M739, LETTERS SENT BY THE WAR DEPARTMENT
RELATING
TO NAVAL MATTERS,
JANUARY
3, 1794‑JUNE 14, 1798,
IN
NATIONAL ARCHIVES (1 ROLL)
From
Foster Williams,
Provides an estimate of cost for a 900‑ton
frigate. Suggested battery: 30 long 24s,
6 long 9s, and 4 8" howitzers.
Proposed pay scale: Captain, $60;
Lieutenant, $30; Master, $25; Chaplain, $25; Master's Mate, $10; Midshipman,
$7.50; Schoolmaster, $7.50; Captain's Clerk, $7.50; Quartermaster, $6.50;
Boatswain, $11; Boatswain's Mate, $7; Yeoman of the Sheets, $6.50; Coxswain,
$6.50; Sailmaker, $8.50; Sailmaker's Mate, $6.50; Sailmaker's Crew, $6; Gunner,
$11; Gunner's Mate, $6.50; Yeoman of the Powder Room, $6.50; Quarter Gunner,
$6; Armorer, $7; Carpenter, $11; Carpenter's Mate, $8.50; Carpenter's Crew, $6;
Purser, $11; Steward, $6; Cook, $6; Surgeon, $25; Surgeon's Mate, $12.50;
Master‑at‑Arms, $7.50; Ship's Corporal, $7; Cook's Mate, Yeoman of
the Boatswain's Stores, Cooper, and Seaman, $5; Ordinary Seaman, $4;
Lieutenant, USMC, $22; Sergeant, $5; Corporal, $4; and Fifer, Drummer, and
Private, $3.
To
Senator Pierce Butler, 15 Nov 1791:
Submits the foregoing estimate. Another, for a 14‑gun brigantine, to be
submitted "tomorrow." [Actually
submitted on 17th.]
From
Samuel Hodgdon,
Submits an estimate for an 800‑ton
frigate (like a British 36).
To
John Hackett,
Request you come to
To
Secretary of the Treasury, 21 Apr 1794:
"I have the honor to transmit you
an estimate of the quantity and quality of Timber, Plank, Scantling, and Copper
&c which will be required for each of the four largest frigates
contemplated by the Act entitled 'An Act to provide a naval armament' nearly
the same quantity will also be wanted for each of the thirty six gun ships
mentioned in the said Act.
It has been decided by the President
of the
.
"It appears to be of
indispensible necessity that immediate arrangements should be made to obtain
the articles contained in the estimate and to have them transported to the
ports before mentioned ‑ excepting such articles, of the timber as may be
obtained at, or in the neighborhood of the said places.
"The live oak and red cedar must
principally be obtained from the islands on the coast of
"Different opinions are
entertained as to the most certain, and the most oeconomical [sic] mode of
obtaining the live oak and cedar from
"Some persons recommend that one
or more persons in whom due confidence may be placed, should repair to the
Islands of Georgia, and contract with the proprietors of the timber as it
stands for such parts as will serve the moulds, and that a sufficient number of
axe‑men with their provision, be sent from the northward in order to cut
the same, and transport it to the places where it is to be used. These persons assert that any contract made
in
"The moulds for the timbers of
both sized ships are preparing and nearly finished. These must be transported to the places where
the timber is to be cut, otherwise mistakes would arise and disappointment of
course ensue.
"Besides the mode before
mentioned, there are persons who recommend a contract with some persons, if
such could be found, which is said to be the case to procure the timber in
Georgia, and transport it to the respective ports or places.
"You will please to judge which
of these two modes will be preferable. I
have understood that in 1776 or 1777 the frames of two 74 gun ships were cut
under the authority of the United States, part at Sunbury and part at a place
called Kilkenny near the mouth of the Savannah River, and that as the said
timber was very large part of it yet remains it may therefore be proper to look
it up, and if it should answer for the frames of the proposed frigates as
probable it would be excellent from its long seasoning.
