Log 7

USS CONSTITUTION LOG
10 APRIL 1821 - 22 MAY 1824
FROM THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

NHC, USN

Constitution and Nonsuch
1823

11 Apr 1821	Officers on board: Captain Jacob Jones, Master Commandant Benjamin W. Booth ("Second in command"), First Lieutenant Foxhall A. Parker, Midshipmen A. R. Bogardus, John M. Sullivan, J. L. Buchanan, John N. Marshall, William Gulliard, J. Tachnably [?], and Francis B. Ellison.
13 Apr 1821	Midshipman Francis F. Williams mentioned.
21 Apr 1821	"...rigging the Doxy [sic] machine..."
23 Apr 1821	[Monday] 0830 Slipped to 60 fathoms of hawser to try the Doxy machine -- has chain to one anchor -- sideboard in wardroom -- 20 "battle lanterns" -- hammock cloths for forecastle.
6 May 1821	"...came on board plumbers to secure the Magazine..."
13 May 1821	0700 Sailed from Boston on a gentle breeze.
15 May 1821	Exercised at general quarters.
16 May 1821	"...lower'd larbd whale boat..." -- exercised at general quarters.
23 May 1821	Quartermaster James B. Davis died; buried at sea next day.
27 May 1821	11 kts (4 hrs) -- passing Corvo Island, Azores.
28 May 1821	11 kts (6 hrs).
2 Jun 1821	20 miles off Cape St. Vincent.
3 Jun 1821	Cape Spartel EbS 20 miles -- 2330 arrived at Gibraltar -- COLUMBUS there with SPARK.
6 Jun 1821	COLUMBUS and SPARK sailed -- 13-gun salute.
11 Jun 1821	1530 Sailed.
12 Jun 1821	Exercised at general quarters.
13 Jun 1821	Exchanged visits with French war brig OLIVIER -- exercised at general quarters.
15 Jun 1821	Exercised at general quarters -- Lieutenants David Geisinger, William Boerum, and Samuel Breeze mentioned.
16 Jun 1821	Lieutenant Joseph R. Jarvis mentioned.
19 Jun 1821	Exercised at general quarters.
20 Jun 1821	Exercised at general quarters -- 1230 arrived at Port Mahon.
21 Jun 1821	"...gammoning bowsprit..."
24 Jun 1821	Liberty for some of crew.
27 Jun 1821	Sailed.
30 Jun 1821	Arrived at Genoa.
1 Jul 1821	[Sunday] Read Articles of War to crew.
4 Jul 1821	"Chapline [sic] deliver'd an Oration..." -- 24-gun salutes at noon and sunset.
5 Jul 1821	0300 Ordinary Seaman Edward Ornsby died -- 0930 body rowed out to sea and buried.
11 Jul 1821	5 officers and 38 seamen sick (no details) -- 39,984 gals of water on board.
14 Jul 1821	Seaman John Wilson died in hospital ashore.
15 Jul 1821	Part of crew on liberty.
18 Jul 1821	1800 Sailed -- exercised at general quarters.
19 Jul 1821	Exercised at general quarters.
20 Jul 1821	1200 Arrived at Leghorn -- ONTARIO there.
22 Jul 1821	Seaman Joseph Cox died -- buried ashore the next day by a party of 21.
29 Jul 1821	Midshipman John Swartwout joined from ONTARIO.
30 Jul 1821	Sailed with ONTARIO.
31 Jul 1821	Exercised at general quarters.
2 Aug 1821	Junior officer shiphandling drill ("working ship") in afternoon.
7 Aug 1821	Main topgallant studdingsail boom "accidentally fell from aloft" and hit Gunner's Yeoman George Willard on the head -- he died 2h 45m later -- buried the next morning.
9 Aug 1821	Exercised at general quarters.
11 Aug 1821	"...strong gales..."
13 Aug 1821	Took ship HAZARD in tow -- it had lost main and mizzen topmasts in storm -- 2215 HAZARD cut loose after carpenters made repairs for her.
