M 0480
LETTERS SENT BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
TO CHIEFS OF NAVY BUREAUS, 1842‑1886
IN NATIONAL ARCHIVES (3 ROLLS)

 Note:  Only those rolls covering periods when CONSTITUTION was in squadron service have been researched. 

Roll 1, Vol 1 (September 10, 1842 ‑ July 26, 1849)

To Captain David Connor, Chief of Bureau of Construction, Equipment and Repair, 24 Dec 1842:

          Commodore Kennedy has been directed to transfer CONSTITUTION to the Commander, Navy Yard Norfolk.  The BRANDYWINE is to be substituted for her.

To Captain Beverly Kennon, Chief of Bureau of Construction, Equipment and Repair, 24 Oct 1843:

          Have Captain Percival carefully examine CONSTITUTION and report the result to the Department with an estimate of the cost of repairing her for sea service.

To Captain Beverly Kennon, Chief of Bureau of Construction. Equipment and Repair, 3 Nov 1843:

          Inquire of Commodore Nicolson what the cost in Boston would be for masts for CONSTITUTION of the following dimensions:

          "The ship is to be prepared and fitted for sea under the immediate superintendence of Capt. Percival, subject of course to the general directions of Commo. Wilkinson, Commandant of the Navy Yard at Norfolk."

          Percival estimates little more than $10,000 to repair her, including the new masts.

To Captain Beverly Kennon, Chief of Bureau of Construction, Equipment and Repair, 15 Dec 1843:

          Captain Percival, commanding CONSTITUTION, under repairs at Norfolk, is to be furnished with a statement of the number of men employed daily in his ship and their rates of pay.

To Commodore Lewis Warrington, Washington, DC, 9 Jan 1844:

          Proceed to Norfolk, inspect the repairs to CONSTITUTION, and report thereon to the Department.

To the Chiefs of the several Bureaus, 22 Jan 1844:

          CONSTITUTION has been put in commission under the command of Captain John Percival, destined for a cruise "to the Eastern Coast of Africa, the East Indies, and China seas."  Provide her outfits and stores.

To Commodore William Crane, Chief of Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography, 13 Feb 1844:

          Place in CONSTITUTION a case of Jenks's carbines, to be distributed as presents during her cruise.

To Commodore William Crane, Chief of Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography, 16 Feb 1844:

          Captain Percival has permission to land two of his forecastle guns from CONSTITUTION.

To the Chiefs of the several Bureaus, 1 Oct 1846:

          CONSTITUTION has arrived at Boston.  She is to be laid up in ordinary.

To the Chiefs of the several Bureaus, 4 Sep 1848:

          CONSTITUTION is to be "fitted without delay" for a cruise in the Mediterranean.

Vol 2 (August 6, 1849 ‑ November 28, 1853)

To the Chiefs of the several Bureaus, 20 Jan 1851:

          BRANDYWINE, CONSTITUTION, PREBLE, FREDONIA, and LEXINGTON are to be dismantled and placed in ordinary at New York.

To the Chiefs of the several Bureaus, 24 Jul 1852:

          CONSTITUTION will be substituted for INDEPENDENCE in the Home Squadron, COLUMBIA is to be fitted for the Brazil Station, and SAVANNAH for the Pacific.

To the Chiefs of the several Bureaus, 4 Aug 1852:

          CONSTITUTION is to be prepared for service in the Pacific and SAVANNAH for the Brazil Station.  [COLUMBIA had been reassigned to the Home Squadron on 31 Jul.]

To Surgeon Thomas Harris, Chief of Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, 12 Aug 1852:

          Mentions Surgeon Solomon Sharp having been alerted for orders to CONSTITUTION.

To Surgeon Thomas Harris, Chief of Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, 9 Dec 1852:

          Requests that a new Surgeon be nominated as Surgeon of the Fleet for the African Squadron.  [Surgeon sharp apparently has been ordered to the Home Squadron.]

To Surgeon Thomas Harris, Chief of Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, 14 Dec 1852:

          Nominate junior medical officers for CONSTITUTION and instruct the Surgeon at the New York Navy Yard in the preparation of a medical outfit for that ship.

To Surgeon Thomas Harris, Chief of Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, 23 Dec 1852:

          Nominate someone other than Surgeon Ruschenberger for the African Squadron as he will be engaged for some time yet on the Board of Examination at the Naval Asylum.

Roll 2, Vol 3 (December 2, 1853 ‑ July 8, 1861)

To Captain D. N. Ingraham, Chief of Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography, 11 Jul 1860:

          The Superintendent of the Naval Academy is authorized to contract for the installation of lockers in CONSTITUTION.

Vol 4 (July 10, 1861 ‑ December 17, 1868)

          NOTHING

Roll 3, Vol 5 (January 9, 1869 ‑ June 30, 1880)

          NOTHING

Vol 6 (July 6, 1880 ‑ December 31, 1885)

To Commodore Earl English, Chief of Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting, 30 Nov 1881:

          Be advised the Commandant of the New York Navy Yard has been ordered to land CONSTITUTION's stores, transfer her crew, and place her out of commission.

Vol 7 (January 2 ‑ November 13, 1886)

          NOTHING

The Captain's Clerk
1989, TGM