"I have the honor to submit to you a
letter from Mr. Wereat of
"The manner in which these vessels
ought to be built has been under consideration, that is whether the hull and
other parts susceptible of the measure should be built by a contract or by a
capable agent or agents appointed for the purpose of procuring the labor and materials. Upon enquiry however it appears improbably
that a contract could be formed with the Shipbuilders in this place for the one
directed to be built here. They alledge
that if a contract was offered and accepted by two or more it would ecsite
[sic] the ill will and envy of those who had no part in it, and as the frigate
would require many hands the price of that sort of labor would rise, and that
therefore it would be in the power of those not employed to raise the wages of
the Journeymen shilling or two per day, which would occasion great
embarrassment, if not ruin, to the undertakers.
Hence it would appear to follow as a consequence that if the
Shipbuilders of Philadelphia, some of whom have considerable capitals, would
decline a contract, that it would be almost or quite impracticable to obtain
the building by contract elsewhere. If
this should be so, then agents respectable for their intelligence, activity,
and integrity must be sought in the places in which the said frigates are
directed to be built.
"The President of the
"I suppose however if you should find
it practicable to build them by contract, that the subject will still be
reconsidered by him, and as for myself I should find great satisfaction in a
contract, if one on solid principles could be obtained."
To
John Wharton,
Request your opinion of Mr. Humphreys
model of a 44‑gun frigate as regards
"1. Whether long ships require their extreme
breadth as far forward in proportion as shorter vessels and where is the proper
place in long ships for the dead flat to be placed?
"2. Whether the model has too much or too little
raising, and whether it is too sharp or full forward & abaft?
“3.
In Mr. Fox's draft he has laid his wales above the lower deck, and Mr.
Humphreys has laid his lower deck at the upper edge of the lower wale. Mr. Fox's plan will make the ship look the
best, but will not Mr. Humphreys' method be the strongest?
"4. Whether the proportion of the depth of hold
to the breadth of beam, is just?
"5. What is your opinion as to the length of the
ship? ‑‑ and what are the advantages and disadvantages of such a
length? Some persons are of the opinion
she would be better with fourteen guns on each side instead of fifteen, the
number proposed.
"6. Whether the fore body and after body of the
model are proportionable to each other?
"7. And whether the ship would not sail much
faster without a round house, and if all other advantages that would result
from one ought not to be sacrificed for the qualification of fast
sailing?"
[Humphrey's "proportions are 147
feet keel ‑‑ 43 feet beam ‑‑ 14 feet hold ‑‑
7 feet between decks and 7 feet waist, 3 feet dead rising at 2/5 of the
floor."]
To
Joshua Humphreys,
Expedite erection of the building for
making the moulds.
To
Secretary of the Treasury, 25 Jun 1794:
Reports immediate appointment of Naval
Agents at
To
Joshua Humphreys,
Appoints him "the Constructor or
master builder" of the 44 at
Length
and size of Beams for each Frigate of 44 Guns.
Orlop
Beams of best pitch pine
Lower
Deck Beams of best white oak
Gun
Deck Beams of best white oak
Upper
Deck Beams of best pitch pine
The longest Beams to spring 6 inches
of the rest by the same mould.
The sizes of the above mentioned beams
will be sufficient of oak.
Joshua
Humphreys Approved HKnox
To
Henry Jackson,
Wants James Hacket as the Constructor
of the
To
Secretary of the Treasury, 14 Jul 1794:
Mentions Gurney & Smith as Naval
Agents,
To
Tench Coxe, 14 Jul 1794:
Reports William Pennock as Naval
Agent,
To
Josiah Fox,
Appointed Clerk in the War Department
at $500/yr "to be appropriated at present to the assistance of Joshua
Humphreys who is constructing the models and draughts for the frigates to be
built in the
To
Joshua Humphreys,
Requests moulds be prepared ASAP and
delivered to Naval Agents at the building cities. [
To
Governor of
James Hacket has been appointed
Constructor of the
To
Joshua Humphreys,
Requests he make another
"model" of the kentledge for the frigates.
To
Henry Jackson,
Forwards instructions for George
Claghorne as Constructor. The drafts of
the ships are not yet completed.
