EXCERPTS
FROM WILLIAM BRYANT'S "LEGER [SIC] ‑‑‑ C ‑‑ 1840," PAGES 33‑47
An
Appeal To Seamen
The late Commodore Nicholson has been
wrongfully accused of Cowardice, while commander of the united [sic] States
frigate constitution, while in chase of the French frigate Lee, Insurgeon [sic: L'INSURGENTE], in the forepart of the year
1799, The accusation is that he was
gaining on the French frigate very fast, and, for fear he should come up with
her ordered his standing rigging to be slackened up; by this means he sprung the
Constitution's foremast and gave up the chase—but the accusation is unfounded
in fact; and in Justice to that worthy officer, it is proper that the public
should be undeceived as respects that charge,
The writer of this was in the constitution [sic] with the commodore
between 12 and 13 months, being all the time that he was commander of that Ship
while at sea: but never to my recollection was the standing rigging of our ship
slackened up but once while in hard chase; and that was (I think [?]) in the
month of August, in the year 1798, off Cape Hatteras
while in chase of the ship, I think she was called Enijah
[sic: LE NIGER], of 26 guns,
which we took and convoyed into Norfolk;
our ship received no injury during the chase; but late in the afternoon of that
day, we discovered two ships running nearly befor[e]
the wind & the constitution [sic] by the wind, and nearly gained our wake
at dusk. two [sic] or three leagues
distance, The commodore said they were American merchantmen outward bound; and that
he would not lose time by speaking with them, as he wished to make a port
(being in company with his prize): but some of our young and inexperienced
officers had some conversation among themselves, and said that the commodore
ought to run for them, and see who they were: for if he didnot
[sic], he would be called a coward. But
I do not recollect that I heard any of our Lieutenants say on the subject
except [Second] Lieutenant [John B.] Cordass [sic:Cordis], Who said we ought to
know who they were, and said it would be of no use for him to say any[thing] to
the commodore about it. But to return to
our subject. The accusation of cowardice
has been alleged against the commodore, while in chase of the French frigate
Lee‑Insurgeon; the particulars of which I will
now endeavor to give. We discovered the
Ship in the morning; and we had but a little or no wind untill
[sic] towards the middle of the day, As the wind breezed, we made sail: and
being to the windward, we were soon satisfied that she was a man of War
[sic]. She lay by the wind under easy
sail untill [sic] about three o'clock. At that time we had a good breeze, and increasing. When she took the hint, and up helm and
crowded sail before the wind; and we crow[d]ed all sail in chase.
But in the evening it became very squally: and our sailing master (Mr. Harringdon) [sic: Nathaniel Haraden]
had the charge of sailing of Ship. He
kept a good look out for the squalls and conducted with the greatest caution in
taking in and making Sail as circumstances required, untill
[sic] about two o'clock in the morning; and at that time we were nearly within
gunshot of the frigate, When a heavy squall struck us
and we shortened sail as usual. As the
squall abated, we discovered a ship standing by the wind (we running before the
wind) and got within musket shot before we discovered her, it being very dark, We supposed her to be
the same ship we had been in chase of; we then brought our ship to the wind,
fired a gun, lit our battle lanterns, and prepared for action; and after we
were prepared, we gave her two or three more guns, as signals. She had shortened sail, and was to the
windward, and, we supposed, was preparing for action; but she not showing any
lights, nor firing a gun after so long a time, we were suspicious that we had
made a mistake in the ship; and we then run along side, and found our suspicion
to be a reality. She being an english merchantman [ed: SPENCER], a prize to the Lee‑Insurgeon; and by that mistake the Lee insurgeon
[sic] was enabled to make her escape; But we did not spring our ships [sic]
foremast, nor sustain any injury during the chase. The next day I heard the commodore remark to
several of his officers, that he had written to the Secretary of the navy [sic]
respecting the chase, and wished them to inspect it to see whether they would
acquiesce in his statement; and it was proposed by some of the officers to make
a statement and compare with the commodore, and some of the officers stated
that we carried all sail during the chase, without any regard to the squalls,
which were very heavy. But our sailing
master said that would not do to go to the secretary in that shape, for he
would think they did not use that precaution which was their duty to do and he
made an alteration (with care during the squalls) which alteration was agreed
to. I will also remark that I have no
doubt that the hue and cry of coward was in the first place raised against the
commodore, for not speaking with the two before mentioned
American merchantmen instead of any improper management while in chase of the Lee‑insurgeon.
