|
M 0625 IN NATIONAL ARCHIVES (414 ROLLS)
[Note:
Only those portions of this series that seemed likely to contain
reference to CONSTITUTION have been researched.]
Roll 3 (Area 4, 1779 ‑ 1804)
[Note:
There is a sketch of INTREPID near the end of Roll 3.]
Roll 4 (Area 4, 1805 ‑ 1815)
CONSTITUTION
was in Gibraltar on 4 Jun 1806 and at
In
Sep 1806, First Lieutenant was Charles Ludlow; Sailing Master, William Bagot;
Boatswain; George Nicholson; Carpenter, William Godby; Sailmaker, Samuel
Creswell. The lower rigging was
condemned; the foremast must be landed for repairs, the "main spindle
entirely rotten."
Letter,
Commodore Hugh G. Campbell, USS CONSTITUTION at
Getting in new lower rigging. Replacing foremast. Doing a thorough caulking. Intend to call at
Letter,
Commodore Hugh G. Campbell, USS CONSTITUTION at
Getting new main course and topsails.
Letter,
Commodore Hugh G. Campbell, USS CONSTITUTION at
Dr. [Patrick] Sim died of consumption on
the 11th; Dr. McAllister is acting in his stead.
Letter,
Commodore Hugh G. Campbell, USS CONSTITUTION at
Hopes to sail "tomorrow" or next
day.
Letter,
Commodore Hugh G. Campbell, USS CONSTITUTION at
Left
Letter,
Commodore Hugh G. Campbell, USS CONSTITUTION at
All doctors in the squadron are ill.
Letter,
Commodore Hugh G. Campbell, USS CONSTITUTION at
Left Gibraltar on 22 Dec; in
CONSTITUTION
was in
Letter,
Commodore Hugh G. Campbell, USS CONSTITUTION at
Arrived
CONSTITUTION in
Letter,
Commodore Hugh G. Campbell, USS CONSTITUTION at
Sailed from
CONSTITUTION
still in
Roll 74 (Area 7, Feb 1784 ‑ Dec 1809)
From
SecWar to Joshua Humphreys,
"I request that you will please
immediately prepare the models for the frame of the frigates, proposed by you
in your letter of this date, and also, that you would please prepare an
accurate draft and models of the same; the later to have the frames accurately
described."
From
Captain Samuel Nicholson,
"...I wish much to hear from you, not
doubtg. but you being on the Spot, and our Senior Officer, you can tell us when
we are to get our Commissions, what is to be our Uniforms, and where we are to
receive our pay and rations... ‑‑‑ with regard to our Frigate
to be built here, we have a great difficulty in gettg. our Keel pieces, and our
Constructor after much fatigue and Expence, is gone to the North River after
them, our yard is Inclosed, foundation laid, Sawpitts cover'd, plank Stocks
Comg. in dayly [sic] and 3 pr. of Sawyers at Work. 4 schooners are gone and one other ready to
sail for
From
Captain Samuel Nicholson,
"I make no doubt but it will be
gratifying to you, after so long and Tedious a Struggle to find we are in a
fair way to finish and Complete the Frigate building here, wch. be assured will
be a very Complete Ship, we are making every preparation for launching her the
next new moon at wch. time I should be very glad to have some Officers to take
care of the Ship. I should be much obliged
if you will cause to be sent me A lieutenant, the Master Boatswain, Gunner, and
A Marine Officer with a gard [sic].‑‑‑ I expect the Secretary of War will give the
necessary guard proper orders on your mentioning the matter to him, likewise to
tell him we have only 2 bower anchors, those will answer to moor the Ship with,
but a third is necessary as a spare anchor in case of an Accident. Especially at this particular season for the
want of water we Cannot haul into any Wharf here without injuring our Copper,
she will allways [sic] at those Wharfs, take the ground at low Water. We have only abt. 100 tons of Kentledge sent
us from N. York, pray how much do you take for your Ship, I should wish for 100
tons more. Our round 24 lb Shott [sic]
sent us from Springfd. are very bad.
they are very ruff with holes, and in the diameter some of them 2/8th of
an Inch larger than others. Our masts,
yards, rigging, Sails, Gun deck guns, Water Cask [sic], &c, &c, will be
all ready to go on board the day after we launch.
"I expect we shall be all hands very
busy on the Quarter deck and foreCastle the latter end of this week, pray Sir
Can you give me any tidings of our Cannon for those decks, I expect the Gun
deck will be Completed, and the bowspritt [sic] in, the day after tomorrow, our
Copper to light water mark is completed and nailed off, braces on [?] Carved
work for Taffrails Gallerys, &c is all in hand
"Genl Jackson wishes I would write to
you for information respectg. an Entertainment at our Launch, as you have
allready [sic] gone through this business, you can best advise. (We expect the Honor of the Presidents [sic]
Company) I hope the Constitution is safe in the water."