To
Tench Coxe,
Live oak is to be purchased for floor
and rising timbers as it is now known that trees of the proper size are
available. Moulds will be forwarded
immediately to Mr. Morgan.
To
Naval Agents at
Forwards drafts for the 44s. [Drafts for the 36 at
"Altho' the draft is a little
different from the Mould yet I request that the former may be adhered to ‑‑
The following will explain the difference ‑‑
"The Height of the Wing Transom
& all the others placed as on the Staff sent forward with the moulds, ‑‑
The Wing Transom instead of rounding up six inches to be made as straight as
the peice [sic] will admit of on the upper side the aft side of the mould
[sic].
"The distance & place of the
afterport as placed on the draft, and all the others of the distance & size
as before directed.
"Length of the Keel taken from
the Draft."
To
Caleb Gibbs,
Appointed Clerk of the Yard at that
place.
To
Tench Francis, 17 Jan 1795:
"Common oak" is to be used
in the deadwood. "...let the
direct salting of the timber be effectually performed."
From
Joshua Humphreys,
"With all deference the folg
names for the Frigates are Submitted ----
Circular
to Naval Agents, 6 Mar 1795:
It is understood now that live oak of
the necessary dimension is available, so use live oak for the
deadwood. Put the white oak aside.
To
Christopher Richmond, 16 Mar 1795:
Acknowledges receipt of a 2‑volume
set of David Steele's 1794 "Elements and Practice of Rigging and
Seamanship." Calls its arrival
"opportune," and after showing it to the President, will "place
it in hands capable of using it to advantage." [Passed it to Captain Thomas Truxtun prior to
31 Mar, who requested his fellow Captains send him their comments on his own
recently distributed work on the subject of masting for comparative study.]
From
Joshua Humphreys to Secretary of War, 18 Apr 1795:
Dimensions of kentledge as follows:
"Two feet six inches on one side
& five & a half inches wide.
"Two feet five & 3/4 inches
on the other do. & five & one quarter inches do.
"Deep four inches & three
eighths of an inch.
"One hole at each end on the flat
and at opposite sides."
To
Captain James Sever,
Mr. Humphreys recommends boring the
ends of beams "and for a certain part run a whip saw through the center,"
then fill these openings with salt to prevent rotting. Copper (bolts and sheets) has arrived at
To
Tench Francis,
It is now reported another year will
be required to get all the live oak wanted for the 6 frigates. Only sufficient quantities can be produced to
sustain normal employment at 2 sites. I
intend to suspend operations on 4 of the ships and dismiss those work forces,
keeping only
To
Henry Jackson,
Send sail duck to
To
William Pennock,
Orders work stopped and work force
discharged when "the Keel is
properly cover'd from the weather."
A
True Statement of the total lengths of the Masts and Yards for the Frigates of
44 Guns, calculated from the proportions laid down by the following Gentlemen:
Note:‑ In Captain Truxtun's
proportions there is no Mizen Royal Yard, or Mizen Royal Mast included.
To
Captain Thomas Truxtun,
Mr.
Humphreys' measurements for masts and spars "all exceed your
dimensions."
Circular
letter to Naval Constructors, 16 Nov 1795:
"Inclosed [sic] is a statement of the
3rd Futtocks that lengthen and shorten to give Scarph to the Gunports and to
provide for the scuppers and Airports by which you will be enabled to
appropriate the timbers to advantage, and prevent the frame from being cut
after it is all raised, though giving the timbers the best possible shifts but
when the 3rd Futtocks are shortened more than two feet it will be necessary to
shorten the 2nd Futtocks in proportion to regulate the Scarphs ‑ and I
have no doubt but you will approve of this method.
"The short toptimbers that are to be
of Cedar are also inserted in the same statement. It is thought advisable to run the 2nd
Futtocks (X) and (43) to the Airports instead of cutting the 3rd Futtocks as
the heads of the second Futtocks comes [sic] nearest to those Airports,
therefore second Futtocks X will lengthen 2 ft 2 In and second Futtock 43
will lengthen 2 ft 9 In.
