USS CONSTITUTION LOG
2 MARCH 1839 - 16 MAY 1841
IN THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

13 Mar 1839 [Wednesday] "...2nd cutter..." --"..launch..." -- Commodore Claxton broke his flag -- at Norfolk -- 240 in crew.
15 Mar 1839 Received 26 carronades.
16 Mar 1839 Received 18 cots and 480 hammocks.
23 Mar 1839 Received a "...hood for the quarterdeck hatch..."
25 Mar 1839 "...4th & 5th Divisions..."
28 Mar 1839 Received "...a cooking Galley for the Commodore & set [sic] the old one to the NavyYard..."
7 Apr 1839 "...got on end the Main Try Sail Mast..."
8 Apr 1839 Received from the magazine "...1 box of Percussion Tubes..."
10 Apr 1839 Sailed.
11 Apr 1839 Brailed up the Main Try sail..."
17 Apr 1839 "Fore Spencer..."
20 Apr 1839 Arrived at New York.
26 Apr 1839 "...4th cutter..."
27 Apr 1839 Took out main pumps and sent them to the Navy Yard.
1 May 1839 "Sent the wheel to the Navy Yard to be exchanged..."
2 May 1839 Main pumps returned.
3 May 1839 Making bag racks on the berth deck.
4 May 1839 "...fitting flintlocks to the Carronades..." -- new wheel aboard.
5 May 1839 CONSTITUTION's signal number is "3."
14 May 1839 Sent boilers from galley "on the birth [sic] deck" ashore for repairs [later termed "the boiling galley"].
19 May 1839 Sailed.
9 Jun 1839 "...purchased turtle for the crew..."
18 Jun 1839 Arrived at Vera Cruz.
20 Jun 1839 Sailed -- fore and main spencers mentioned.
28 Jun 1839 Fitting the "fore gaft [sic]."
3 Jul 1839 Arrived at Havana.
5 Jul 1839 Sailed.
25 Jul 1839 "...caulking the poop deck..."
27 Jul 1839 "...the gig..."
29 Jul 1839 "...hoisted the whale boat up astern in place of the gig..."
1 Aug 1839 "...got the gig in her place..."
5 Aug 1839 Life boat in starboard davits.
8 Aug 1839 "2nd gig" gotten over the stern.
24 Aug 1839 "...painting the bends..."
28 Aug 1839 Arrived at Rio de Janeiro.
2 Sep 1839 "...the stump topgallant masts..."
9 Sep 1839 Sailed.
18 Sep 1839 "...main try sail..."
27 Sep 1839 "...main spencer..."
5 Oct 1839 "...the fore and main spencers..."
11 Oct 1839 "...the fore and main try sails..."
29 Oct 1839 Holystoned the deck.
2 Nov 1839 Arrived at Valparaiso -- ST. LOUIS and HMS SAMARANG (corvette) present.
4 Nov 1839 "Sent down the stump topgallant masts and pointed the long poles and flying jib boom."
7 Nov 1839 Boarded American ship JOHN N. GOSSLER.
8 Nov 1839 US brig JOHN GILPIN of Baltimore assisted into port.
11 Nov 1839 Governor of Valparaiso visited the ship; 17-gun salute.
12 Nov 1839 US ship ALCIOPE (Capt. Clapp) stopped enroute to the Sandwich Islands.
15 Nov 1839 Sailed with ST. LOUIS, then parted company.
22 Nov 1839 "...6th Division..." -- exercised at general quarters; fired guns.
26 Nov 1839 Arrived at Callao -- FALMOUTH, HMS PRESIDENT (frigate), and FNS INDIENNE (sloop of war) present.
2 Dec 1839 "Got up and mounted the two forecastle carronades..."
5 Dec 1839 FALMOUTH sailed -- US brig JOHN GILPIN arrived.
7 Dec 1839 LEXINGTON arrived.
11 Dec 1839 US whaler ANN ALEXANDER of New Bedford (Capt.John B. Dornin) noted -- painting masts and spars -- "Painters at work on upper cabin..." -- "Careening ship to examine copper..." -- put on 12 new sheets of copper on the starboard side.
