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A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
" ... on sending on shore to the Post Office, I received a letter from Captain Fenwick ( to whom I had written the same day I had written General Armstrong), stating that the general had expressed much astonishment at my not announcing my arrival to him. As I had written three different letters to Captain Fenwick and the one I received from him seemed to be a reply to the second, which had been put into the Post Office I was apprehensive that those had sent on shore had been detained. I therefore immediately sent for the commissary, who had promised to forward them, to know why they had not been received, and to request a passport for one of my officers to Proceed to Paris, as I had determined, on the receipt of Captain Fenwick's note, to send an officer with a letter to General Armstrong without delay. The commissary answered that he could not in any manner account for the letter not having been received, and he repeated his assurance, that he had duly forwarded them with his own. He without hesitation granted the passport, and the following morning, I dispatched Mr. Chew to General Armstrong, stating to him the manner his letters were forwarded, and as I had been obliged to enter the harbor, and might possibly meet with some detention, I desired him to furnish Mr. Chew with [illegible] of money for use of the ship. On this letter, Mr. Chew received from him one thousand dollars. About One O'clock the same day, Captain Fenwick arrived with dispatches, as he had passed the carriage, with Mr. Chew in it about 15 miles from Havre, but it was closed and Mr. Chew did not see him. Here it may be proper to observe, that it is only about the full, and the change of the moon, that vessels drawing more than 12 feet, can enter the Harbor of Havre, for one day [illegible] and sometimes for three days subsequent to these periods, the tide in the entrance flows so as to admit vessels drawing only two fathoms. The channel however is so narrow that, it is absolutely necessary to have a fair wind to sail in or out. From the day of our entrance, until the arrival of Captain Fenwick, we had employed every favorable moment endeavoring to get out without success, and the day after his arrival, in which was the only one in which we could entertain the smallest hope of getting out, until the full of the moon. Every effort was again made, but after hauling the ship to the entrance of the gates, the Pilot said it was impossible to get out, as there was not sufficient water, and upon sending Lieutenant Pettigrew to sound the channel, he found but fourteen feet. and the shallowest part being two feet less than we drew." [Note: The only known draught of water by the John Adams was measured on her departure from Messina, Sicily, on November 21, 1804, while fully laden for a return voyage to the United States, and was found to be 15', 10" forward, and 16', 6" aft. She was still a frigate at that time.] "Here we found we must remain until the next full moon, and it was not until the second day after that, that we were able to get out, although we made several attempts, one of which, after being nearly clear, we were run aground by the Pilot and obliged to return. On the night, however, of the 20th of april, we got out, and the following day, after recovering, the anchor and cable we had slipped in the Roads, we sailed for America From that, until the present period, nothing has transpired worthy of note. Indeed, I should have not troubled you with this tedious statement respecting La Havre, had I not understood General Armstrong disapproved of my going there. During our absence, we have boarded and been board by several British cruisers, without anything occurring worthy of mention. Mr. Dupont du Nemurs, to which you directed me to afford a passage, has declined coming to America. Captain Fenwick was with him in Paris, and he will be able to inform you more fully of the particulars. The ship will require a little overhauling and she will want some running rigging, and caulking, and as we have had such tempestuous weather since we have left America, that it is now a year since we have been able to paint. I could wish to land a few tons of Kentledge, as I think she will sail better, and is a more safe sea boat now than when we sailed three months previous in on leaving America.. Could it be done conveniently I beg leave to recommend giving her a new gun deck, the one she has now is so thin, that it is impossible to keep from leaking. There are also a few alterations that might be made with a trifling expense in Washington, which, I think, would improve her greatly. I am happy to inform you that since our arrival, the health of our crew is re-establishing daily, out of a sick list of [illegible] on the day I left the ship for washington, 21 have recovered, and indeed a great proportion of the others, are in a state of convalescence. We will require a number of men to complete our crew; the terms of service of most of those we received from the different ships in New York have expired to or three months past, or will expire shortly, we have likewise lost several by death, and four by desertion. Lieutenant Blakeley has request leave of absence from the ship in consequence of indisposition, which as there are five lieutenants on board, I have granted him. He repairs to washington in the Morning. Respectfully, I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant, Captain Samuel Evans." -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
