USS CONSTITUTION LOG
9 OCTOBER 1848 - 12 OCTOBER 1849
IN THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

9 Oct 1848 Officers present: Captain John Gwinn; Lieutenants James H. Rowan, Andrew F. V. Gray, Carter B. Poindexter, Benjamin F.Shattuck; Acting Master Henry Rolando; Purser Benjamin Cahoone; a Passed Assistant Surgeon; Passed Midshipmen James Rochelle, Edward J. McCauley, Joseph D. Daniels, Dulany Forest; Midshipmen James Sitwell, George H. Chapman, R. M. Caldwell, James G. Maxwell, James L.Butler, Eugene H. Oakley; Boatswain John Featherston; Gunner John C. Ritter; Carpenter Luther Mauson; Sailmaker George Blackford.Marine Guard: 3 sergeants, 3 corporals, 2 musics, and 40 privates. On board: 112 seamen, 112 ordinary seamen, and 108 landsmen and boys. 1430 Commissioned ship by hoisting ensign and pendant.
11 Oct 1848 Captain Baxter, USMC, joined -- the Secretary of the Navy and Commodore Lewis Warrington visited the ship.
12 Oct 1848 Lieutenant Melancthon Smith and Chaplain Nathaniel Frost joined.
13 Oct 1848 "...fore and main Spencers..." -- flag half-masted in memory of Commodore [James] Biddle.
14 Oct 1848 Towed by steamer from Boston Navy Yard to anchorage off Union Wharf.
19 Oct 1848 Lieutenant Wilson R. McKinney mentioned -- punished 1.
23 Oct 1848 "...the Gig..."
24 Oct 1848 Sail drill.
26 Oct 1848 John Brown (6th) mentioned.
27 Oct 1848 "...5th Division..."
28 Oct 1848 "...the Launch..."
2 Nov 1848 Punished 2 -- 14 instruments of music received -- 16,538 lbs of gun powder brought aboard -- 184 6-inch shells, 128 8-inch shells -- 30 rockets.
4 Nov 1848 Commodore Foxhall A. Parker visited the ship.
6 Nov 1848 Acting Midshipman Francis H. Baker joined.
7 Nov 1848 Exercised at general quarters.
9 Nov 1848 Passed Midshipman Wilkinson joined.
16 Nov 1848 "...tried the Fire Engine..."
21 Nov 1848 "...6 cabin cots..."
22 Nov 1848 Punished 3.
29 Nov 1848 Punished 2.
30 Nov 1848 "...main deck 32s..." -- 8369 lbs powder.
1 Dec 1848 Midshipman Butler detached.
4 Dec 1848 "...filled shot racks..." -- "...larboard waist hammock nettings..."
9 Dec 1848 Sailed.
15 Dec 1848 Punished 2 (1 for "...carelessly leaving an iron loose in the top...") -- 11 kts (1 hr).
18 Dec 1848 12 kts (1 hr) -- 11 kts (1 hr).
19 Dec 1848 11 kts (1 hr)
20 Dec 1848 "...quarter and stern boats..."
22 Dec 1848 Punished 4 with the colt.
23 Dec 1848 11 kts (2 hrs) -- punished 1 with the colt.
24 Dec 1848 11 kts (2 hrs).
27 Dec 1848 Punished 1 with the colt.
28 Dec 1848 "...4th cutter..." -- rendezvoused with sloop JAMESTOWN (Commodore Bolton).
29 Dec 1848 Punished 4 with the colt.
30 Dec 1848 Lost sight of JAMESTOWN.
1 Jan 1849 11 kts (1 hr) -- moderate gales.
2 Jan 1849 "...beating through the Straits [of Gibraltar]..."
4 Jan 1849 Punished 8 with the colt (1 for "letting a heaver fall out of the Top...").
9 Jan 1849 Punished 4 with the colt (1 for "throwing soapsuds in the eyes of the Capt. of the Afterguard...").
11 Jan 1849 Punished 8 with the colt.
13 Jan 1849 Punished 2 with the colt.
19 Jan 1849 Punished 9 with the colt (1 for "smoking after10 PM...") -- 1325 arrived at Tripoli Consul visited ship for an hour; 11-gun salute.--
21 Jan 1849 Consul D. S. McCauley transferring to Alexandria in ship with family (a pregnant wife, 6 children, and a servant) and furnishings.