"Forty Four Gun Frigates"
"The Heels of the facing timbers to
the Ports, are to run two feet below the upper edge of the Gun deck Beams, and
ought to receive one bolt of the Gundeck Knees through each of their Heels for
their better security, for which reason the 3rd Futtock heads are shortened
agreeable to the annexed table ‑ but forwards [sic] and aft those timbers
if shortened, not having sufficient Scarphs ‑ the 3rd futtocks that will
make facing timbers are to run up to the top of the side if possible ‑
which will make better work ‑ but if those timbers are not procured of
sufficient length, then the 3rd Futtocks must be cutt [sic] agreeable to the
others, in which case the 2nd Futtocks of those frames will require to be
shortened in proportion to regulate the Scarphs. It will be necessary frame those short
toptimbers only that make facing timbers, and where the short toptimbers form
Stansions [sic] and timberheads they had better be left untill [sic] the frame
is all raised, when they may be stationed agreeable to the Draught. All the short toptimbers that Stand on the
port Cills are to be of Cedar, except those over the three foremost ports,
which on account of their making timber heads for Securing the Anchors must be
of live Oak. The Cills of the ports are
also to be of live Oak, the Upper ones sufficiently deep to receive the Gudgeons
of the Ports."
To
Captain Samuel Nicholson,
Claghorne errs in believing the deadwood is
to be of white oak. Such wood is to be
used only for the two midship pieces.
Make it so.
From
Joshua Humphreys to the Secretary of War, 1 Jan 1796:
A knee, which may be of white oak, should
be put to scarph on the keelson at the mizzen step and to run in the throats of
the transoms to the lower deck, and another knee of the same wood to frame on
the lower deck over the lower deck beams as far forward as the Mizzen [obscured]
and to run up in the throats of the transoms to the tiller port.
To
George Claghorne,
Chain pumps to be placed fore and aft of
the Main Mast.
Circular
letter to Constructors and Superintendents, 25 Jan 1796:
You are at liberty to determine mast and
spar specifications for your respective ships, and inform me of dimensions.
Circular
letter to Naval Constructors, 12 Feb 1796:
Lower futtocks are to be secured to floor
timbers with copper bolts instead of iron as formerly ordered. The lower bolt in each middle futtock also
should be of copper. Do not,
however, redo any already installed. The
copper bolts should be close to the size of the iron ones previously ordered
and "are to be applied from Timber X in the fore body to timber 34 in the
Afterbody, inclusively."
Circular
letter to Naval Constructors, 15 Feb 1796:
The copper bolts in the heels of the lower
futtocks are to be applied from Timber X in the forebody to Timber 34
in the Afterbody. The middle bolt to be
from T to 30 the upper one in the Floor head from P to 25
and the bolt in the middle futtock heels from M to 21. All other bolts in the frames to be iron as
before ordered. Again, do not rework any
of the above if already done in iron.
To
George Claghorne,
You are directed to secure the floor
timbers with 2 of the 1 3/8" bolts in each, one of which must be drove
through the lower keelson, and the other through the upper keelson, both bolts
are to go through the deadwood and keel.
The cross chocks to be bolted with one 1 1/8" bolt drove through
the lower keelson, one of the lower futtock heels, and keel. All bolts to be well clinched on rings let up
into the keel. The cross chocks are not
to be bolted further forward than timber T or aft than timber 27.
To
George Claghorne,
Your is one of the three frigates to be
completed. Make use of timber that
arrived in schooner RACHELL last December [once destined for
To
George Claghorne,
Forwards drawing of a machine used by
Joshua Humphreys to drive large copper bolts through the deadwood and keel.
To
Captain Samuel Nicholson,
Hire competent people to begin making
rigging. The draught for the
"inboard work" is nearly ready and will be forwarded ASAP.
To
George Claghorne,
Square bolts were ordered for the frames to
save money.
To
George Claghorne,
The "in and out" bolts of the
lower deck and the orlop should be of copper.
If you need more of the smaller size for the orlop knees, reduce any
larger ones remaining on hand.
To
George Claghorne,
Go to
To
the Secretary of the Treasury, 20 Sep 1796:
John Skillen of
To
Henry Jackson,
Forwards drawing of Mr. Rush's figurehead
for CONSTITUTION.