The letter from Evans to Hamilton of June 19, 1810 continues ... "The evening of the 25th, we had the satisfaction to receive Mr. Elliot on board with Mr. Pinkney's dispatches, and the next evening sailed for La Havre, where I had determined to proceed [illegible]. From thence I could have the most speedy communication with General Armstrong. We arrived off Havre about noon of the 28d, and I immediately sent Mr. Chew on board on shore to forward a letter I had written to General Armstrong announcing my arrival, and a letter and package from Mr. Pinkney to the general, which the former had told Mr. Elliot was not of sufficient consequence to justify the expense of sending an officer to Paris with it. Mr. Chew got on board too late for the post, and he deposited the letter with the commissary of Police, who assured him they should be sent to Paris the following day with his own. In my letter to General Armstrong, I informed him that the Harbor of Havre was not a fit place for the ship, and the Road too much exposed, to remain in them, with safety, at that season. I had determined to stand off and on the town, until I could her from him. I likewise stated to him that it was my wish to proceed to Cherbourg with the ship, should he be deemed proper to detain her, as in that port I could moor with safety. This letter, the commissary informed Mr. Chew, was sent on the next dat (the 29th). As the distance from Havre to Paris was not more than a 36 hour ride, I soon expected to hear from General Armstrong. On the 3rd of April we [illegible] in the Roads and sent a boat on shore for intelligence, that evening the airs were light and the Pilot advised our anchoring to avoid being drifted by the tide near the shoals. This I consented too, and at four in the afternoon, we anchored. About four O'Clock in the morning of the 4th, the wind came in from the NE and by daylight it blew quite a gale. By 7, the sea had risen so high, that it made a breach over the ship on almost every pitch. The tide, as well as the wind, was directly on [illegible] and if we did not avail ourselves of the tide before 10 O'Clock, we could not enter that day, be the event, what it would. It seemed to me therefore necessary to chose one of two alternatives, that to let go all the anchors we could to advantage, and endeavor to ride it out, at all events, or to prepare to immediately run into the harbor. In both of these alternatives, I did believe there might be some danger. The gale blew heavy, and there was every appearance of its' increasing. The sea was then high, we were exposed to the whole range of the channel, and although the cables and anchors could possibly hold her until she foundered, I had not the greatest confidence in those furnished at Washington, and saw clearly that if we parted from our anchors, it would next next to an impossibility to save the ship. On the other hand, I had been informed that the entrance was very narrow, and must consequently be dangerous to attempt with the wind, and the tide, then there was. I determined however to attempt the latter, after receiving assurance from the Pilot that he could carry her in with safety. Accordingly, at [illegible] O'clock we had everything prepared, and shortly after slipped our cable and stood for the harbor, on luffing around the entrance, we were [illegible] running on one side of it, owing to the Pilot not giving her sufficient room. In fact, we grazed the wall, but the ship received minimal injury, and by his further bad management, in directing the anchor to be let go too soon, we were obliged to cut the cable, to enable us to get with in the gates, before the tide left us. Soon however, we were within the gates, without further accident and moored alongside two French frigates." Notice that Captain Evan sent Mr. Chew, the ships purser, on shore, instead of a midshipman or a lieutenant. He probably needed every able sea officer on board to work the ship. To be continued ... -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
At the completion of the cruise, Captain Evans compiled what was a long and detailed letter to Secretary Hamilton, dated June 19, 1810, from Baltimore: "Sir, I had the honor to address you on the 11th March last from Portsmouth, but I was obliged by indisposition to limit my latter to a few lines. I now have the honor to inform you that agreeable to your instructions, of the 5th December, I weighed anchor from New York on the 15th of that month, and on the same day discharged the pilot from Sandy Hook. On the 3rd January, we struck soundings on the coast of England, and on the 7th, we were compelled by the setting of the current to Anchor in the Road of La Hague which is about 18 leagues to the westward of Havre. On making inquiry, I found that Captain Fenwick could reach Paris from thence in forty-eight hours, I considered it more proper to forward the dispatches for General Armstrong immediately, than