From
F. Williams,
"...The manning of our Frigate, I am
sorry to observe, has made little progress; owing considerably to the unpopularity
of the Commander; tho' no one alleges any thing against him that partakes of
misconduct in any respect. He is poor ‑‑
it is his only living. What can be done,
I know not. It is to be regretted that so
fine a Ship should lie uselessly at her anchors.‑‑‑
"It is nearly 4 months since I
purchased the wet provisions for her ‑‑ they still remain in a
store! In a few days, all her bread will
be ready. No one has orders to receive
or deliver.‑‑‑‑
"Till there is some system ‑‑‑
a Department, and proper Agents under & dependent on it, I despair of our
receiving any benefit, at least, from this Frigate. I believe there has been a Scandalous waste
of property in building her; owing, I conceive, to the entire ignorance
in the Agent of all naval affairs..."
From
Captain Samuel Nicholson, USS CONSTITUTION, to ? [probably SecNav], 6 Jul 1798:
"...Our Carpenters are mountg. the
Carronades in the Tops and slinging the lower yds with chains &c... the Gunner with 5 of his men are gone to the
Castle, filling cartridges &c... we
are now covering the lead in the bread room with thin boards, after which I
will take the bread and Sails, likewise the powder, on C.‑‑
..."
Columbian Centinel,
"On Sunday last,
the...Constitution...sailed... she has
on board 388 young, well built healthy Americans ‑‑ 125 of whom
have left powers of attorney to their wives, parents and sweethearts, to
receive half their pay during their absence!..."
From
Captain Samuel Nicholson, USS CONSTITUTION, to SecNav, 12 Sep 1798:
Reports arrival at Hampton Roads the
previous evening, bringing with him the British privateer
Roll 75 (Area 7, January 1810 ‑ December
1812)
From
Midshipman Thomas Holdup, USS PRESIDENT, to his father, 19 Jul 1810:
"...This ship differs very much from
the Constitution both in her Sailing and Rigging, and also her Accommodations;
for she sails much better; and is much lighter rigged‑ Her Birth Deck is superior as also her Cabin,
Ward Room & Steerage all of which have the convenience of Air Ports‑
her Gun Deck and Fore Castle are better; but her Quarter Deck in my opinion is
not as large ‑ her Cockpit and Store Rooms are far superior to the
Constitutions ‑ The Master's, Boswain's [sic], Gunner's, and Carpenter's
Store Rooms are forward on the Birth Deck‑ her Lower, Topsail, Top Gallant and Royal
Yards are much lighter, than the Constitution's; her Standing Rigging is smaller; but the stuff is much inferior her
running rigging is in some respects smaller but very disproportional; and leads
very irregular; but I believe the Comre. intends having it altered: the Eyes of
her Standing rigging are very large; and all of the Rigging is obliged to be
kept very slack; for the least alteration in setting it up, would eventually
destroy her sailing; but upon the whole I am very much pleased with this Ship
and prefer her to the Constitution ‑ ..."
From
SecNav to Commodore John Rodgers, USS PRESIDENT, 28 Dec 1810:
"It is desirable that the Constitution
and the Argus be held ready for foreign service..."
From
SecNav to Captain Isaac Hull,
"I have understood that you have the
flag worn by the Guerriere at the time you vanquished her. Such trophies are highly precious & can
not be too carefully preserved. I shall
therefore be happy to receive from you the flag in question & any other
trophy that you may have preserved on the occasion. The action was the most brilliant I ever
heard of & redounds greatly to our national glory. Its remembrance can not be too much
cherished.
"I should have requested these
trophies earlier but was under the impression that the masts of the Guerriere
having been carried by the board it had not been in your power to preserve
either of the flags."
Pension
certificate of Richard Dunn, 7 Apr 1813:
Authorized a pension of $6 monthly for life
in recognition of wounds received in the CONSTITUTION‑ GUERRIERE action.
Pension
affidavit of Owen Taylor, 11 Jul 1825:
Attests to the fact that Owen Taylor was a
seaman in CONSTITUTION during the GUERRIERE fight in which he took a musket
ball "through his body." He is
entitled to a pension of $6 per month for life.