To
Captain Thomas Truxtun,
European frigates generally are without
riders, and most hog. I wish you would
"retain two thirds of the riders originally proposed, which may, perhaps,
be sufficient to guard against the apprehended inconvenience, while it will
encrease [sic] your room for stowage."
To
Captain Thomas Truxtun,
"At your instance and resting entirely
on your experience I consent that the Diagonal riders be omitted."
To
Secretary of the Treasury, 17 Dec 1796:
Order Barker patent pumps instead of chain
pumps for each frigate.
To
the Honorable Josiah Parker, 12 Jan 1797:
Proposed pay scales: Captain, $75;
Lieutenant, $40; Lieutenant, USMC, $26; Chaplain, $40; Master, $40; Surgeon,
$50; Surgeon's Mate, $30; Purser, $40; Boatswain, $18; Gunner, $18; Sailmaker,
$18; Carpenter, $18; Boatswain's Mate, Gunner's Mate, Sailmaker's Mate,
Midshipman, Master's Mate, Captain's Clerk, Coxswain, Yeoman of the Gun Room,
Quarter Gunner, Carpenter's Mate, Armorer, Steward, Cooper, Master‑at‑Arms,
and Cook, $13; Seaman, $11; Ordinary Seaman, $9; Sergeant and Corporal, $10;
Drummer, Fifer, and Private, $9.
To
Henry Jackson,
Ship 1400 sheets of copper and 1680# of
sheathing nails to
To
Captain Samuel Nicholson,
Forwards his commission as "Captain
and Commander of the Frigate Constitution."
To
Captain Samuel Nicholson,
The 24‑pdrs cast at Furnace Hope
"for your Ship" are ready for proving. I have ordered shot to
To
Henry Jackson,
I understand the pitch pine wanted for the
upper deck beams has not arrived. Use
oak beams.
To
Henry Jackson,
I am sending more kentledge to you, as
well as copper for pintles and braces, 2 fire engines for the ship, 4 copper
patent pumps; those of wood can be made there.
To
the Secretary of the Treasury, 24 May 1797:
Please order 5 tons of copper, 1 large and
1 small fire engine to
To
Foreman
Send 1200 pigs of kentledge, weighing about
106 tons, to
To
Captain Samuel Nicholson,
"I have paid attention to your
Communication respecting the Howitzers, and am of the opinion that unless you
can apply them to advantage, without cutting the Ports larger, it will be best
to reland them."
To
Captain Samuel Nicholson, 30 May 1797:
Tells him 12‑pounders cannot be
gotten in time and that the Secretary of War has written to the Governor of
Massachusetts for the loan of 12‑ or 18‑pounder guns.
To
George Claghorne,
CONSTITUTION to be coppered "as high
as light water mark" prior to launch.
To
Henry Jackson,
No fire engines from
To
Captain Samuel Nicholson, 7 Dec 1797:
The Poop, Top, and Magazine Lanthorns have
not been forwarded due to a shortage of isinglass. Get what you need made in
To
Henry Jackson, 20 Jan 1798:
Provide only the following cabin furniture
at government expense: dining tables,
To
Captain Samuel Nicholson,
You may not have more than the 140 tons of
kentledge you already have. UNITED
STATES is using only 100 tons and CONSTELLATION 75. Use shingle if you really need more ballast.
To
Henry Jackson,
Find out how many howitzers Nicholson wants
and send the rest to
To
Captain Samuel Nicholson, USS CONSTITUTION, 17 May 1798:
"I have paid attention to your
communication respecting the howitzers, and am of the opinion that unless you
can apply them to advantage, without cutting the Ports larger, it will be best
to reland them."
To
George Claghorne,
Your employment terminated as of 1 Apr
1798.
To
Captain Samuel Nicholson, USS CONSTITUTION, 30 May 1798:
Reports that 12-pounders cannot be
gotten in time and that he has written the Governor of Massachusetts for al
loan of 12 or 18 pounders.
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The Captain's Clerk |