to run the risque of being a day or two on our passage to Havre, from whence it would take him nearly the same time to deliver them, I accordingly landed him with the approbation of the Government of the town that evening, and the next morning he proceeded to Paris. On the evening of the 8th, the tide answering, we weighed from La Hague, and as I was of the opinion that the voyage would be facilitating going to the downs, I availed myself of the latitude given me in your instructions and proceeded to that place, in preference to Portsmouth, here we arrived the following morning, and immediately sent Mr. Elliott London with the dispatches for Mr. Pinkney. I would have left the Downs the same night for Holland, had I not been able, from indisposition to stand the deck in tempestuous weather, we almost daily experienced, fro which cause I deemed it necessary to engage a pilot, this detained us and the following day, we weighed for the Texell, but on the 14th weighed anchor for the Downs, for which we had bourn up for the proceeding evening, in an easterly gale by the urgent advice of the Pilot. We were here detained by adverse winds, until the 17th when we again weighed anchor, and on the 19th arrived and moored in the Helder having struck several times on a bank off Camperdown through neglect of the Pilot, the ship however received no perceivable injury, on the following morning I dispatched Mr. Chew to Amsterdam, with the letters I had in charge of the Treasury Department, and directed him to make arrangements with the agent to receive the specie as nearly as possible. It was not until the 24th that the permission was obtained and the specie landed, it was not until the [?]th of February that Mr. Crew obtained the receipts for it and returned to the ship. Adverse winds prevented our leaving the Helder until the [?]th, the passage out of which was so narrow that the leading wind [only?] will admit this ship sailing out. On the evening of the 14th, we ran through the Downs, from whence I found Mr. Pinkney, I expected to be in Portsmouth the following day and would be in readiness to receive Mr. Elliott with his dispatches, we anchored near Portsmouth on the 16th. Here it appears necessary to mention that while I was in Holland, I received a letter from General Armstrong directing me not to wait there for Captain Fenwick to proceed to England, and after I concluded my business there to return to Havre or some other convenient port in France, for his dispatches. On my arrival in England, i communicated this order to Mr. Pinkney, and as I believed it would be the cause of detaining the ship for some time, I provisioned her Portsmouth, for the period I supposed would be necessary, and availed myself with the credit you honored me with, on Messers james McKenzie and A. Glennie, to draw on them for disbursements, I however, I did not anticipate the long detention we were to experience in England, and the reports were so frequent and the dispatches were all to leave London, and the provision [priced] so extremely high, that I did not judge it prudent to procure large supplies, but furnished the ship at several different times, and drew for the whole amount of disbursements, including the supplies before mentions, [enclosed are] the following bills .... " Letter to be continued. This was only about a quarter of it so far ... -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
Looks like the 1840's Constitution with the Andrew Jackson figurehead. Love that quarter gallery window! -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
Captain Evans next wrote to Secretary Hamilton On March 11, 1810, from Portsmouth, England: "Sir, but just recovering from a severe indisposition that has confined me for upwards of two months, I have scarcely strength to inform you that I have executed your orders of the 25th of December last, so far as, to have arrived here, where we have been waiting upwards of three weeks without anything of note occurring. i was handed a letter yesterday of Mr. [Jessie Duncan] Elliot, of this ship. who I charged with the dispatches for Mr. Pinkney, in which he mentions that, the latter has determined that he should leave London today, in which case we shall leave France tomorrow, or the morning after, where I received orders from General Armstrong to repair and take on board Captain Fenwick with his dispatches on our having concluded our business in England. But as I see the arrival of the Packet from New York announced in the London papers of yesterday, I think it probable he might detain Mr. Elliot a day or two longer. I must beg you in consequence of my debility to excuse for the present entering into any details of our proceedings since we left America." Oh, but there was one interesting detail that Evans omitted to ever mention ... this from Moses Smith's Narrative "Naval Scenes of the Last War, etc.", Boston, Gleason's, 1846: "About this time [the date of the telling was July, 1811, more than a year after the corvette returned] the John Adams arrived off Annapolis from a foreign cruise, and from her men, we learned a striking case of heroism, which is worthy to be told. A colored seaman belonging to New York had been pressed into English service and when the [John ] Adams was lying off their coast, he got the opportunity to come aboard her, as one of the boat's crew, sent with an officer on some errand. Thinking now his time had come to escape from the British, he determined if possible not to return. Accordingly, as he stood upon the deck of the [John] Adams, he suddenly seized a boarding axe, and in the presence of the crew, , cut off the fingers of his right hand at a single blow. Then with the left hand holding up the bloody stump, he exclaimed: 'Now let the British take me if they want me. However, disabled as he was, they took him back, our officers having no power to interfere. " [Warning! A politically incorrect statement ahead!] "If patriotism be anything but a name, then surely this noble African deserved a better fate, there are exalted qualities concealed beneath a darkened skin ..." -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
On December 7, 1809, Hamilton amended his instructions: " ... it has been determined to send Captain Fenwick of the Corps of Marines in the John Adams for the purpose of bearing the dispatches to General Armstrong. On you arrival in France, you will instruct him agreeably to my latter to you of the 5th Instant, advancing him the necessary money to enable him to defray his expenses, which will ultimately be defrayed by the Department of State. The Navy Agent at New York will pay over to you the sum of $2000 to enable you to defray the small expenses of the ship, and if you shall find necessary, you may require of the agent, an additional sum on account of pay, as it may possibly contribute to the comforts of the officers to have two or three months pay advanced to them." The substitution of Marine Captain Fenwick might well have seemed to Evans to be a lack of confidence in the perceived abilities of the corvette's junior officers. -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
On December 5, 1809, Secretary Hamilton penned his orders to Captain Evans: "By the time this letter shall reach you, the John Adams will, I hope, be completely prepared for service.I have therefore now to direct you to weigh anchor without delay and proceed to L'Orient, Havre or any other such port in France, as you may be able, the mot convenient to make. Having arrived at such port, you will place the dispatches, you will herewith receive from the department of state, in the hands of a confidential officer, with orders to proceed with them without delay to Paris, and there deliver them into the hands of General Armstrong. [Note: He was our chief negotiator in France in 1809.] Such officer will then proceed to Amsterdam and thence wait for your arrival, when he will again join you. Having landed such officer, and given him the requisite instructions, you will without delay proceed to Portsmouth in England, or to such other port as you may be able to most conveniently make, when on your arrival, you will receive the dispatches, you will herewith receive from the Department of State, in the hands of another confidential officer, with orders to proceed without delay to London, and there deliver such dispatches to Mr. Pinkney, our minister at that court, instructing such officer to remain in London, until your return to England. You will then proceed directly to Amsterdam, at which place, you will, agreeably to instructions from the Treasury department, deliver the Specie which you will have on board, on account of the United States." Note: This gold specie was partial payment of our country's debt to Holland for helping us in the Revolution! Hamilton continued: "On your arrival in Amsterdam, the officer sent to Paris, will probably be ready to join you, with dispatches from General Armstrong. Having received such officer and dispatches, you will return to the port of England, from which you have sailed to amsterdam, , or to any other port in England, that you will be able most conveniently to make, , where you will receive the officer (that you have sent with dispatches to Mr. Pinkney) , with dispatches from Mr. Pinkney to this department. Having received such officer with Mr. Pinkney's latest dispatches, you will weigh anchor and proceed to the United States with all possible expedition, making this port, Norfolk, Philadelphia or New York. These instructions are given to you, from the views we at present have of our affairs generally, but as unforeseen events may arise, to render a departure from them in some particulars, proper, it is deemed expedient to direct, that you will execute any instructions you may receive from General Armstrong or Mr. Pinkney. As you may want supplies before you return, you are empowered by the enclosed letter of credit on Messrs James MacKenzie and A Glennie, to draw on them, as they have public money in their hands, and for years past have acted as agents to this department, forward to them without delay, your signature to guard against forgery. I will send four copies of the letter to those gentlemen, which you will forward to them seasonably. On your return to the United States, you will report to me the state and condition of the ship under your command, and you will also report all the events of moments that may arise during the continuance of service you are hereby required to perform. Should you want officers, apply to Commodore Rogers who will give you one or two of necessary experience, indeed two spare officers would not be amiss, as you have special service to perform, and you may expect to encounter severe weather." [Captains Letters Sent by the Secretary of the Navy, RG45, NA.] It just occurred to me that we can add yet another alteration of the John Adams' character: Treasure Galleon! -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