12 Dec 1839 15 new sheets of copper put on the starboard bow -- "Painters at work on upper cabin."
19 Dec 1839 "Heaving in the Curricle [sic] to paint..."
20 Dec 1839 US ship MONTEZUMA arrived from Richmond -- painting wardroom.
25 Dec 1839 "...all who are berthed on the gun deck..."
26 Dec 1839 Painting the ship inside and out -- much of crew living ashore in tents on San Lorenzo Island.
30 Dec 1839 Boarded US barque GEORGIAN from Richmond.
3 Jan 1840 "...putting a second coat of black on the guns..."
6 Jan 1840 "Sent a number of men to the arsenal to paint bags [clothes bags]..."
7 Jan 1840 Painted mess chests -- boarded US barque JOHN A. ROBB of Baltimore.
8 Jan 1840 Boarded Sardinian ship INVINCIBLE PERUVIANA (Capt. Charles Ruzzoli).
10 Jan 1840 Painting more clothes bags.
11 Jan 1840 US barque GLOBE of Philadelphia noted.
14 Jan 1840 Boarded British brig HUDSON from Liverpool.
17 Jan 1840 Boarded British barque ROBERT WHITEWAY of Liverpool.
21 Jan 1840 US whalers ROMAN of New Bedford and ELBE of Poughkeepsie arrived.
22 Jan 1840 Hamburg barque JOSEPHINE arrived.
2 Feb 1840 US whaler RICHARD MITCHELL arrived.
8 Feb 1840 Boarded US barque MARY COLTON from New York.
9 Feb 1840 MONTEZUMA and GEORGIAN sailed.
11 Feb 1840 SHARK arrived.
13 Feb 1840 ELBE sailed.
19 Feb 1840 HMS ORESTES (sloop of war) arrived.
22 Feb 1840 1200 17-gun salute -- FALMOUTH sailed; CONSTITUTION cheered ship.
23 Feb 1840 HMS ORESTES sailed.
25 Feb 1840 US ship EMILY TAYLOR arrived.
26 Feb 1840 Sailed.
13 Mar 1840 Off Juan Fernandez Island.
15 Mar 1840 Seaman Abraham Anderson lost overboard -- Arrived Talcahuana, Chile.
19 Mar 1840 US whaler MARY sailed.
20 Mar 1840 US whaler WILLIAM PENN noted.
21 Mar 1840 Boarded US whaler OCEAN of Nantucket, homeward bound.
22 Mar 1840 US whalers VINEYARD and SWIFT arrived.
24 Mar 1840 US ship GANGES arrived.
25 Mar 1840 Chilean brig AYACUCHO (Capt. Jones) noted -- sailed.
27 Mar 1840 1200 Standing off Valparaiso.
29 Mar 1840 1200 Fired 13 minute guns in memory of Commodore Daniel T. Patterson.
4 Apr 1840 Arrived at Callao.
6 Apr 1840 Boarded Spanish brig JOANA GARACIA [sic].
11 Apr 1840 Boarded British barque DANIEL GRANT from Liverpool.
12 Apr 1840 US whaler ROSA arrived from the Sandwich Islands.
17 Apr 1840 US whaler WILLIAM THOMPSON of New Bedford arrived.
18 Apr 1840 Boarded Colombian brig HERMIONE.
20 Apr 1840 FNS THETIS (frigate) arrived.
21 Apr 1840 Peruvian brig CAROLINA noted.
22 Apr 1840 HMS PRESIDENT arrived.
23 Apr 1840 Chilean brig ACTIVE and Peruvian brig NEPTUNE boarded -- Seaman Henry Lowe killed in fall from cliff on San Lorenzo Island.