The herein mentioned account of the chase,
was written by me and published in the Hallowell Gazette Dec 19 ‑ 1827 –
/s/ William Bryant
I have sent a copy of the foregoing to the
pension office at Washington, with the affadavit [sic] of Mr. Edward B. Walker of Boston
(my old master) to establish my claim to Bounty Land,
for services performed on board of the frigate Constitution in the years of
1798 & 1799
About
the first of march /57 we received an answer that my claim was suspended for
further proof & saying that they had not any record of what I had written
about the chase of the French frigate; the records of the navy of what I had
written are supposed to have been distroyed [sic] by
the British 1812. I then wrote back to
the pension office the following[:]
To the Gentleman Auditors of the united [sic] States pension
office. As I dont
know of any living person that was on board of the frigate Constitution from
the 15th of May 1798, to the 31st of May 1799, The late commodore Isaac Hull
being the last survivor to my knowledge, myself excepted, who was on board of
that ship at that time. I wish to make a
farther [sic] Statement of what took place on board of that ship. Begining [sic] with
what took place after our arrival in Norfolk, or
Hampton roads
[sic], viz, We had many of our crew taken down with
fever, some was sent to the hospital and two officers died on board, viz, Mr. Blake our head doctor, and the Commodores son,
Samuel, a midshipman aged 16 or 17 years.
We then set sail for charlston [sic] and lay
in the offing, two or three days, and took charge of upwards of twenty sail of
merchantmen to convoy to the Havanna [sic]. But on the course [ed:
coast] of Georgia or Florida, we carried away
our bobstay & sprung our ships bolsprit [sic], I dont know but I ought to say broke it, and we put her
immediately before the wind to save her mast from going by the board. We arrived in Boston about the last of October, and
remained there untill [sic] about the first of
December [ed: January], During that time we got a bolsprit
[sic] &c, made accession to our crew of about 60 men and a very great
change in our officers. our [sic] Sailingmaster Mr Swain had to
leave, and Mr. Harringdon took his place, our Boson
[sic] Mr O Connor [sic: Connell] had to leave &
John Hancock took his place, these two officers had to leave the ship, but the
cause I need not mention. The commodore
[sic] came on board as soon as the ship was in sailing order.Then
came the contest between the Commodore and three of his Lieuts,
viz, Mr Russel
[ed: Charles C. Russell] the First Lieut.
Mr John Cordass
[sic] the 2nd Lieut, and Mr
Emery [ed: William Amory] Lieut of marines [sic] The cause of the difficulty was (as I heard Mr Debloys [ed: James Deblois] our purser say) by the commodore[e's] withholding their commissions, the whole three resented
it immediately, and cauld [sic] for their bagg[a]ge and got on board the
boat in a very few moments, and as soon as they left the ship, we gave them
three cheers & they returned the complement [sic]. There we were destitute of the complement of
officers which the service required and the ship to sail the next day. Then the commodore took the responsibility to
give the ship her complement of officers by promotion of the officers then on
board, as follows‑‑
Mr Beal [ed: Richard C. Beale] the third Lieut promoted to the first. The Late commodore [sic] Isaac Hull 4th Lieut promoted to 2nd Lieut. Mr [Cotton] Thayer
Sergeant of Marines, promoted Lieut of marines [sic]
in place of Mr. Emery. Mr Story [ed: Joseph Torrey] our gunner and Mr Jarvis
[ed: Midshipman Phillip Jarvis] appointed to one watch together as Lieut. This Mr Jarvis had
never taken any part in ships duty, but had always remained in the cabbin [sic] with the commodore untill
[sic] the appointment here referd too [sic]. With this good ships company we set sail about
the first [ed: 29th] of Dec 1798. There was one Mr Hambleton [ed: Lieutenant Robert
W. Hamilton] came on board of us some where in
the West Indies and acted as Lieut 3rd or 4th I dont know
which. You will observe that in the
account I gave of the chase of the french
[sic] frigate, I had much to say respecting the conversation of the
officers. The fact is, I being young
& of good memory & frequently on centry [sic]
in the Lieuts wardroom I heard much & stored it
up in safe keeping
Kendalls mills March 9th 1857 /s/ William Bryant
about
the 1st of April 1857 We had return from Washington, saying that they wisht [sic] to be informed of the place of my Birth and
occupation & description of my person, we gave it.
And sent on my American protection which I received August 1800, &
ad[d]ed the following[:] This may certify that I, William Bryant, Who made
application for bounty
Land [sic] for services on
board of the frigate Constitution from May 1798 to 1799 am the same person
mentioned in this american [sic] protection to defend
against British impressments
7th
of May 1857recd return from Washington, Saying that they must have record evidence
or evidence of two persons, who would testify to the fact of my service on
board of that ship Paid W. B. Snell Esqr $1.00 for his servicesAfter
receiving the above from Washington,
of the 7th of may [sic] I settleing [sic] with Esqr Snell & gave up all hopes of getting [sic] a Land
warrant; But after a number of Days I concluded to try once more & I
obtained my Land warrant of 160 acres, which was dated 13th of June /57
May
23d ‑‑ I then Sent the following ‑‑ 1857
To the Gentlemen Auditors of the united States
[sic] pension office. On the 9th of
march [sic] 1857 ‑‑ In the account I gave of some of the doings on
board of the frigate Constitution, I stated that I didnot
know of any living person that was on board of the frigate Constitution, from may [sic] 1798 to
may 1899 [sic] ‑‑ In answer to that statement, you request[ed] to
be informed of the place of my birth.
occupation and size of my person.