22 Jan 1849 0600 Sailed.
24 Jan 1849 Punished 4 with the colt.
25 Jan 1849 Punished 1 with the colt.
26 Jan 1849 Punished 6 with the colt.
27 Jan 1849 0800 Arrived at Malta -- steamer PRINCETON present.
2 Feb 1849 Passed Midshipmen James H. Rochelle and William W. Wilkerson detached.
3 Feb 1849 British Rear Admiral Harvey visited the ship; 11 guns.
8 Feb 1849 Passed Midshipman Nathaniel T. West detached.
12 Feb 1849 Sailed in tow of PRINCETON clear of harbor.
14 Feb 1849 Punished 4 with the cat.
15 Feb 1849 Punished 7 with the cat or colt.
16 Feb 1849 Punished 1 with the colt -- exercised at general quarters.
19-20 Feb 1849 Moderate gales -- punished 7 with the colt.
24 Feb 1849 "At 9 30 Mrs. Frances Ann McCauley wife of D.S. McCauley U. S. Consul General of Egypt gave birth to a Son, who received the name of Constitution Stewart..." -- 1100 arrived at Alexandria.
27 Feb 1849 Punished 2 with the cat.
8 Mar 1849 Punished 1 with the cat.
12 Mar 1849 Punished 3 with the colt -- 1300 Captain Gwinn departed with the McCauleys for Cairo.
13 Mar 1849 Mr. Wells on board for transport to Spezzia -- "...barge and gig..."
15 Mar 1849 "...carpenters shifting boat davits..."
23 Mar 1849 McCauleys again visited the ship; Captain Gwinn returned.
24 Mar 1849 Punished 7 with the cat or colt.
27 Mar 1849 0600 Sailed -- punished 11 with the cat or colt.
28 Mar 1849 Punished 2 with the cat or colt.
31 Mar 1849 Sighted Candia Island -- punished 4 with the cat or colt (1 for "filthiness in cooking...:" the wardroom cook!).
3 Apr 1849 Punished 2 with the colt.
4 Apr 1849 Punished 4 with the cat or colt.
5 Apr 1849 Sighted Cape Spartivento.
6 Apr 1849 Punished 1 with the colt.
9 Apr 1849 Rounding the W end of Sicily.
11 Apr 1849 11 kts (1 hr).
12 Apr 1849 Arrived at Spezzia -- PRINCETON and storeship ERIE present.
14 Apr 1849 Storeship SUPPLY arrived.
17 Apr 1849 Punished 2 with the colt.
18 Apr 1849 Schooner TANEY arrived and sailed.
19 Apr 1849 Punished 5 with the colt.
21 Apr 1849 PRINCETON sailed.
23 Apr 1849 ERIE sailed for US.
25 Apr 1849 Punished 1 with the colt.
26 Apr 1849 Steamer ALLEGHENY arrived.
27 Apr 1849 Punished 5 with the cat (1 for "throwing a belaying pin at the Boatswain's Mate...").
30 Apr 1849 Punished 6 with the colt -- 1230 sailed.
1 May 1849 Punished 1 with the colt -- 1300 arrived at Leghorn.
2 May 1849 Punished 7 with the cat.
3 May 1849 Punished 3 with the colt or cat.
9 May 1849 Punished 5 with the cat.
10 May 1849 "At 2.30 [PM] the Austrian Army made its appearance before the city and opened fire upon it with shot & shells... A party of Ladies & Gentlemen came on board to seek protection..."
11 May 1849 "...the Austrians Bombarding with shot & shells... White flags were shewn on the different Forts..." -- protection given to 5 "Livornese."
