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T0829
Note:
USS CONSTITUTION Muster and Pay Rolls, reproduced on Rolls 90 through 96 of
this series, have been omitted.
Roll
14
(Muster and Pay Rolls,
Chatthoochee - Franklin)
Pay
Roll of Men transferred from the Portsmouth Station per Gun Boat 88 to the U.
S. Frigate Constitution
Pay
Roll of Men transferred from the Portsmouth Station per Gun Boat 86 to U. S.
Frigate Constitution
Roll 453
(Secretary of the Navy's Private Letter Book, 1 Feb 1813 ‑ 26 Mar 1822
and 2‑20 Jan 1840)
To
Captain James Lawrence,
"My last, of the 4th instant, will
have informed you of my intention to have ordered you to the command of the
Constitution without reservation, and the enclosed copy of a letter, this
moment received, after I had sealed the cover of the enclosed letter to Captain
Evans, will explain to you the cause of the indispensable change of that
determination..." [
To
Captain William Bainbridge,
"...Lieutenant [John O.]
Creighton...has been ordered to the Constitution [as 1st Lieut.], but if, on
his arrival, he shall prefer the Siren, you will order him to take command of
her..."
To
Captain Charles Stewart, USS CONSTITUTION, 19 Sep 1813:
"The United States Frigate
Constitution under your command must ere this be nearly ready for Sea, and as
it is desirable to take the first fair opportunity, after the Equinox to push
into the open Ocean, you will by every means in your power accelerate her
equipment and preparation for departure.
"As the enemy appears to be correctly
apprised of our intended operations, he will doubtless ascertain the precise
period of your intended departure, and probably blockade or station a competent
force near you.
"It will be prudent therefore to put
to sea only under circumstances of the most favorable nature to elude his
vigilance and escape an unequal contest.
"Should any attempt be made to allure
you by a challenge to single combat, I am directed by the President to prohibit
strictly the acceptance either directly or indirectly.
"When you shall meet upon equal terms
without premeditation with your Crew practised and disciplined, his confidence
in your skill and gallantry is entire, and no apprehensions are entertained for
the honor of the flag, and the safety of the precious Ship entrusted to your
care.
"Having cleared
"After passing through the mona [sic]
passage you may make your election to follow the route first prescribed or pass
down the North Side of St. Domingo and Jamaica and through the Florida passage,
sweeping the coast of Georgia and So.
"These instructions are given with a
strong desire that they may be adhered to, unless some unforeseen event or
particular information you may derive in the course of your cruize [sic] shall
in your judgement render a deviation indispensable, in which case you will
exercise your discretion, and adhere as near to the Spirit and object of the
instructions as may be. ‑‑
"The British men of war on the
Windward Island Station, invariably cruise either to windward of Barbadoes
[sic], or between that Island, Antigua and
"The transcripts of British Signals
from those recently taken on board the enemy's Schooner Dominica, and sent to
Commodore Bainbridge, may be of the most important service to you, particularly
the Island Signals, though it will not be safe to remain long among the
windward Islands, as the enemy's force is too formidable. I have said you will return in the Spring,
but this is upon the presumption that your wants will render it necessary. Should you however be so fortunate as to
obtain supplies from any quarter so as t o enable you to continue your cruise
for any considerable length of time, you will prolong it accordingly, but if
those supplies are partial and sufficient only for a short time, it will be
well to return in march [sic] or April so as to revictual, and get out again
before the mild Season shall admit of a close Blockade of our Harbours, and New
York by the way of the Sound or Hook, will in all probability, be the
safest access.
"The commerce of the Enemy is the most
vulnerable point we can attack and its destruction the main object; and to this
end all your efforts should be directed.
Therefore unless your prizes shall be very valuable and near a friendly
Port, it will be imprudent and worse than useless to attempt to send them
in. The chances of recapture are
excessively great, the Crew and the safety of the Ship under your command would
be diminished & endangered as well as your own fame, and the national
honour, by hazarding a battle after the reduction of your Officers and Crew by
manning prizes. In every point of view
then it will be proper to destroy what you capture, except valuable and compact
articles that may be trans shipped. This
system gives to one Ship the force of many and by granting to prisoners a
Cartel as sufficient numbers accumulate, our Account on that head will be
increased to our Credit, and not only facilitate the exchange, but ensure
better treatment to our unfortunate Countrymen who are or may be captured by
the Enemy. It has been usual in our
service when prisoners are liberated on parole, to take any engagement not to
bear arms against the U States until duly exchanged.‑‑ This leaves them at liberty to serve against
any other enemy of Great Britain, and by thus employing those we have paroled,
without violating their engagement, an equal number who are not prisoners may
be relieved from serving against that enemy, and may be employed against
us. You will therefore in the event of
your liberating any prisoners on parole, take an obligation, that they 'shall
not bear Arms or commit any act of hostility in the service
of
duly
exchanged.' Should you have an opportunity
of procuring succors or supplies abroad and can negotiate for the amount
through our public Agents, or other persons, your Bills on the Department
accompanied by advice thereof will be duly honored.‑‑
"As free communications from abroad
are very desirable, but very precarious; if you will adopt a Cypher and furnish
the key before your departure, it will be duly attended to.‑‑
"Be pleased to acknowledge the receipt
of this, and state the expected period of your departure.
