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JOURNAL
OF COMMANDER'S CLERK EDWARD COBB, 22
DECEMBER 1852 2 JUNE 1855, IN
USS CONSTITUTION MUSEUM List
of Officers Commodore Isaac Mayo Commander John Rudd Lieutenant Samuel F. Hazard Lieutenant Benjamin M. Dove Lieutenant Samuel Larkin Lieutenant Christopher R. P. Rodgers Lieutenant A. G. Clary Lieutenant C. S. McDonough Fleet Surgeon Passed Assistant Surgeon J. L. Burtt Assistant Surgeon J. C. Coleman Purser J. H. Watmough Major N. S. Waldron, USMC Acting Master Colville Terrett Commodore's Secretary Llewellyn Boyle Midshipman Edward E. Potter Midshipman William H. Dana Midshipman W. L. Bradford Midshipman Aeneas Armstrong Commodore's Clerk Edward Cobb Captain's Clerk W. L. Swazey Purser's Clerk R. Reardon Acting Boatswain Ezra Chamberlain Carpenter Lewis Holmes Gunner A. S. Lewis Sailmaker William Bennett 22
Dec 1852 Placed in commission at 23
Dec 1852 Commodore Mayo broke his broad
pennant aboard. 24‑8
Dec 1852 Taking on powder and shot from 2 Mar 1853
Sailed: towed out of harbor by a steamer. 23
Mar 1853 Arrived at Gibraltar, having
passed just S of the 28
Mar 1853 Sailed. 8 Apr 1853
Arrived at Spezzia CUMBERLAND
(Commodore Stringham) present. 12
Apr 1853 Commodore Mayo visited the
Cararra quarries, then went on to 24
Apr 1853 Sailed from Spezzia to 29
Apr 1853 Sailed for 6 May 1853
Arrived at 9 May 1853
Sailed with Nicholson still aboard. 14
May 1853 Arrived at 15
May 1853 Colonel Nicholson disembarked
to seek other passage back to the 18
May 1853 Sailed, "thousands"
having visited the ship. 2 Jun 1853
Arrived at 9 Jun 1853
Sailed to Tangiers. 10
Jun 1853 Sailed back to 14
Jun 1853 Commodore saluted by HMS SANS
PAREIL, ship of the line,
commanded by the son of old HMS GUERRIERE's Captain, Dacres. 15
Jun 1853 Winds finally fair: sailed. 18
Jun 1853 Arrived at Funchal, 27
Jun 1853 Visited by Civil Governor. 30
Jun 1853 Visited by the Military
Governor and his wife, the Count and Countess of Taverade. 1 Jul 1853
Gala on board; dancing until a late hour. 3 Jul 1853
Sailed. 5 Jul 1853
Called at 11
Jul 1853 Arrived at Porto Grande, 12
Jul 1853 Gala aboard; dancing and
fireworks ‑‑ guests included British General Hugh Wheeler and
Lady Russel [sic]. 13
Jul 1853 Sailed. 15
Jul 1853 Arrived at 19
Jul 1853 HANCOCK of the Ringgold
expedition arrived ‑‑ watering and provisioning. 22
Jul 1853 Sailed ‑‑ met
British schooner GEORGE in distress and escorted her back to port, calling on the 27th. 29
Jul 1853 Called at 4 Aug 1853
Arrived at 9 Aug 1853
Sailed. 10
Aug 1853 Arrived at 14
Aug 1853 Sailed. 19
Aug 1853 Arrived at 22
Aug 1853 Visited by Liberian President,
Roberts. 25
Aug 1853 Sailed. 27
Aug 1853 Arrived at 28
Aug 1853 Sailed. 29
Aug 1853 Arrived at 4 Sep 1853
Sailed to the mouth of the Cavally river (15 miles) to try and settle
a 3‑year‑old dispute
between the Barbo and Grebo tribes on opposite banks of the river ‑‑
Grebos amenable to mediation; but Barbos threatened emissary with death and vowed to
fight any force sent against them. 5 Sep 1853
0500 5 boats: the Barge (Commodore Mayo), ARIEL (Commander Rudd), Launch (Lieutenant DeCamp) with
12‑pounder howitzer, SEA GULL
(Lieutenant Dove), and WATER WITCH
(Passed Midshipman Bier), with upwards of 200 men, went
on expedition ‑‑ an emissary under a white flag again was put ashore and
repulsed ‑‑ rockets fired over the Barbo town on the river's left bank, as well as a
few rounds from the howitzer ‑‑ after several huts were demolished, a