Roll 76 (Area 7, January 1813 ‑ May 1814)
From
Captain Charles Stewart, USS CONSTITUTION, to SecNav, 4 Apr 1814:
"I have the honor to inform you that
we arrived at this place [
"I regret that our cruise has been so
unsuccessful and that we captured but four of the Enemy's vessels (as per list
inclosed) although we chased every thing we Saw until yesterday. We closely pressed his Majesty's brig of war
Mosquito off
"The animation displayed by the
officers and crew at So near a prospect of adding another laurel, Constitutionally,
to the Naval wreath, leaves no doubt of the honorable result had we been So
fortunate as to have brought the Enemy to action.
"We cruised Some time in the Gulf
passage, to intercept any thing there might be passing, from the leeward
Islands; we also Scoured along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina, but
found no blockading cruisers there; we endeavoured to have communication with
Charleston and draw Supplies from thence, but the weather was So thick we could
not See the land in seven fathoms water off the bar. From that coast we returned to
"Our Supplies would have enabled us to
have kept the Sea a month longer, but our keeping out that time would have
rendered our getting into the United States precarious, which, if disappointed
in, we should not have been enabled afterwards to have reached a foreign port;
added to this, Scorbutic Symptoms began to make their appearance, and we had
certain information from Bermuda that most of the Ships were in, provisioning
and preparing for the Spring blockade; I therefore considered the Safe return
of the Ship to the United States more important than a lengthened cruise, and
that her being blockaded in the United States during the Summer would be
preferred to a like blockade in a foreign port, as the officers and crew could
be usefully employed in such other manner as the Government might deem best.
"The Ship leaks considerably, which I
believe is principally in her seams.
"Enclosed I hand you the periods of
the departure of the Convoys, this Summer from the windward Islands, but the
convoying force will be Such as to leave little in the power of a Single
Ship. The first fleet will, perhaps, be
the most valuable that has for many years left the
[Enclosure]
"Ship
Lovely Ann of London ‑ 12 guns, 16 men ‑ cargo flour, fish, and lumber bound to
His
Brittanic Majesty's Schooner Pictou ‑ 13 guns ‑ 57 men.
Burnt.
Schooner
Phoenix ‑ cargo lumber ‑ from Demerara to
Barbadoes with despatches ‑ Sunk
Brig
Catherine from Grenada to St. Thomas ‑ ballast ‑ Sunk."
Roll 77 (Area 7, June 1814 ‑ December
1815)
From
Captain Jesse D. Elliott, USS CONSTITUTION, to SecNav, 5 Aug 1835 [sic]:
Nominates 1/c Boy Jesse Elliott Hart of New
York for appointment as a midshipman in his ship. [Not done.]
From
Commodore William Bainbridge, Charlestown Navy Yard, to Commodore John Rodgers,
Philadelphia, PA, 21 Dec 1814:
"...The Frigate Constitution sailed
from here on a cruise Saturday last. She
is well officered ‑ and excessively well manned ‑ altho 14 men
short of the compliment [sic] allowed ‑‑‑ ...
Survivor's
pension certificate for Nancy Lancey, Boston, MA, 27 Dec 1820:
Husband John Lancey was an ordinary seaman
in CONSTITUTION, and wounded in the fight with CYANE and LEVANT and died on 22
Feb 1815. His widow to get $5 per month
for 5 years so long as she doesn't remarry.
Roll 78 (Area 7, January 1816 ‑ December
1837)
From
Captain Daniel T. Patterson, USS CONSTITUTION, to Midshipman J. H. Marshall,
USS CONSTITUTION, 5 Jul 1828:
Commends him for correct deportment and
professional improvement, and for his performance as Master "for the last
Year."
From
Captain Daniel T. Patterson, USS CONSTITUTION, to Midshipman James Lockwood,
USS CONSTITUTION, 5 Jul 1828:
Commends him for correct deportment and
professional improvement.
Roll 79 (January 1838 ‑ December 1845)
From
Captain James Biddle, Naval Asylum, Philadelphia, PA, to SecNav, 11 Jan 1838
[probably meant 1839]:
Proposes
to place the granite balls acquired by Commodore Elliott "upon the
abutments of our building or somewhere about our grounds. I should not deem in worth while to incur
much expense..."
From
BNC to Captain Lewis Warrington, Norfolk, VA, 4 Sep 1838:
Informs him that CONSTITUTION is to be
repaired and equipped for a three year cruise in the Mediterranean as early as
possible. How soon will that be?
From
BNC to Captain Lewis Warrington, Norfolk, VA, 10 Jan 1839:
CONSTITUTION is to be finished as
early as practicable.
From
BNC to SecNav, 24 Jan 1839:
Recommend no expense be incurred in
shipping the granite balls returned with Commodore Elliott to the Naval Asylum;
leave them at the Norfolk Navy Yard until an opportunity occurs to include them
in any shipment going there.