"I am very respectfully
PS. "Your Obedt.
Servt.
On the eve of your "W Jones"
departure
direct your
Purser
to transmit a
correct
Muster Roll of the
Officers
and Crew.‑‑"
Circular
letter Commodores John Rodgers, William Bainbridge, and Stephen Decatur, and
Captains Charles Stewart, Isaac Hull, Charles Morris, Charles Gordon, Lewis
Warrington, Charles G. Ridgely, John H. Dent, and Hugh G.
"As the chances of the private Signals
of the Navy of the United States, falling into the hands of the Enemy are
greatly multiplied, by employing one Code of Signals with the same private key,
in Vessels of every Class, both as it respects the risk of Capture, and
possible want of due discretion, in any one Lieutenant Commandant.‑‑ It is deemed expedient to provide a simple
distinction which shall be exclusively and inviolably confined to the knowledge
and use of the Captains and Masters Commandants [sic] of the Navy of the United
States, having such actual commands as shall require the knowledge and use
thereof.
"You will therefore consider the
private Signals recently established and now in your possession, as the Code
established for Lieutenants Commandant and that the same Signals
with the constant Number increased by two thirds of itself,
is that by which Captains and Masters Commandant are to be distinguished; so
that if the Enemy should get possession of the Signals, he may be detected on
the first display, by his ignorance of the higher constant Number.
"Be pleased to acknowledge this
immediately on its receipt, and communicate a Copy thereof to such Captains and
Masters Commandant as may be within your Command with due caution.‑‑"
To
Captain Charles Stewart, USS CONSTITUTION, 21 May 1814 [1st ltr of this date]:
"The Court of enquiry into the causes
of the premature return of the United States Ship Constitution under your
command, has transmitted to this Department, the proceedings of said Court,
with a statement of facts, and the opinion of the Court thereon, a Copy of
which is herewith enclosed for your information.
"It would have afforded me personal
gratification, to have seen in these proceedings, a justification of the
measures which you adopted in the preparation for and prosecution of that
Cruize [sic]; but as the purity of your motives has never been questioned,
although an injurious error in judgement is clearly established, no further
proceedings will be had thereon, nor recollection of the case retained by this Department.‑‑
"You will receive by the Mail which
conveys this your Sailing orders and instructions, for the Cruize [sic] of the
United States Ship Constitution under your Command.‑‑"
To
Captain Charles Stewart, USS CONSTITUTION, 21 May 1814 [2nd ltr of this date]:
"Presuming that the United States Ship
Constitution under your command is again ready for Sea, you will take your
departure as soon after the receipt of this, as the state of the winds and
weather, and the position of the enemy may enable you, observing that the main
object of your cruize [sic] renders it extremely important, to gain the
position first designated on as early a day as possible.
"With this view you will make as
direct a course as may before Cape Race, passing to the Northward or Southward
of Sable Island, as the winds and weather may admit, falling into the track of
Vessels from Cape Race to the Gulph of St. Lawrence & Halifax as soon as
possible.‑‑
"Having passed in view (if
convenient) of Cape Race, you will cross the Grand Bank clear of the fogs, and
take a position near its eastern edge about the parallel of 47 North, where you
will cruize until the 10th or 15th of July ‑‑ This is the track of the transport and
ordnance store Ships, as well as of the private trade from Great Britain to
Canada and Nova Scotia, and the usual season at which they pass this position,
is from the 20th of May to the middle of July.‑‑ You will thus perceive Sir, the immense
importance of this Stage of your Cruize [sic], and it is impossible to conceive
a more important and grateful service to your Country, than the destruction of
the ordnance store Ships, and the capture of Transports with Troops destined
for the annoyance of our frontier.‑‑
"There is undoubtedly a difficulty in
disposing of the latter, as an attempt to conduct them to our Ports, would
scarcely be crowned with success.‑‑
The principal object will be to delay and divert them from their course.‑‑ Perhaps to the Azores where they might be
landed on parole, and the Ships together with all superfluous provisions and
Stores destroyed.‑‑
"This would lead them far from their
destination, as to deprive the enemy of their services for the season at
least. In this event it would be well to
retain the Staff & Commissioned Officers, as well to exchange against our
own, as to increase the delay and embarrassment of the troops in pursuing their
original destination.‑‑
These considerations must be governed by circumstances under the
exercise of your best judgement. It is
said that an unusual number of Ships laden with British manufactures, are
destined for Quebec and Halifax this season, and will probably sail in the same
fleets with the public vessels.‑‑
When the period assigned to the first part of your enterprize [sic] has