16 Aug 1821	1530 Arrived at Gibraltar with ONTARIO -- 1730 Private Walter Lee died and was buried ashore the next day.
17 Aug 1821	Lieutenant W. D. Salter joined from ONTARIO.
18 Aug 1821	Midshipmen Hugh Delany joined from ONTARIO -- Midshipman J. L. Buchanan and Thomas H. Saul sent to ONTARIO to return to US.
19 Aug 1821	Master's Mate Charles Beck detached.
25 Aug 1821	Midshipmen James Bradford, Hugh Delaney [sic], Hayler [?], and Swartwout discharged to go to US.
26 Aug 1821	Boy Solomon Gardner died ashore in hospital.
30 Aug 1821	Charter stores ship PLATO arrived from Baltimore.
5 Sep 1821	0600 Sailed with ONTARIO -- exercised at general quarters.
12 Sep 1821	1600 Arrived at Port Mahon with ONTARIO for upkeep.
13 Sep 1821	"Sent on shore the Doxey's Padling [sic] machinery..."
20 Sep 1821	Exercised at general quarters.
21 Sep 1821	PLATO arrived.
22 Sep 1821	Exercised at general quarters -- sail drill.
24 Sep 1821	Exercised at general quarters.
26 Sep 1821	Seaman John Fitch died -- buried from cutter at sea.
28 Sep 1821	Liberty party -- "...jolly boat..."
29 Sep 1821	Liberty party.
30 Sep 1821	Liberty party -- Captain Benjamin W. Booth detached.
1 Oct 1821	Lieutenant Foxhall A. Parker made flag captain.
5 Oct 1821	Deserters Nathaniel Thompson and James M. Ford caught and returned.
9 Oct 1821	1000 Sailed with ONTARIO.
10 Oct 1821	Exercised at general quarters.
11 Oct 1821	Exercised at general quarters.
17 Oct 1821	Passing Cape Melle (near Genoa) -- adverse winds.
19 Oct 1821	ONTARIO detached to call at Genoa.
20 Oct 1821	[Saturday] ONTARIO rejoined -- exercised at general quarters.
25 Oct 1821	11 kts (1 hr).
29 Oct 1821	Exercised at general quarters -- E of Lampedusa, having gone W about Sicily.
30 Oct 1821	48 miles NNE of Tripoli.
31 Oct 1821	Off Tripoli -- Consul Anderson visited Commodore.
1 Nov 1821	Filled away.
14 Nov 1821	Off Algiers.
22 Nov 1821	2200 Arrived at Gibraltar with ONTARIO.
26 Nov 1821	ONTARIO sailed for US.
1 Dec 1821	ONTARIO returned.
6 Dec 1821	Liberty party.
18 Dec 1821	Sailed with ONTARIO.
21 Dec 1821	1000 Arrived at Port Mahon -- NONSUCH there.
28 Dec 1821	"...4th cutter..." -- "...launch..."
2 Jan 1822	Moved into Navy Yard for overhaul.
10 Jan 1822	Punished Samuel Oakly [sic] and William Tailor [sic] for drunkenness.
13 Jan 1822	[Sunday] "Christened a child with the name of Constitution Jones Nelson..."
28 Jan 1822	"A Carpenter employed making a Coffin for Charles Nelson, eldest son of one of the Seamen."
30 Jan 1822	1650 Abraham Perry died.
1 Feb 1822	Marines sent ashore to exercise.
4 Feb 1822	1100 Body of Midshipman Thomas B. Worthington brought aboard; killed in a duel.
5 Feb 1822	Worthington interred.
10 Feb 1822	Read Articles of War to the crew.
13 Feb 1822	1040 Court martial on board -- jack at mizzen --1 gun fired -- trial of dueller Midshipman John S. Paine.
22 Feb 1822	Fired 22-gun salute at noon.
27 Feb 1822	1200 Court martial sentence published: Paine suspended from duty for 6 months -- 1600 Paine transferred to NONSUCH for return to US.