12 May 1849 Another person on board seeking protection.
13 May 1849 0530 Transferred 11 Livornese to ALLEGHENY.
14 May 1849 Punished 3 with the colt -- ALLEGHENY sailed.
16 May 1849 ALLEGHENY returned.
17 May 1849 ALLEGHENY sailed.
18 May 1849 ALLEGHENY returned.
20 May 1849 ALLEGHENY sailed.
21 May 1849 Punished 4 with the colt -- city quiet -- small liberty party.
22 May 1849 Punished 9 with the colt or cat.
24 May 1849 21-gun salute fired for Queen Victoria's birthday.
25 May 1849 Punished 7 with the cat.
27 May 1849 0440 Sailed -- 2010 arrived at Spezzia.
30 May 1849 Punished 9 with the cat or colt (2 for "being dirty...") -- reprovisioning.
1 Jun 1849 Punished 4 boys with the boys' cat for drunkenness.
2 Jun 1849 Punished 11 with the cat or colt – 1030 sailed.
7 Jun 1849 2145 Arrived at Naples -- liberty party landed.
16 Jun 1849 Punished 1 with the colt.
23 Jun 1849 Punished 4 with the cat or colt -- overhauling the rigging.
28 Jun 1849 21-gun salute fired for Queen Victoria's coronation day anniversary.
30 Jun 1849 Punished 2 with the cat or colt.
2 Jul 1849 Exercised at general quarters.
3 Jul 1849 Punished 5 with the cat.
4 Jul 1849 21-gun salute fired at noon.
9 Jul 1849 Exercised at general quarters.
12 Jul 1849 Punished 5 with the cat.
19 Jul 1849 Punished 5 with the cat.
20 Jul 1849 British Minister to the Naples Court visited the ship; 17 guns.
23 Jul 1849 Punished 3 with the cat (1 for "doubling the grog tub...").
26 Jul 1849 Punished 5 with the cat or colt.
29 Jul 1849 Passed Midshipman James H. Rochelle rejoined.
30 Jul 1849 Punished 5 with the cat -- 1500 sailed with U. S. Charge d'Affaires for Naples John Rowan embarked.
1 Aug 1849 0710 Arrived at Gaeta.
2 Aug 1849 1115 Pope PIus IX and King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies visited the ship; manned yards; 21-gun salutes, coming and going -- royal yacht nearby -- 1540 sailed -- 2000 Midshipman Chapman knocked overboard by the main bowline; rescued.
3 Aug 1849 1700 Arrived at Naples -- 1910 fired 21-gun salute in honor of the "...accouchement of the Queen of Naples..." -- Charge Rowan disembarked.
4 Aug 1849 1140 Sailed.
7 Aug 1849 0900 Arrived at Messina.
10 Aug 1849 Shipped 8 Sicilians in the crew.
14 Aug 1849 Punished 11 with the colt.
15 Aug 1849 The Governor of Messina visited the ship.
17 Aug 1849 Punished 2 with the colt.
19 Aug 1849 0850 Sailed.
21 Aug 1849 1345 Arrived at Palermo.
1 Sep 1849 In the evening, "Capt. Gwinn being dangerously ill on shore assembled all officers in the Cabin and offered prayers for him..."
3 Sep 1849 "...5th cutter..." -- punished 3 (including 1Sicilian) with the colt.
4 Sep 1849 1518 Captain Gwinn died at the Trinacria Hotel -- half-masted the ensign and pendant -- "...our late beloved Captain, the officersof this ship will wear on the left arm for 30 days 'Crape' as a token of respect to his memory..." -- Lieutenant Rowan became acting Captain.
5 Sep 1849 Ship's carpenters making a coffin for Gwinn.
6 Sep 1849 All boats took 100 men, 37 Marines, the band, and all off-watch officers ashore for the funeral -- 1130 9 minute guns began the funeral -- 15 deserters from the procession; others got drunk along the way.
7 Sep 1849 Punished 34 with the cat or colt.
8 Sep 1849 Punished 1 -- 1130 sailed.
9 Sep 1849 1750 Arrived at Naples.
11 Sep 1849 Punished 3 with the cat.
13 Sep 1849 Punished 4 with the colt (1 for "smuggling rum in the water tank...")
18 Sep 1849 1300 Captain Thomas A. Conover took command -- Captain's Clerk Ferdinand Cox mentioned -- razee INDEPENDENCE is squadron flagship.
24 Sep 1849 0820 Sailed.
26 Sep 1849 Punished 1 with the colt.
28 Sep 1849 Punished 1 with the colt -- 1800 arrived at Spezzia.
30 Sep 1849 Private James Ferguson died and was buried ashore.
3 Oct 1849 1400 Prince Eugene visited the ship; 21-gun salute and manned yards, coming and going.
4 Oct 1849 Punished 4 with the cat.
9 Oct 1849 0900 Sailed -- 1400 arrived at Genoa.

©  Copyrighted
The Captain's Clerk
1989-2011, TGM