passed, You will take a position about 50 or 60 Leagues NW of Corvo and Flores,
with a view to intercept the trade of the enemy homeward bound from the West
Indies.‑‑ Here you may pass
a fortnight or three Weeks, according to your prospects of success there in a
direct course for the Shetland Islands, which point you may probably reach
about the 25th August, to the eastward of and between them and the Orkneys, you
may meet with the British fleet returning from Archangel.‑‑ Thence you will shape a course for the United
States, in such route as in your judgement may best promote the objects of your
cruize [sic], regulating your progress
according to the state of your supplies, and endeavouring to enter New York in
preference to any other Port, if the state of the Blockade not render it
impracticable.‑‑
"The constant state of alarm and
apprehension in which the enemy is kept by our Cruisers, public and private in
the West Indies, and the extreme precautions which he has adopted in that
quarter for the protection of his Commerce; however vexatious and expensive to
him, it leaves but little prospect of success for our public Ships in that
route, which you will therefore avoid on your return home.‑‑
"The climate through which you will
pass being moist and cool, will enable you to economize your water, and I hope
such partial supplies of green fish and other provisions as you may chance to
capture, will enable you to extend your Cruize [sic] until the boisterous
Season shall favor your entry into a port of the United States.‑‑
"You will consider the general
instructions contained in my Letter to you of the 19th September last (with the
exception of that which prescribes the route of and is distinctly applicable to
your late Cruize [sic]) as comprizes within the instructions for the cruize
[sic] herein designated.‑‑
"With my best wishes for your personal
welfare, and the honorable result of your cruize [sic]."
To
Commodore Stephen Decatur,
"On the 8th instant I asked you to
communicate to me your ideas of a cruise for the United States Ship President,
under your command.
"I will now suggest to you that plan
for which I think you would derive more honor and advantage and your Country
more reputation than any other that has occurred to my mind after much
reflection, aided by a pretty intimate knowledge of the navigation of those
seas in which it is proposed to cruise, and of the trade resources and force of
the enemy in that quarter. I contemplate
to place under your command the United States Ships President and Constitution,
now ready for sea, and a smart schooner or brig to proceed without delay upon a
cruise in the
"Captain Stewart might be instructed
to proceed, with a possible dispatch, to the island of Tristan de Cunha [sic],
where the squadron would rendezvous, replenish its water, and procure some
refreshments; thence proceed for the Straits of Sunda, by the passage between
Madagascar and the island of Bourbon, in the little or northwest monsoon
season, which would greatly shorten your passage to the Straits of Sunda,
through which you would pass, with a fresh northwester, keeping on the Sumatra
side, and through the Straits of Gaspar [now Kelasa Strait], to Pulo Aore [east
of Johore] and Pulo Condore [now Con Son]
(where you may procure refreshments) between which and the islands of
Sapata and Pulo Cicer de Mere [Natuna Islands?], you would intercept all from
and to China.
"Here you would obtain information, by
your frequent captures of country ships, of the time of the East India
Company's fleet [sic] would sail from China, and of the force of the enemy in
those seas, by which you would determine whether to continue cruising between
the mouth of the Straits of Singapore, and along the south coast of Cochin
China [Vietnam today], until the change of the monsoon, or to proceed through
the China sea, along the coast of Cochin China to Macow [sic: Macao].
"In the latter case, the enemy would
take the alarm and your efforts might be reduced to a mere blockade; but in the
position first mentioned, you could not fail to intercept nearly the whole of
the immensely valuable trade of the enemy as well as that of the E. I. Company,
as of the country trade.
"For your information, I enclose a
private letter, I have just received from
"The coast of
"As it will be a cruise of time and
vast importance, I have deemed it expedient, to give you previous notice, with
a view to your personal convenience, but as I shall resign the office, which I
have now the honor to hold, on the first of the ensuing month, you will please
to signify to me, by return mail, whether the command will be acceptable to
you, in order that I may make the necessary arrangements while I remain in
office."
To
Commodore Stephen Decatur,
"In my letter of the 17th Inst
communicating the project of a Cruise in the China Seas for the squadron under
your command I proposed that the U. S. Ship Constitution Capt Stewart should
join you at Tristan da Cunha but as the Hornet has fortunately reached New York
I propose to substitute that vessel and Peacock in lieu of the Constitution, which I believe in all
respects will answer a better purpose and avoid the uncertainty of meeting at a
distant rendezvous..."