1 Mar 1822	Marines ashore to drill -- Midshipman Walsh joined.
3 Mar 1822	Exercised at general quarters.
5 Mar 1822	Gunner Benjamin W. Edes [sic] transferred to NONSUCH.
11 Mar 1822	Exercised at general quarters.
12 Mar 1822	1500 Sailed with ONTARIO and NONSUCH -- NONSUCH detached.
17 Mar 1822	1530 Arrived at Gibraltar.
24 Mar 1822	1130 Sailed with ONTARIO.
25 Mar 1822	1430 Arrived at Cadiz.
28 Mar 1822	Midshipman Samuel B. Cook joined.
9 Apr 1822	1430 Sailed with ONTARIO.
11 Apr 1822	2340 Arrived at Gibraltar.
14 Apr 1822	Carrying both port and starboard waist anchors and both bowers.
17 Apr 1822	Midshipman Marshall joined from NONSUCH.
18 Apr 1822	Midshipmen John M. Sullivan, Bird, Hugh Y. Purviance, and Lewis detached -- 1600 Sailed with ONTARIO and NONSUCH.
24 Apr 1822	Exercised at general quarters.
25 Apr 1822	Exercised at general quarters.
30 Apr 1822	At Leghorn from 1215 to 1730.
2 May 1822	1315 Returned to Leghorn.
6 May 1822	"Carpenters scaffing [sic] skysail mast on to the royal mast..."
9 May 1822	Exercised at general quarters.
10 May 1822	1000 Sailed.
11-14 May 1822	Laying off Gorgona Island while boats surveyed inshore area -- 1430 on 14th arrived at Leghorn.