27 Apr 1840 US whaler SAPPHIRE of Salem arrived -- party from CONSTITUTION sent to quell mutiny at master's request.
30 Apr 1840 Boarded US whaler FRANCES HENRIETTA.
1 May 1840 Boarded Peruvian brig CEIRATA [sic].
2 May 1840 Boarded British brig ASIA.
6 May 1840 Boarded US whaler STATIRA (Capt. Folyer) of Nantucket -- sailed.
10 May 1840 Arrived at Payta, Peru.
13 May 1840 British whaler CONWAY of London arrived -- US whaler CAMBRIA noted.
17 May 1840 Sailed.
27 May 1840 Seaman Henry Peterson fell overboard while furling the mizzen topgallant sail and was rescued.
30 May 1840 1200 Pelado Island ENE 1 miles.
1 Jun 1840 Arrived at Callao.
4 Jun 1840 Chilean brig ALERT arrived.
11 Jun 1840 US barque MURCENA arrived from New York.
12 Jun 1840 Boarded Peruvian schooner SAN FRANCISCO and Peruvian brig BELLA CARRNEN [SIC].
13 Jun 1840 SHARK arrived.
14 Jun 1840 US barque SERENE sailed.
15 Jun 1840 Boarded French barque CHARLES ET ADOLPHE and Peruvian brigs JESUS and LORD NELSON.
19 Jun 1840 US whaler PLANTER arrived.
23 Jun 1840 Peruvian schooner ACTIVE arrived.
24 Jun 1840 Boarded US whaler SWIFT (Capt. Toby).
25 Jun 1840 Boarded British barque THOMAS HUGHES (Capt. McMillan).
27 Jun 1840 Boarded British brig VICTORIA.
28 Jun 1840 Boarded US brig CORSAIR.
1 Jul 1840 FNS THETIS noted.
3 Jul 1840 Boarded British barque VENICE from Liverpool.
4 Jul 1840 1200 21-gun salute.
11 Jul 1840 Boarded Chilean brig VICTORIA.
22 Jul 1840 HMS ORESTES sailed.
23 Jul 1840 Boarded US barque HENRY.
26 Jul 1840 Boarded Chilean barque ISABELLA.
27 Jul 1840 Boarded Peruvian brig THREE FRIENDS.
3 Aug 1840 Boarded Peruvian brig LACEO.
6 Aug 1840 Boarded Chilean brig CHUCUBUCO [sic].
8 Aug 1840 Boarded Peruvian brig HORA.
11 Aug 1840 Boarded French barque VALLIANT BASQUE.
12 Aug 1840 Fired 13 minute guns in memory of Commodore Isaac Chauncey.
14 Aug 1840 Boarded Peruvian brig GUYACHO.
15 Aug 1840 Boarded FNS INDIENNE.
19 Aug 1840 Target firing with the great guns -- boarded French barque SOUTH SEA PACKET BOAT.
20 Aug 1840 Target firing with the great guns.
22 Aug 1840 Boarded US whalers MILO and CATHAWBA, US ship WARUM, and Peruvian brig CRUZADER [sic].
24 Aug 1840 Target firing with the great guns.
28 Aug 1840 HMS ORESTES arrived.
29 Aug 1840 Boarded British barque ELIZABETH RADCLIFFE.
5 Sep 1840 US barque SERENE arrived.
6 Sep 1840 US barque HENRY of Salem noted.
8 Sep 1840 Boarded Peruvian brig MAYPO [sic].
11 Sep 1840 Sailed.
15 Sep 1840 Arrived at Payta.
16 Sep 1840 Sailed.
18 Sep 1840 Arrived at Tumbez, Ecuador -- present were US whalers GOLCONDA, ENTERPRISE, MAGNOLIA, PACIFIC, TOBACCO PLANT, CORREL [sic], and HENRY CLAY, all of New Bedford, and ELIZA ADAMS of Fairhaven, as well as British barque SUSSES [sic] of London -- 1300 sailed.