OK, Mark, if you insist , I'm going to continue copying here the primary source materials for this cruise. I wrote extensively about it in my biography of Johnston Blalekey*, in a chapter called "There Are Some Refractory Characters on Board", but I want to give the actual letters here, if you all will indulge me. This cruise is generally unknown, and most historians have the JA sitting in NY until 1814. I was able to write about it, only because I literally stumbled upon Evans' letters in the microfilm stacks. This cruise to Europe in 1809-1810 was very hard on both the ship and the officers, the first lieutenant of which was my guy, Blakeley. As Evans became too sick for duty soon after sailing from New York (from an earlier cutlass-dual wound across his face which, when flaring up, nearly blinded him) , Blakeley had to assumed command of the ship, even though he was chronically ill himself. By doing so, he made a great reputation for himself in Washington circles. Blakeley would have to prove himself to be not only an accomplished sailor, but a skilled diplomat as well. This cruise was the reason that Lieut. Blakeley was given the command of the Enterprise in 1811, and later the Wasp (II). Also, this was the cruise, I now believe, that Artist John Huggins saw the John Adams and painted her. Although she returned to European waters in 1814, British accounts describe her as being painted all black, and she clearly has a stripe in the watercolor. Note also the quarter galleries, and a large poop deck, with presumably passenger accommodations underneath, which extends as far forwards at the helm and the mizen mast. (* "Blakeley and the Wasp: The Cruise of 1814", Naval Institute Press, 2001: pitiful, shameless plug. ) -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
Josiah Fox designed the Frigates Crescent [given as tribute to the Day of Algiers], John Adams, Chesapeake, Philadelphia and he altered slightly the draughts of the President. He designed the Wasp I and the Hornet, and he altered and lengthened Humphries' Adams to his own design. -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
Evans was to prepare for an as yet unspecified foreign cruise, but all was not well aboard. Capt. Evans to SecNav Hamilton, November 4, 1809 ("Captains Letters Received, National Archives Microfilm, RG 45): "... you will see that we are greatly deficient in our compliment of seamen. A number of our ordinary seamen are possible, but much in want of sea exercise, and as we have some prospect of entering seamen here, I am contemplating taking a short cruise about the middle of this month, with a crew we then have, to try the ship and give our men the exercise they so greatly need." His cruise took him up the coast to New York. Again, Evans to Hamilton, November 17, 1809: "Sir, I have the honor to inform you, that agreeable to your instructions of the 6th instant, I left Hampton Roads and arrived here this evening. I am happy to say that in my opinion, the ship sails much better than formerly, but we have a very bad crew, in fact there are not more than fifteen good seamen on board." Hamilton back to Evans, November 20, 1809: "The John Adams being required for foreign service, she must be prepared without delay for such service. To assist you, I have written Captain Chauncey directing him to loan to you, from the [New York Navy] yard, 40 able seamen, if he should have that number. In exchange until your return, you will deliver to him an equal number of ordinary seamen, and on your return, you will restore to him such men, and receive yours back again. Confidential. It has been determined to send in the John Adams, a quantity of specie [gold] which you shall receive from such person as the Secretary of the Treasury may direct to deliver it to you, and you are to deliver such specie agreeably to the directions you will receive. " Evans to Hamilton, November 23, 1809: "Sir , I have ...made immediate application to Captain Chauncey for the 40 seamen you directed him to loan the John Adams. He states that there is not a seaman in the yard, and in fact, there is not, in his opinion, five men in it, who have been beyond Sandy Hook. We have had a Rendezvous open since our arrival, but have not been able to enter one seaman. Tomorrow evening, if the weather is favorable, we shall have completed watering and victualling for three months and will require nothing but seamen to be in a state of readiness for any service. I could wish very much, as the ship is to proceed on foreign service, and acting lieutenant. My reasons for this are the state of Lieutenant Blakeley's health, which frequently renders it impossible for him to attend to duty in bad weather, and in case of accident, we have no midshipmen that I would be willing to entrust