18 May 1822	Duke of Wurtemburgh visited ship -- 17 guns.
21 May 1822	1530 Lord George Byron visited ship.
23 May 1822	Prince Borghese visited ship -- 17 guns -- 1600 sailed with ONTARIO and NONSUCH.
27 May 1822	Exercised at general quarters.
28 May 1822	1600 Arrived at Naples.
3 Jun 1822	0830 Sailed with ONTARIO and NONSUCH.
7 Jun 1822	1100 Arrived at Messina.
10 Jun 1822	Midshipman Alexander Mull joined -- Seaman Nathaniel Thompson drowned while attempting to desert.
11 Jun 1822	0600 Sailed with ONTARIO and NONSUCH through Strait.
15 Jun 1822	Exercised at general quarters.
16 Jun 1822	Exercised at general quarters.
17 Jun 1822	Passing Milo Island.
18 Jun 1822	Passing Delos Island.
19 Jun 1822	Heading through Scio Straits.
21 Jun 1822	0500 Sighted Turkish fleet of 30 going NE and Greek ship going NW.
22 Jun 1822	Lieutenant Isaac McKeever mentioned -- 1915 Arrived at Smyrna.
25 Jun 1822	0900 Sailed with ONTARIO and NONSUCH.
28 Jun 1822	Arrived at Milo for water; none available.
29 Jun 1822	1530 Sailed with ONTARIO and NONSUCH.
30 Jun-1 Jul 1822	Off Hydra Island.
2 Jul 1822	Off Milo Island.
6 Jul 1822	[Saturday] 2130 Seaman Robert Forbes died; buried next morning.
7 Jul 1822	1820 Boy Richard Organ fell overboard and was lost.
9 Jul 1822	Exercised at general quarters.
11 Jul 1822	2230 Arrived at Malta.
13 Jul 1822	1800 Sailed with ONTARIO and NONSUCH.
18 Jul 1822	NONSUCH detached.
20 Jul 1822	ONTARIO detached.
30 Jul 1822	2000-2020 Brief call at Malaga to deliver message to local Consul from Consul at Malta.
1 Aug 1822	1100 Arrived at Gibraltar.
3 Aug 1822	Midshipman John Marston and Mr. Lusby "(CC)" [Captain's Clerk?] detached.
6 Aug 1822	Midshipman Thomas B. Tilden detached.
7 Aug 1822	0530 Sailed -- ONTARIO and NONSUCH seen standing in to Gibraltar.
12 Aug 1822	1500 Arrived at Port Mahon for upkeep; painting boats and ship, provisioning, etc.
13 Aug 1822	ONTARIO and NONSUCH arrived.
19 Aug 1822	Liberty party.
20 Aug 1822	Liberty party.
23 Aug 1822	150 on liberty.
26 Aug 1822	1700 Sailed with ONTARIO and NONSUCH.
27 Aug 1822	Exercised at general quarters.
28 Aug 1822	Exercised at general quarters.
3 Sep 1822	[Wednesday] 1600 Quarter Gunner George Wells died -- 1830 arrived at Gibraltar.
7 Sep 1822	Midshipman Charles W. Gay and Gunner Amos Blanchard detached.
13 Sep 1822	1100 NONSUCH sailed for Algiers.
16 Sep 1822	Carpenter William Simpson sent to hospital.
18 Sep 1822	"...fitting new Deck Stoppers..."
26 Sep 1822	Ordinary Seaman James Harkless died; buried ashore the next day.
27 Sep 1822	1430 Sailed with ONTARIO.
30 Sep 1822	11 kts (1 hr) -- 12 kts (1 hr).
2 Oct 1822	Exercised at general quarters.
7 Oct 1822	Ordered ONTARIO to Leghorn.
9 Oct 1822	0030 Arrived at Leghorn.
23 Oct 1822	0600 "...sent the boats ashore for Doctor Hiass [?] & family..." -- 0900 sailed.
24 Oct 1822	Exercised at general quarters.
31 Oct 1822	1100 Arrived at Port Mahon -- NONSUCH sailed for Marseilles.
9 Nov 1822	NONSUCH returned from Marseilles.
10 Nov 1822	Lieutenant Frank Ellery joined from NONSUCH -- Consul Shaler aboard for Algiers.
12 Nov 1822	1030 Sailed with NONSUCH.
13 Nov 1822	Transferred Shaler to NONSUCH; detached her for Algiers.
19 Nov 1822	1945 Arrived at Gibraltar.
5 Dec 1822	0900 Sailed -- 11 kts (2 hrs).
6 Dec 1822	ONTARIO in company for short period -- 1600 sighted American brig with ensign inverted -- stood to her -- 1640 sent a boat -- 1715 boat reported she was SULTANA of Boston; had been in collision and lost bowsprit -- carpenters sent to make repairs -- 1810 sailed again, SULTANA in company.