white flag was hoisted and the native king "begged pardon"
‑‑ one woman had been slightly injured by a falling rocket ‑‑ deputations from both
sides were brought together in the spar deck cabin Mayo held a
"Grand Palava" with them, accompanied by “the spewing of Water &
Shaking of Hands," and "going through various frantic actions," sealed the
peace ‑‑ dinner and presents ("dash") followed. 6 Sep 1853
Peace formally ratified aboard ‑‑ more "dash" ‑‑
sailed. 12
Sep 1853 Anchored at Dix Cove. 13
Sep 1853 Musical entertainment aboard
for British Governor of Dix Cove. 14
Sep 1853 Sailed to Elmina (12 miles):
Dutch. 16
Sep 1853 Sailed to 19
Sep 1853 Entertained British authorities
on board ‑‑ "The Gun Deck was handsomely decorated with
Flags, and ornamental insignia, with tables spread, and heavily
laden with choice viands, for the accommodation of the guests... Dined at 3 PM, after which dancing commenced
and was
prolonged until 7 PM at which time the entertainment was varied by
the 'Musical and
Dramatic' performances of the 'Associations 'formed on board..." 20
Sep 1853 Sailed. 21
Sep 1853 Arrived at 22
Sep 1853 Sailed. 25
Sep 1853 Arrived at 26
Sep 1853 Sailed. 29
Sep 1853 Arrived at 2 Oct 1853
Sailed. 10
Oct 1853 Arrived at the 12
Oct 1853 Sailed. 14
Oct 1853 Arrived in Man of 15
Oct 1853 Sailed. 26
Oct 1853 Off Malimba ‑‑
unsuccessfully chased a slaver for 6 hours headed for Kabenda. 29 Oct 1853
Again of Malimba, a main source of slaves. 30
Oct 1853 Sailed to Kabenda. 31
Oct 1853 Sailed S. 3 Nov 1853
Chased and brought to the American schooner H. N. GAMBRILL, which, when evidence of slaving was found, was made
prize under Lieutenant DeCamp and sent to
the U.S. (on the 13th) ‑‑ she apparently had been about to load slaves for delivery in Cuba
and/or the Bahamas. 5 Nov 1853
Brought to another schooner which proved to be a Portuguese warship. 6 Nov 1853
Sailed. 7 Nov 1853
Arrived of Loando and entered the next day ‑‑ water cost 1/2
cent a gallon. 17
Nov 1853 Sailed. 29
Nov 1853 Arrived at 3 Dec 1853
"Dramatic" entertainment aboard for British guests ‑‑
dancing on the
quarterdeck "until a late hour" ‑‑ arrangements
made to maintain stores for
the American squadron at 4 Dec 1853
Sailed. 5 Dec 1853
Crew assembled to hear of the success of Commodore Perry's Japan Expedition and
gave 3 cheers ‑‑ (In July, Commodore Mayo had requested to take the frigate and
join the expedition; answer still awaited). 19
Dec 1853 Arrived at 21
Dec 1853 Sailed. 6 Jan 1854
Arrived at Porto Praya ‑‑ Mayo's request to join Perry
denied. 13
Jan 1854 Colors half‑masted for 3
days upon receipt of news of the death of the Queen of Portugal;
21 minute guns fired at noon of the 14th. 16
Jan 1854 Commodore and suite attended
memorial services at the Cathedral. 19 Jan 1854
Sailed. 22
Jan 1854 Arrived at 23
Jan 1854 Sailed with 21 survivors of the
wrecked ship SYLPH. 24
Jan 1854 Arrived at Porto Grande and
offloaded survivors. 31
Jan 1854 Held a "theatrical and
musical soiree" on the quarterdeck ‑‑ dancing until 11 PM. 7 Feb 1854
A musical performance by the ship's "Ethiopian Minstrels." 25
Feb 1854 Sailed. 26
Feb 1854 Arrived at 4 Mar 1854
Sailed. 6 Mar 1854
Arrived of 7 Mar 1854
Arrived off 8 Mar 1854
Sailed. 10
Mar 1854 Arrived at Funchal, 1 Apr 1854
Large farewell entertainment on board. 2 May 1854
Sailed with Mr. Stoddard, the British Consul for 4 May 1854
Arrived at Teneriffe. 5 May 1854
Sailed. 6 May 1854
Off the 8 May 1854
Sailed. 11
May 1854 Arrived at 22
May 1854 Sailed. 23
May 1854 Arrived at 29