to a watch. Should it be agreeable to you, to make an arrangement of that nature, I beg leave to mention Midshipman George Budd as the one I would prefer to any midshipman I am acquainted with in the service." Hamilton replied that he had ordered Commodore Rogers of the President to give Evans all the sailors that he would need, but he couldn't have Mr. Budd, but instead ordered another midshipman, Walter Stewart of Philadelphia, and appoint him acting lieutenant instead. The John Adams was to be a diplomatic shuttle and to carry men and dispatches between the USS, Britain, France and Holland. Curiously, Hamilton asked Evans to give him a assessment of Stewart's abilities following the conclusion of the cruise. The following letter, dated December 2, 1809, makes me think that the corvette had a large poop deck cabin already installed, even though Josiah Fox's spar deck plan does not show one as designed. Two very well-connected wealthy individuals needed a ride to France. "Mr. Thomas Butler of Philadelphia, and his sister Miss Butler, being desirous of going to France in pursuit of health, I am very anxious that they should be accommodated with a passage on board your ship. I therefore request that, if it not materially interfere with the public service, you will receive them and their servants, for that purpose Mr. butler will make the terms agreeably to you. You will have the goodness to write Mr. Butler on the subject at Philadelphia. I need add no more than the respectability and objects of Mr. and Miss Butler, make me very solicitious, that you should accommodate them. I have it in charge of the President of the United States to inform you that it is his desire, that one returning from France to Accommodate Mr. Dupont de Nemours of Paris with passage on board your ship. It is expected that the dispatches, which you are to convey to Europe will be sent by this place by mail on Tuesday. You will therefore hasten to compete your preparations to sail immediately on receipt of them. It may be necessary for me to add, that Mr. Dupont de Nemour the President entertains sentiments very favorable, and consequently, he is recommended to your attention. The President writes to him and you will receive him on such terms as in your discretion shall prescribe." As a carrot to Evans, Hamilton allowed him the take on board $12,000 of private gold for transport to England. A service which would benefit only the captain, as he would receive percentage of the total value as his fee. The perks of command. -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
The Corvette first sailed from Baltimore to Hampton Roads on October 25, 1809 under Master Commandant Samuel Evans' with Lieutenant Johnston Blakeley (later the doubly victorious commander of Wasp II) as his first officer, with two senior midshipmen acting as lieutenants, John Pettigrew, as second, and Jessie Duncan Elliott, as third (villain of the Battle of Lake Erie). Her sailing had been delayed for three months due to lack of sailors, and supplies. Samuel Evans wrote the Secretary of the Navy Paul Hamilton two days later, praising the corvette's sailing qualities: "Sir, I have the honor to inform you that I arrived here yesterday morning after a short run of 22 hours from Baltimore. The breeze was so good, and the ship appeared to move so well, I am of the opinion had we been bound out, and carried sail, we could have been at sea in less than eighteen hours, from the time we had made sail ..." While on the subject of her sailing qualities: An unidentified officer wrote of her during her maiden frigate voyage on November 15, 1799: "We are now weighing our anchor and by 8 o'clock expect to be over the bar. She gave a good account of herself yesterday, in coming down from the Roads under mizzen, topsails and jib, she spun out about 7 knots per hour. The Pilot says, he is satisfied she will sail equal to any ship in the navy, he never saw a ship answer her helm so quickly, or slip through the water against the tide so rapidly. She is full, stiff, and we tried her yesterday in the heaviest of the blow ..." (South Carolina State Gazette and Timothy's Daily Advertiser.) From the same source on December 4, 1799: "... the frigate out-sailed every vessel she met with ..." Same source, February 9, 1800: "... Extract of a letter from an officer on board the Frigate John Adams, to his friend in Charleston: ...'I have the pleasure to inform you that the John Adams has been generally more approved of here, than any ship of her force belonging to the United States, that has been at the Island; and the English Captain in particular are much pleased with her. When we sailed from Charleston, the ship was too light, we have since taken in twenty tons more ballast and completed our water for another cruise, and she now sails much faster, as we had experienced in bearing up from the Old Roads to Basseterre, when we had the opportunity of trying her against the US Schooner Enterprise, reputed to be the fastest sailor on the station, yet she could not gain on us! The John Adams does credit to Charleston.' " Log of John Adams, December 31, 1804: The John Adams, then an armed store-ship, out-sailed H. B Majesty's Ship Superb, 74: "... we out-sailed her three miles, under the same sail running to the eastward ..." But Commodore Edward Preble of the Constitution wrote in December, 1805: "...The John Adams, a dull sailor, and too narrow for a man of war, but will make a good merchant ship, and if not wanted as a transport, had better be sold out of the service ..." -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