8 Dec 1822	Fresh gales -- lost sight of SULTANA -- 1600 strong gales, squally.
9 Dec 1822	Heavy sea.
10 Dec 1822	Strong gale with rain.
11 Dec 1822	Weather pleasant again -- exercised at general quarters.
14 Dec 1822	Exercised at general quarters.
20 Dec 1822	0830 Arrived at Port Mahon after 2 days of beating off the entrance in fresh gales and adverse winds.
25 Dec 1822	Boatswain's Mate Daniel Cambell [sic] died; buried ashore the next day.
27 Dec 1822	Liberty party.
29 Dec 1822	1700 ONTARIO arrived.
30 Dec 1822	Armorer Alexander McAllister joined from ONTARIO.
8 Jan 1823	Exercised at general quarters.
15 Jan 1823	Exercised at general quarters.
17 Jan 1823	"Carpenters making swinging booms..."
25 Jan 1823	Exercised at general quarters.
27 Jan 1823	"...painting & blacking the Bends..."
29 Jan 1823	Seaman Joseph Henderson died; buried next day.
5 Feb 1823	Exercised at general quarters.
8 Feb 1823	Exercised at general quarters.
17 Feb 1823	"...scrubbing paint work on the Gun Deck..."
22 Feb 1823	Fired a 24-gun salute for Washington's Birthday.
1 Mar 1823	"...painting the cabin..." -- "...painting spar deck paint work, guns, & carriages..."
8 Mar 1823	Painting masts and boats.
12 Mar 1823	"...fitted skysail stays..."
21 Mar 1823	Sail drill.
27 Mar 1823	Sail drill.
9 Apr 1823	[Wednesday] 1200 Sailed with ONTARIO and NONSUCH.
10 Apr 1823	Exercised at general quarters.
11 Apr 1823	"At 2h15' [AM] discovered a sail on the weather [port] bow which in a few minutes struck us about the fore chains & passed astern backed the mn Topsail & made signals to the squadron. At 2h30' wore ship; got the boats ready to send to the wreck. but had lost sight of her. wore ship frequently in search of her At 4 fresh gales squadron in company. "At 5 discovered a sail to Leeward. wore ship & stood for her... At 6 rounded to & up foresail & sent a boat to board the strange sail. but in the act of boarding she went down. Crew all saved except the Captain, who was knocked over-board when she struck us. The Mate informs us that she was the schooner Becton of St. Joes (England) from Leghorn. bound to Plymouth laden with Government Timber... " 0630 resumed voyage -- 1345 NONSUCH detached for Algiers.
14 Apr 1823	Off Algiers.
15 Apr 1823	Off Algiers -- 1420 flying jibboom carried away in light breezes -- filled away.
19 Apr 1823	Rigged out new flying jibboom -- exercised at general quarters.
20 Apr 1823	1300 Arrived at Gibraltar.
21 Apr 1823	Lieutenants McKeever and Breeze rejoined from hospital.
22 Apr 1823	Midshipman Rutlidge [sic] joined -- Ordinary Seaman William Brown deserted from launch.
23 Apr 1823	24-gun salute to coronation day of King George IV.
25 Apr 1823	Midshipman John H. Little detached.
29 Apr 1823	NONSUCH arrived from Algiers.
8 May 1823	1100 Sailed with ONTARIO and NONSUCH -- HMS GLASGOW, frigate, briefly in company.
10 May 1823	Arrived at Malaga.
14 May 1823	1000 Sailed with ONTARIO and NONSUCH.
21 May 1823	1300 Sent NONSUCH into Algiers – 1530 NONSUCH returned.
23 May 1823	1750 While taking in topgallant sails John Richards fell from the mizzen topgallant yard overboard and was lost.
27 May 1823	1300 Arrived at Tunis.
2 Jun 1823	1120 Sailed with ONTARIO and NONSUCH.
3 Jun 1823	ONTARIO detached in afternoon.
4 Jun 1823	Off Malta.
5 Jun 1823	1410 Arrived at Syracuse.
11 Jun 1823	1030 Sailed with NONSUCH.
13-20 Jun 1823	Off Malta.
26 Jun 1823	1400 Sailed with NONSUCH.
4 Jul 1823	1830 Arrived at Leghorn -- ONTARIO there.
7 Jul 1823	NONSUCH sent out to sound channels out of Leghorn with Commodore Jones aboard.
13 Jul 1823	Liberty parties to ONTARIO and NONSUCH.
19 Jul 1823	1530 Sailed with ONTARIO and NONSUCH.
23 Jul 1823	NONSUCH separated in late afternoon.
26 Jul 1823	1100 Arrived at Port Mahon -- NONSUCH there.
1 Aug 1823	Liberty for larboard watch.
2 Aug 1823	Liberty party back.
5 Aug 1823	NONSUCH sailed for Tunis.
6 Aug 1823	0430 Sailed with ONTARIO.
9 Aug 1823	Exercised at general quarters.
10 Aug 1823	1330 Carried away the crossjack in a heavy squall -- 1430 arrived at Gibraltar.
13 Aug 1823	1530 "...two french [sic] Frigates entered the bay. & after engaging the battery at Algeciras two hours hauled off..."
