), 502; Secretary of State Robert Smith to Joel Roberts Poinsett, Aug. 24, 1810, in Poinsett Papers, 1785–1851, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Guide 512, Box 1, 1800–1817.

  111Britain had been trying to increase her influence: Charles K. Webster, ed., Britain and the Independence of Latin America, 1812–1830: Select Documents from the Foreign Office Archives, two vols. (London: Oxford University Press, 1938), 1:3–12; Robert Harvey, Liberators: Latin America’s Struggle For Independence (Woodstock, NY: Overlook Press, 2000), 8–13.

  112While the British continued to fight for the Spanish monarchy: Poinsett to Secretary of State James Monroe, Sept. 15, 1814, Poinsett Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, HSP Guide 512, Box 1.

  112When Poinsett left for South America on October 15, 1810: J. Fred Rippy, Joel R. Poinsett, Versatile American (New York: Greenwood, 1968, reprint of 1935 edition by Duke University Press), 36–42; Samuel Flagg Bemis, The Latin American Policy of the United States (New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1943), 31.

  113Without any communication from Washington, Poinsett: Poinsett to Monroe, Sept. 10, 1814, Poinsett Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Box 1.

  114Poinsett and Carrera were so enthusiastic about the Essex: Porter, Journal, 120–21.

  114When news of Porter’s arrival reached Santiago: Ibid., 138.

  114Actually, the Standard had departed: Captain Peter Heywood to Dixon, April 3, 1813, Dixon to Croker, April 30, 1813, in Gerald S. Graham and R.A. Humphreys, eds., The Navy and South America, 1807–1823: Correspondence of the Commanders-in-Chief on the South American Station (London: Navy Records Society, 1962), 86–87.

  115Without Dixon and the Standard to worry about at the moment: Porter, Journal, 127.

  115Porter was also entertaining Governor Lastra: Ibid., 121–25.

  116The following day was Sunday: Journal of Midshipman William W. Feltus, March 22, 1813.

  117An American whale ship, the George: Stackpole, Whales and Destiny, 338–39.

  117On March 23, just before leaving Valparaiso: Porter to Bainbridge, March 23, 1813, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 2: 688–89.

  Chapter Eleven: Peru and the Elusive Nimrod

  119He estimated that there were in excess: Porter, Journal, 211.

  121Porter now went after the Nimrod: Journal of Midshipman William W. Feltus, March 25 and 26, 1813; Porter, Journal, 131–34.

  122The Nereyda reached Callao: Samuel B. Johnston, Three Years in Chile (Erie, PA: R.I. Curtis, 1816), 122; Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 3:740n.

  122Porter believed that the capture of the Nimrod: Porter, Journal, 135–37.

  122After seeing the two captains off: Journal of Midshipman William W. Feltus, March 13, 1813.

  123As the Essex sped north: Porter to Hamilton, July 2, 1813, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 2:697–99; Porter, Journal, 139.

  123Porter now inched his way into Callao: Porter, Journal, 143.

  124After quitting the vicinity of Callao: Ibid., 145–47.

  Chapter Twelve: Fortune Smiles in the Galapagos Islands

  127Porter used dead reckoning to navigate: Porter, Journal, 149–50.

  128On the morning of April 17: Ibid., 162.

  128Porter undoubtedly exaggerated the inadequacies: Stackpole, Whales and Destiny, 129.

  129Britain’s need for sperm oil was so great: Eric Jay Dolan, Leviathan: The History of Whaling in America (New York: W.W. Norton, 2007), 168.

  131Considering how important the whaling business: Kevin D. McCranie, Utmost Gallantry: The U.S. and Royal Navies in the War of 1812 (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2011), 185.

  131Hood Island is the southernmost: Porter, Journal, 150, 175–76.

  132Porter expected to go into action: Ibid., 152–54.

  133Porter suspected that finding water: Ibid., 155–59.

  133Captain Colnett contributed to the legend: Captain James Colnett, A Voyage to the Northwest side of North America: The Journals of James Colnett (Vancouver, BC: UBC Press, 2004, reprint of 1798 edition).

  133The golden age of piracy occurred: The best study of pirates is Colin Woodard, The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down (New York: Harcourt, 2007).

  134After being disappointed at Charles Island: Journal of Midshipman William W. Feltus, April 24, 1813.

  136After restocking the Essex, Porter: Porter, Journal, 167–70.

  136Fishing did not take the crew’s mind off: Farragut, Life of David Glasgow Farragut, 23; Journal of Midshipman William W. Feltus, April 29 and 30, 1813.

  137Capturing the ships was so easy: Porter, Journal, 180.

  138Downes received the Policy’s ten guns: Ibid., 177–94.

  140After returning to the Essex, he delayed: Ibid., 200–201.

  142Weir had been aboard for only a short time: Ibid., 197–202.

  143Porter now had a fleet of six: Ibid., 203–7.

  Chapter Thirteen: Unparalleled Success

  145On June 8, Porter passed to the north of Abingdon: Porter, Journal, 214–21.

  146On June 22, Randall returned: Ibid., 223–25.

  147On the same day, Porter received: Journal of Midshipman William W. Feltus, June 25,
1813; Porter, Journal, 226–28.

  148Downes now had seventy-five prisoners: Captain David Porter to Secretary of the Navy Hamilton, July 2, 1813, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 2:697–99.

  148Before leaving the Gulf of Guayaquil: William James, The Naval History of Great Britain During the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2002, originally published in London by Richard Bentley, 1822–1824), 6:284; Daughan, 1812, 17–22.

  148Those prisoners who did not want to join: Journal of Midshipman William W. Feltus, June 25, 1813; Porter to Hamilton, July 2, 1813, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 2:697–99.

  149With these matters tended to: Porter, Journal, 229–30.

  150Porter also gave Downes three letters addressed to: Porter to Secretary of the Navy Hamilton, July 2, 1813, in Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 2:697–99.

  151Porter also wanted the navy to know how well: Ibid., 2:701.

  151The president immediately released Porter’s report: See, for instance, Boston Patriot, Dec. 22, 1813; Boston Gazette, Dec. 23, 1813; National Intelligencer, Dec. 20, 1813.

  151Secretary Jones lost no time passing: Secretary Jones to Evelina Porter, Dec. 14, 1813, David Dixon Porter Mss., Library of Congress, vol. 2.

  152Carrying Porter’s letters to the navy secretary: Farragut, Life of David Glasgow Farragut, 26–27; Lewis, David Glasgow Farragut, 77–78.

  153While Downes was leading his squadron: Porter, Journal, 230–34.

  155After they left, he strengthened the Seringapatam: Dudley, ed., Naval War of 1812, 2:702.

  156At noon on the day that Wilson left: Porter, Journal, 237–41.

  157On August 4, Porter anchored his ships: Ibid., 243.

  157Later, he explored parts of James Island: Ibid., 255.

  158The goats did indeed make a difference: Paul D. Stewart, Galapagos: The Islands That Changed the World (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2006), 51.

  158Suddenly one morning in the middle of August: Long, Ready to Hazard, 20.