We made the return according to request.
We didnot sen[d] my American protection as proof of service, but only
to show my occupation, in party.
In march [sic] /56 I sent a letter to the navy agent at Charlesto[wn] Mass ‑‑ to know if my name was on the
ship[p]ing papers of the frigate Constitution from
may [sic] 1798 to 1799. The reply to
that letter I send for your inspection.
I went to Boston
last oct [sic] to find testimony. The only person that I could find that knew
about my service was Mr Edward B. Walker, a hatter,
the man who I lived with almost three years ‑‑ he quit the business
& I left him the latter part of 1797 But I returned home before doing
any[t]hing, being unwell. And then sent to Boston to get E. B. Walkers affidavit , That you have.
The service performed was so long ago that I dont
know of any living person who was on board of that Ship at that time, The
records being all destroyed of both State and nation, that I must fail of
obtaining my land warrant provided you cannot think favourable
[sic] of my claim. I have given you a
short history of some of the doings on board of that ship while I remained on
board from the 15th of may [sic] 1798 to the 31st day of may [sic] 1799 ‑‑
being twelve month[s] and 16 days. I was
in the boat with the first recruits that ever went on board of that ship. I signd [sic]
articles A.M. & went on board, P.M. 15th day of may
[sic] 1798 ‑‑ no officers on board at that time but petty
officers. I can State many circumstances
that took place during my service. We
loss [sic] 22 men as follows, Three men fell from aloft and kill[e]d dead. two men fell from aloft, overboard & loss
[sic[. John Hancock our Boatswain was
accidentally shot dead by one of his mates while going along side of a British frigate
in the night The mate being one of the boarders – with
pistol in his belt. We supposed the
frigate to be french. The remainder of [the] death[s] was by fever
& other complaints. Thirteen men
during my service was lasht [sic] to the gangway and stript [sic] and received a smart dozen on the bare back,
one sailor [ed: Seaman James Cary] being on shore in prinsruper
[sic: Prince Rupert]
bay, Dominico, took Mr
Jarvis, acting Lieut, by the collar and pusht [sic] him, and when he came on board was put in irons
‑‑ next morning all hands called to punishment. The commodore then said that [h]is officers wisht [sic] to have the
sailor tryed [sic] by court martial ‑‑
and said he knew what would be the consequence ‑‑ he would be flogd [sic] through the fleet and he didnot
wish to set the example, so the sailor took a smart dozen & then went on
duty. The Commodore was one of the most
humane Commanders in our navy, was always willing to hear to the complaints of
his men and would offen [sic] reprimand his officers
for any ill treatment. The summer of
1798 was the first of our navy going to sea against the french
[sic], and we made a war like appearance ‑‑ I have seen 10 or a
dozen of our national vessels large & small, in presuper
[sic] bay at one time ‑‑ Whare [sic] we
used to go every two or three weeks, to water during our Cru[i]se in that region between three and four months. I dont send this as
legal testimony of my service, but only to try to convince you that I have not
been acting the rogue in this affair. My
accounts will all be very soon brought to a close, Land or no Land Yours &c
‑‑ Kendalls
mills may 23d ‑‑ 1857 /s/ William Bryant
Received
my Land warrant august 20th ‑‑ 1857 and paid W. B. Snell Esqr $6.00 in full for his services. My Land warrant was dated 13th of June, and
went into the State of Miss,
& wheare [sic] els[e] I
dont know, but was over two months on the way before
I received it
I
Didnot make a record of the reply to the
communication received from Washington the first of april
[sic] /57, written by W. B. Snell ‑‑ respecting the place of my
Birth & occupation &c
As I consider my Stay in this life to be of
Short duration, and feal [sic] thankful for the favours received from townsmen I think proper to state the favours received.
I was chosen Representative to the General
Court of Massachusetts in May 1819 and chosen to the Legislature of maine
[sic] 1826 and 1828
I have been chosen Selectman 19 times. and served as
Assessor 18 years.
I served as Selectman 17 years only.
I served at the head of the board 13
years. and
about 15 years as overseer of the Door.
Kendalls mills may XIth ‑‑ 1860 ‑‑ /s/ William Bryant
The
ledger is in the private collection of a descendant living (1981) in New Hampshire.
Background:
William Bryant was born in either Ipswich or Sandwich,
Massachusetts, 5 January
1781. He was apprenticed as a hatter for
three years, until the man went out of business. A few months later, Bryant shipped in the
Navy and served a one year enlistment.
He was the maternal grandfather of General Selden Connor, who was
wounded in the Battle
of the Wilderness during the Civil War and later served as Governor of
Massachusetts, 1875‑78. Bryant may
have been the last surviving "plank owner" of CONSTITUTION, dying in
Kendall's Mills, Maine,
on 15 June 1867, at the age of 86.