19 Sep 1840 Arrived at Puna, Ecuador.
21 Sep 1840 Commodore Claxton left the ship and went upriver in SHARK to Guayaquil -- boarded Colombian brig ENTERPRISE.
29 Sep 1840 Boarded Spanish barque MATILDA -- Peruvian brig JOSEPH noted.
30 Sep 1840 SHARK returned. [Claxton's return aboard not noted, but apparently he did.]
2 Oct 1840 Sailed.
5 Oct 1840 Arrived at Tumbez.
6 Oct 1840 Sailed.
9 Oct 1840 Arrived at Payta.
12 Oct 1840 Sailed.
18 Oct 1840 Gave James Wright 75 lashes and John Bloxom 150 per court martial order for unspecified offenses.
31 Oct 1840 Arrived at Callao.
1 Nov 1840 Boarded British brig CHAMPION.
3 Nov 1840 Boarded British steamer PERU -- ST. LOUIS present.
5 Nov 1840 Boarded schooner MARCIA.
6 Nov 1840 HMS ORESTES sailed -- FNS THETIS present.
10 Nov 1840 Boarded US ship OSAGE and French ship CLORINDE.
14 Nov 1840 Boarded Genoese brig ENDINO.
15 Nov 1840 Boarded French barque ALFRED.
16 Nov 1840 Boarded French barque JULE (Capt. Simon).
17 Nov 1840 Boarded US ship SUMATRA of Salem.
21 Nov 1840 FNS PELIADES (war brig) noted.
24 Nov 1840 Boarded Chilean hermaphrodite brig CRATIO and French schooner CATHARINE -- British steamer CHILI arrived.
25 Nov 1840 Boarded Peruvian schooner PORTIA.
28 Nov 1840 FNS THETIS sailed.
1 Dec 1840 Boarded US ship SPLENDID of New York.
2 Dec 1840 Sailed.
5 Dec 1840 Paintwork on gun deck.
27 Dec 1840 Off Juan Fernandez Island.
30 Dec 1840 Arrived at Valparaiso -- present were HMS PRESIDENT, FNS THETIS, and Chilean frigate CHILI.
4 Jan 1841 Boarded US ship OSAGE.
5 Jan 1841 Boarded US barque BACCHUS.
10 Jan 1841 US ship HENRY LEE sailed.
12 Jan 1841 Boarded US brig PHILIP HONE and US schooner JOVEN THERESA.
14 Jan 1841 Boarded Chilean brig MANUEL.
22 Jan 1842 PHILIP HONE sailed.
29 Jan 1841 Sailed.
4 Feb 1841 [Thursday] Arrived at Talcahuana.
6 Feb 1841 US whalers present: JAVA of Fairhaven and GEORGE AND SUSAN of New Bedford.
7 Feb 1841 0745 Commodore Claxton died -- making lead coffin -- US whaler ANN of Nantucket arrived.
8 Feb 1841 US whaler WILLIAM PENN sailed.
13 Feb 1841 Whaler MESSENGER noted.
19 Feb 1841 Boarded Chilean brig YOUNG DANIEL.
21 Feb 1841 Boarded US whaler MECHANIC of Portland (Capt.Spencer Pratt), 30 months out with 1900 barrels of oil aboard.
23 Feb 1841 US brig JOHN GILPIN arrived from Boston.
27 Feb 1841 FNS THETIS sailed.
28 Feb 1841 Boarded US whaler WISCASSET (Capt. Norton).
1 Mar 1841 Boarded US whaler OCEAN (Capt. Parker), 120 days from Nantucket.
2 Mar 1841 Landsman William Gibbs drowned while attempting to desert.
4 Mar 1841 Quarter Gunner William Leeds died and was buried ashore.
7 Mar 1841 US whaler MIDAS arrived.
8 Mar 1841 Sailed.
11 Mar 1841 Arrived in Valparaiso.
12 Mar 1841 Claxton's funeral -- 61 minute guns.
13 Mar 1841 Boarded US whaler EUPHRATES.
16 Mar 1841 Sailed.
26 Mar 1841 Arrived at Callao.
30 Mar 1841 Boarded US whaler BENJAMIN TUCKER.
4 Apr 1841 Boarded US ship EMILY TAYLOR -- USS YORKTOWN arrived.
8 Apr 1841 Boarded Danish frigate BELLONA.
9 Apr 1841 Boarded Chilean brig HENRIQUE.
13 Apr 1841 Boarded US whalers MARIA of Nantucket and EAGLE, and brig MARY BERNARD.
18 Apr 1841 FNS THETIS arrived -- "Seven lashes to George Bachelor for doubling the Grog tub and drunkenness."
20 Apr 1841 USS RELIEF arrived.
24 Apr 1841 US brig CAYUGA arrived.
26 Apr 1841 Painting lower masts.
28 Apr 1841 Danish frigate BELLONA sailed.
1 May 1841 US brigs CAYUGA and LADY ADAMS sailed.
2 May 1841 USS DALE and Peruvian war brig CONSTITUCION arrived.
21 May 1841 CONSTITUCION sailed.
26 May 1841 US ship LARK of Philadelphia arrived.
13 Jun 1841 Boarded US whaler GEORGE HOWLAND.
11 Jul 1841 Sailed.

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