From
Captain Alexander Claxton, USS CONSTITUTION, to Captain Daniel Turner, USS
CONSTITUTION, 21 Mar 1839:
CONSTITUTION is to be battle ready;
exercise your crew at the great guns and small arms.
"The great renown of this noble
Ship, her long and distinguished services, point her out to the American people
as an object of high veneration. It was
only by the toilful [sic] exercise at the guns that she was enabled to vanquish
all her enemies, and it is only by like labor that her ancient reputation can
be maintained."
From
Captain Foxhall A. Parker, USS CONSTITUTION, to SecNav, 30 Nov 1842:
Reports his return to Norfolk after a
21‑day cruise. Shortly after
getting underway, discovered several leaks which rendered the wardroom,
steerage, and berth deck very uncomfortable, driving the officers from their
rooms and wetting the mens' clothing.
Had the weather been cold, the crew would have been rendered helpless. Report has been made to Commodore
Stewart. Awaiting orders. Happy with officers and crew.
From
Captain John Percival, USS CONSTITUTION, to SecNav, 17 Mar 1844:
The leak has been thoroughly
stopped. In stripping copper, it was
found that a plank at the hood ends had separated about an inch or an inch‑and‑a‑half
near the 18‑foot draft mark, probably from collision with some object,
and two inches of oakum loosened.
According to Lieutenant Cooke, who was then aboard her, he remembers an
occasion in the Mediterranean when casting ship she fell off the wrong way and
hit a wharf. Also found a small leak in
the stem, which has been repaired. The
ship has now been "immersed" for 36 hours and is dry.
Roll 404 (1775‑1805)
To
Captain James Sever, Portsmouth, NH, from SecWar, 14 May 1795:
The copper for the frigate building at
those places has arrived at New York and Philadelphia. That for the others may be expected
"daily."
Circular
letter from SecWar, 24 Aug 1797:
"Uniform for
the Navy of the United States of America
Captains
Uniform
Full
dress coat ‑ Blue Cloth, with long buff lappels [sic], and
standing collar and lining of buff ‑
to be made and trimmed full with a gold Epaulet
on each shoulder.
the [sic] cuff Buff,
with four Buttons to the pockets.
Vest
and Breeches ‑ Buff, with flaps and four buttons to the pockets of
the Vest, so as to correspond and be in
uniform with the Coat. Buttons the same
kind as the Coat, only proportionably
smaller.
Lieutenants
Coat
Long; Blue: with half lappels [sic] standing collar and lining of
buff the lappels [sic] to have six buttons
and one to the collar; below the lappel [sic} right side three buttons, left side, three
close worked button holes.three [sic]
buttons to the pocket flaps, and three to the slash sleeve with a
buff cuff.one [sic]
Epaulet on the right shoulder trimings,
plain twist.
Vest
and Breeches. Buff ‑ The former to
be made with skirts and
pocket flaps, but to have no buttons to the
pockets. The Buttons for the Vest and
Breeches, the same as for the Captains
Uniform.
Lieutenant
of Marines
Coat,
Long: Blue; with long lappels [sic] and lining red. The lappels
[sic] to have nine buttons, and one to the
standing collar. Three buttons to the pocket
flaps and
three to a slash sleeve with a
red cuff. one[ sic] gold Epaulet on the
right shoulder for the Senior Lieutenant,
when there are two Lieutenants for
the same
ship, and one on the left shoulder for
the second officer. Where there is only
one Lieutenant he is also to wear the
Epaulet on the right
shoulder. Trimmings
plain.
Vest
and Breeches. The former red with skirts
& pocket flaps, but to
have no buttons to the pockets‑ The latter blue ‑ buttons for the suit the same
as the Captains
and
Lieutenants.
Surgeons.
Coat long.
Dark
Green, with black velvet lappels [sic] and standing
collar. Lappels [sic] to have nine buttons
and one to the standing collar no linings
other than
being faced with the same cloth as
the coat. Slash sleeves, the cuff the same
as the facings, with three buttons. Pocket flaps plain.
Vest
and Breeches. The former red, double
Breasted ‑ the later, Green,
same as the coat. Buttons, the same as
the officers.
Surgeons Mates
The same as
the Surgeons, with only this difference in
the coat, to wit ‑ half Lappels [sic]
with six buttons and one tothe collar;
below the lappel [sic], right
side three
buttons, left side three close worked button
holes.
Sailing
Master
Coat.
Long. Blue; with facings and standing collar of the
same, edged
with buff nine buttons to the
lappells
[sic], and one to the standing
collar. Lining blue or faced with the same
as the coat ‑
slash sleeve, with three
buttons. pockets [sic] plain.