To
Captain Charles Stewart, USS CONSTITUTION, 29 Nov 1814:
"The Season having arrived in which
the Blockade of our Eastern Coast must of necessity be relaxed and the United
States Ship Constitution under your command being in sufficient order and
preparation for a cruise, you will put to Sea with the first favourable
opportunity and shape your course to the eastward of Bermuda, taking a position
calculated to intercept the transports and Store ships of the enemy from Europe
destined to that Island, alternately between this position and the latitude 25
N in a direction from Bermuda to Antigua, you will cruize [sic] about three
weeks, more or less, according to the prospects of advantage to be derived from
a continuance on that ground, or from a change of position.
"From thence you will proceed in the
most favourable track to the vicinity of Cape Fanister [sic: Finisterre], and
after cruizing a week or ten days about 25 to 30 leagues west of that Cape you
will range along the coast of Spain & Portugal about the same distance
under easy sail, until you reach Cape St. Vincent; off which you will cruize
[sic] eight or ten days, thence to the vicinity of Madeira where you will
cruize [sic] three or four weeks, with a view to intercept the British trade
outward bound to the East or West Indies; regulating your stay upon this ground
according to your prospects of success, and the state of your supplies,
allowing a sufficiency to last you while retracing your steps along the Coast
of Spain & Portugal, and thence to Lorient or Brest, where you may without
delay replenish your water and provisions, and according to the information
you may there obtain, proceed again upon a Cruize [sic] in the track of the
British homeward bound West India trade, about 10 W of Ushant, and from thence
in such route as in your judgement may promise the best success: continuing
your cruize [sic] as long as your resources will admit and finally you shall be
under the necessity of returning to the United States: you will endeavour to
enter the port of New York in preference to any other.
"Having on former occasions having
waged a superior policy and advantage of destroying the captures you may make
in preference to the hazardous attempt to send them in unless in the vicinity
of a friendly port, and only in the case of very valuable and fleet sailing prizes,‑
I need not now dwell upon that subject.
"Daily experience and the grievous
complaints of the merchants of
"You will please acknowledge the
receipt of this and forward to the Department on the eve of your departure a
correct Muster Roll of the Officers & Crew under your command."
To
Captain Jacob Jones, USS CONSTITUTION, 24 Apr 1821:
"You have been appointed to the
command of the United States Frigate Constitution, to proceed to the
Mediterranean, and report yourself on arrival to Commodore William Bainbridge,
to assume the command of the United States Squadron, upon his departure to
return to the
"Commodore Bainbridge will
furnish you with copies of instructions, relating to the service in that Sea,
which he has received from this Department; and of all other papers, and
information, which shall be necessary or important for you to possess, as his
Successor, with a view to carry into effect the intentions of the Government of
the United States, in relation to the Barbary and European Powers.
"A rendezvous has been assigned
for you at Port Mahon, for the 15th May next; when it was calculated the Ship
might have sailed in time to fulfill that arrangement.
"You will have under your command
the Frigate Constitution, as Flag Ship, the Sloop Ontario and Brig Spark.‑‑ It will depend on circumstances, growing out
of events which may take place, whether this force will be increased during
your command.
"Your attention will be directed
to the protection of our commerce, and Citizens lawfully trading in those seas;
and to the movements of the Barbary Powers in particular, so far as they may
probably affect the interests of the
"You will visit Consul Shaler at
"Should Arrangements, which are
anticipated, be made with the Government of Spain, to permit the landing of
Stores and provisions at Port Mahon, duty free, that place will become the
Depot for the Squadron; which will lessen the expenditures abroad, and the
expenses of negotiating Bills.
"To keep up a regular supply from
the
"For the pay of Officers and Men,
and contingencies of the Squadron, you will make requisitions on Mr. Richard
McCall, the Agent of the
"In making your requisitions upon
the Agent, or in drawing Bills on the Department, it is desirable to apportion
the expenditures under the proper heads of Appropriation; you will therefore,
be pleased to conform to this rule, to enable the Department to keep the
Appropriations distinct, by charging the disbursements to their appropriate
head. I enclose to you, herewith, Blanks
of expenditures as kept at this Office.
"You will permit no repairs, or
expenditures to be made, without your previous sanction and written orders.
"I wish particularly to invite
your attention to the strict discipline of the service, in order to avoid the
expences attending Courts Martial, and lessen the evil consequences of
Duelling, by the most rigid regulations.
"To maintain the high reputation
acquired by our Navy, while in foreign countries, great vigilance will be
necessary, in taking care of the conduct of Officers and Men, when off duty,
during their recreations, and intercourse with the Inhabitants whom you may
visit; and also in paying, on all occasions, due respect to the constituted
Authorities of all Nations.
"Whatever events, or
contingencies may require, will be further communicated to you..."
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The Captain's Clerk |