May 1854 Received the Governor‑General
of the 12 Jun 1854
Sailed. 15
Jun 1854 Arrived at 16
Jun 1854 "Ethiopian Minstrels"
again performed for guests. 22
Jun 1854 Sailed ‑‑ called at
Porto Praya, then filled away. 4 Jul 1854
At 12
Jul 1854 Sailed. 15
Jul 1854 Off "Nefoo," 16
Jul 1854 Arrived off 18
Jul 1854 At the request of the local
governor, a "palava" in Mayo's cabin (he then being bedridden by a "severe
sprain") to settle a territorial dispute between the Grahway and Half
Cavally tribes ‑‑ this was accomplished with the usual "spewing
of water" and "dash" ‑‑ sailed. 21
Jul 1854 Arrived off 22
Jul 1854 Sailed. 23
Jul 1854 Arrived at 25
Jul 1854 Off "Little Popo,"
pretending to be French, inspected a Spanish schooner and a Dutch brig, both
lawful. 26
Jul 1854 Off Ahgway ‑‑
boarded 1 27
Jul 1854 Sailed ‑‑ off Appi,
checked out 3 British barques. 28
Jul 1854 Off Lagos River at 1400 ‑‑
anchored. 31
Jul 1854 King Docemo of 3 Aug 1854
Arrived in 8 Aug 1854
Disinterred the remains of the late Mister Abbot, once Captain's Clerk
of USS
MACEDONIAN, encased them in canvas and pitch, and brought them aboard for
return to the 9 Aug 1854
Sailed. 16
Aug 1854 Off "Anna Bona" 17
Aug 1854 Sailed. 19
Aug 1854 Spliced the mainbrace in honor
of the GUERRIERE victory. 24
Aug ‑ 5 Sep 1854 Anchored 31 times
between Malimba and Loando (a 70‑mile stretch) due to light airs, calms, and a
northerly current. 5 Sep 1854
Came to in 8 Sep 1854
Sailed. 17
Sep 1854 0600 Crossed the Equator at 0
degrees longitude. 21
Sep 1854 Arrived at 22
Sep 1854 Sailed. 25
Sep 1854 Arrived at 29
Sep 1854 Ordinary Seaman James Lee,
while preparing a quarterboat for lowering, was struck in the head by a parting block and
knocked into the water and drowned. 30
Sep 1854 Sailed. 14 Oct 1854
Off 17
Oct 1854 While beating up to Porto
Grande in a freshening wind, split jib, mainsail, and foretopsail, and
carried away the crossjack ‑‑ stood away from land until repairs could be made. 19
Oct 1859 Arrived at 23
Oct 1854 Sailed. 24
Oct 1854 Arrived at 25
Oct 1854 A General Order from the Navy
Department was read to the crew announcing an increase in pay for seamen ‑‑
3 cheers given. 27
Oct 1854 1540 The American whaling barque 9 Nov 1854
At target practice, the 12‑pounder howitzer was loaded and fired
10 times in 1
minute. 17
Nov 1854 Sailed. 21
Nov 1854 Arrived at 24
Nov 1854 Sailed. 10
Dec 1854 Arrived at Funchal, 7 Jan 1855
Cleared the harbor due to bad weather. 12
Jan 1855 Returned to port. 13
Jan 1855 Sailed. 18
Jan 1855 Arrived at Teneriffe. 19
Jan 1855 Sailed. 30
Jan 1855 Arrived at Porto Grande ‑‑
1900 sailed. 2 Feb 1855
Arrived at 3 Feb 1855
Sailed. 6 Feb 1855
Off the mouth of the 7 Feb 1855
Stood northward. 9 Feb 1855
Arrived at Goree. 13
Feb 1855 Sailed. 16
Feb 1855 Off Sal Island ‑‑
filled away. 17
Feb 1855 Arrived at 2 Mar 1855
Sailed with USS 6 Mar 1855
Returned to 8 Mar 1855
Sailed. 9 Mar 1855
Arrived at 12
Mar 1855 Sailed to 27
Mar 1855 Sailed. 29
Mar 1855 Arrived at 31
Mar 1855 Called "all hands up
anchor for home" at 1830 ‑‑ spliced the main brace. 23
Apr 1855 Spoke an American ship 4 days
out from the Delaware Capes whose information led Commodore Mayo to believe they
might be needed off
4 May 1855
Off S coast of 16
May 1855 Entered 19
May 1855 USS SAN JACINTO arrived with
Commodore McCauley ‑‑ he being senior, Mayo
shifted to a red pendant. 21
May 1855 Sailed (towed clear of harbor
by a steamer). 2 Jun 1855
Arrived at Cruise summary: 429.5 days at sea 392 days in port 42,166 miles sailed |