14 Aug 1823	Replaced the crossjack.
17 Aug 1823	Quartermaster John Smith (2nd) died; buried the next day.
20 Aug 1823	Minister to Spain Hugh Nelson and suite came aboard.
23 Aug 1823	Midshipman NIcholson joined.
1 Sep 1823	NONSUCH arrived from Port Mahon.
3 Sep 1823	Midshipmen Rutlidge [sic] and Cocke [sic] detached.
6 Sep 1823	Carpenter Stephen Wood detached.
8 Sep 1823	1000 Sailed with ONTARIO.
9 Sep 1823	Anchored off Malaga, 1030-1630.
14 Sep 1823	ONTARIO separated in a gale.
15 Sep 1823	Exercised at general quarters.
19 Sep 1823	ONTARIO rejoined.
22 Sep 1823	1540 Arrived at Port Mahon -- NONSUCH there.
2 Oct 1823	1240 Heavy squall from NW "blew away" the main and mizzen skysail masts – ship dragged; let go 2nd anchor.
5 Oct 1823	Sent up new sky poles.
6 Oct 1823	"...the Launch employed in bringing on board the Doxy [sic] machinery..."
10 Oct 1823	1645 Sailed with ONTARIO and NONSUCH.
21 Oct 1823	1530 Arrived at Gibraltar.
29 Oct 1823	"Consul Steith [?] and family left ship..."
2 Nov 1823	1200 Sailed with NONSUCH.
3 Nov 1823	1215 Arrived at Cadiz.
4 Nov 1823	Minister Nelson left ship; 17 gun salute.
11 Nov 1823	0730 Sailed with NONSUCH.
16 Nov 1823	1550 Arrived at Gibraltar.
18 Nov 1823	Shipped 13 Frenchmen.
25 Nov 1825	NONSUCH sailed for Port Mahon.
3 Dec 1823	ONTARIO moved to Algeciras.
4 Dec 1823	Sloop ERIE came in.
5 Dec 1823	ONTARIO back at Gibraltar.
8 Dec 1823	ONTARIO sailed for US with 7-gun salute to Commodore -- Lieutenant Newton and Midshipman John C. Bunner joined from ONTARIO.
9 Dec 1823	Seaman Thomas Kelly discharged and sent aboard HMS TRIBUNE, frigate, at his own request.
13 Dec 1823	ERIE sailed.
19 Dec 1823	Admiral Sir Harry Niel visited ship.
1 Jan 1824	0320 Ordinary Seaman Stephen Dill died and was buried ashore.
5 Jan 1824	0550 Ordinary Seaman William Johnson died and was buried ashore.
17 Jan 1824	0430 Seaman Elijah Armstrong died and was buried ashore.
11 Feb 1824	Exercised at general quarters.
22 Feb 1824	"Fired 2 salutes of 24 guns in honor of the Illustrious Geo. Washington..."
28 Feb 1824	HM Admiral Moore visited the ship; 14 gun salute.
6 Mar 1824	"...starboard whale boat..."
12 Mar 1824	"...painting hammock cloths..."
18 Mar 1824	[Wednesday] Shifted berths to "near" Algeciras.
22 Mar 1824	Returned to Gibraltar.
9 Apr 1824	[Friday] "At 5".20' [AM] saw a sail with American colours - & made her number which proved to be the Cyane, our RELIEF..." -- 0830 Captain John Orde Creighton came aboard.
10 Apr 1824	Lieutenant Clark and Midshipman Vallete [sic] transferred to CYANE -- 0920 sailed.
14 Apr 1824	11 kts (1 hr). [Note: latitude sailing between 29 and 30N.]
10 May 1824	2400 Private John Moore died; buried at 100 the next morning.
19 May 1824	2030 Arrived off Sandy Hook.
20 May 1824	0900 Underway -- 1400 arrived at New York Navy Yard -- larboard anchor dropped; parted -- starboard bower dropped; parted -- drifted aground -- 2330 floated free; anchored.
22 May 1824	Moved to wharf.