Vest
and Breeches. Plain Buff Vest ‑
and blue Breeches.
Buttons
(for the suit) the same as for
officers.
Purser
Coat. Plain frock Blue coat, with the proper naval
buttons: no
lappels [sic].
Vest
& Breeches ‑ Buff and plain.
Midshipmen
Coat. Plain frock coat of blue, lined and edged
with
buff: without
lappels [sic]]. a [sic]
standing
collar of Buff, and plain buff
cuffs, open
underneath with three buttons.
Vest
and Breeches ‑ Buff. former [sic] to be made round
and plain,
buttons for the suit & the same
as before
described.
Marines
Plain
Short coats of blue, with red belt, edged with red,
and turned up
with the same, with common
small naval
buttons, with blue pantaloons
edged with red
& red vest.‑‑
Captains,
Lieutenants, and Marine Officers
to wear when
full dressed cocked hats with
black
cockades,and small swords (Yellow
Mounted) ‑
& when undressed such swords as
may be
hereafter, fixed on, or ordered, which
such swords
are to be worn at all times by
the
Midshipmen, who are to wear cocked hats,
&c when
full dressed only ‑ surgeons; Mates;
Sailing
Masters; & Pursers ‑ cocked hats and
black
cockades.
N.B.‑
summer dress ‑ Vests and breeches
(excepting for
marine [sic] Soldiers) to be
White, or
Nankeen, as may correspond with
the uniform
&c &c Marines White linen
overalls."
To
the Governor of Massachusetts, 30 May 1798:
Due to the "failure of a
contract," a secondary battery is not available for CONSTITUTION. Requests the loan of "fourteen or
sixteen" 18‑pounders from Castle Island, together with a
"suitable quantity of shott [sic]."
To
Captain James Sever, USS CONGRESS, 28 Nov 1799:
"You will consider the men
belonging to the Constitution who have joined you as a part of your complement,
it being impossible that you should, for a considerable time at least, fall in
with Capt. Talbot."
To
the Comptroller of the Treasury, from Thomas Turner, Navy Department, 28 Nov
1800:
CONSTITUTION's accounts have not been
settled since she went into service. The
Secretary wishes it done.
Roll 405 (1806‑1837)
From
Captain John Rodgers, USS CONSTITUTION, to SecNav, 25 Jan 1806:
In the absence of any other directive,
I assume I am to continue the squadron as it is, consisting of CONSTITUTION,
ESSEX, ARGUS, SIREN, VIXEN, ENTERPRIZE, NAUTILUS, HORNET, Bombs VENGEANCE
and SPITFIRE, and the 8 gunboats until
our affairs with Tunis are permanently settled.
Roll 406 (1838‑1846)
From
Captain Jesse D. Elliott, Carlisle, PA, 27 Nov 1838:
"I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of the 15th instant requesting me to point out to
the Department the order of the Government which directs the Commanders of
Squadrons or Ships, to import Jack Asses or any other animals.‑‑
"It may have escaped the notice
of the Department that by its orders emanating from the Hon. S. D. Southard to
Commodore Crane one of my predecessors in the command of the Mediterranean
Squadron, and which orders were handed down to his successors in the same
command, it was stated to him that it would probably be in his power to
subserve the agricultural interests of the Nation by procuring information
respecting Valuable Animals, Seeds and plants and importing such as he could
conveniently without inattention to his main appropriate duties or expence to
the Government.‑‑ Extracts
from these instructions were delivered to me by my immediate predecessor as I
had the honor to advise you on my return in a letter dated the 31st July last,
and have served as the rule of my Conduct, as they have of all my predecessors
in their importation of the Animals, Seeds, plants and Curiosities from time to
time brought to the United States in the different pubic Vessels constituting a
part of their and my Command.‑‑"
From
Captain Charles Morris, BNC, to Lieutenant James M. Gillis, Washington, DC, 2
Jan 1839:
Have instruments and charts prepared
for CONSTITUTION's use in the Pacific.
From BNC to Captain Charles Ridgely, Norfolk,
Va, 15 May 1839:
Ask Commodore Claxton if CONSTITUTION
can carry out sufficient canvas for a new suit of sails for LEXINGTON when she
goes to the Pacific. If not, send it by
the earliest opportunity.
From
S. Warriner, Jr., New York, NY, to Hon. William B. Calhoun, 22 Dec 1841:
Notes that his brother‑in‑law,
Edmund F. Olmstead, had been a Master's Mate in the recently returned
CONSTITUTION. Wishes warrant as Sailing
Master. Has been in the Navy about 10
years. He is now aboard INDEPENDENCE.
|
|
The
Captain's Clerk |