OK, back to the John Adams! On May 16th, 1809, the Ship John Adams recommissioned as a corvette. Command of her was given to Master Commandant Samuel Evans. Had she not been cut down, Evans could not have commanded her, frigates being the exclusive domain of the full captains. The next day, Fox wrote the following letter to Evans: "The Frigate John Adams was cut down to a corvette in the latter end of the year 1807, having proved to be improperly constructed, and found to possess too many bad qualities for a frigate. Whilst under repairs, the gun deck beams afore the main hatch were removed, and replaced with new, and the deck raised forward about 3 inches to take out inequalities. . All the berth deck beams were kneed. The wales and about 4 streaks under, are new, as well as the whole topsides, The overcharging of the stern, shortened and a new rudder of lighter construction made. The frame is of live oak and cedar, and appeared sound. The bottom plank ceiling, keelson and all the beams are of yellow or pitch pine. The pumps are new. The whole of the bottom overhauled and new coppered. The bowsprit mizen mast and fore mast new. Mainmast, new cheeked and repaired. All the other masts, yards, beams, top caps, etc, are new. From an unknown cause, she is wider on the larboard side than on the starboard side, and always tends to list to starboard, from which circumstances I am inclined to believe she will be considerably stiffer on the starboard than on the larboard tack." -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
The USS Frolick was cruising off the Cuban coast in early 1814, disguised as a helpless American merchantman hoping to lure an English sloop of war thought to be in the area, into her trap. She instead attracted the attention of a large, fool-hearty pirate schooner which stood out from a west coast bay to attack her. A forty minute running fight ensued, ending with about thirty dead pirates and a sinking schooner. The survivors, including their version of "Captain Jack Sparrow", escaped ashore in the remaining boats. The Frolick's sails were too cut up, and Captain Joe Bainbridge was too disinterested to pursue them. The Frolick suffered no casualties. In this case, the only known instance where a US Navy vessel ever sank a pirate ship in battle, has been left out of the history books. The Frolick was captured by the Frigate HMS Orpheus and the Schooner HMS Shelbourne a few days later in the Florida Straights. -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
The Wasp plan represents, in lines, but not in details, the Wasp and Frolick as they had been meant to be built. They are the official surviving records of two sloops that were both lost in war. Anyone wishing to accurately model the Wasp of 1813, however, must use the 1816 Admiralty draughts of the USS Frolick (HMS Florida), as they were identical in all but name. -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
Just a note about the Wasp II of 1813. The two Massachusetts sloops were to be built to same the design plan, one in Charlestown and the other up the coast in Newburyport, but the plans that Commodore Bainbridge received from Washington in 1813 were of the lines only, with no deck details. The positions of the gun ports were even omitted due to haste. So Bainbridge has Edmond Hartt, the builder of the USS Frolick, redraw the plans, fleshed out with 'improvements', insisted upon by Bainbridge. He had a final copy drawn up for Mr. Merrill of Newburyport for the Wasp (cost to the department, $20) and both sloops were built to the same plan. Along the way, Bainbridge ordered many changes to the plans from Boston , such as moving companionways, re-stepping the mizen mast from the keel to the planform, enlarging the ports to accept 42-pounder carronades (but the up-gunning was refused by the Secretary of the Navy), etc., amounting to about $800, which angered Mr. Merrill to such an extent, that he demanded payment for all the commodore's extra meddling before he completed the Wasp. Commodore Bainbridge had a special interest in the Frolick, as it was to be commanded by his younger brother, Capt. Joseph Bainbridge. The lines of the two sloops were stretched version of the Brig Argus, the navy's fastest sloop. As Builder Edmond Hardt had designed the Argus back in 1803, he was probably allowed all liberties in altering the two new sloops. Long story short, the Sloops-of-War Wasp and Frolick were as identical as two ships could have been built to the same plans, but in different towns. Both builders answered to Bainbridge. Chapelle's "official" USS Wasp plan wasn't drawn up until 1814, by Mr. Dougherty's assistant , one "Mr. Spottswood", well after the Massachusetts ships had already been completed. -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
Progress report, Fox to Tingey, December 17, 1807: "... In answer to your inquiries of this day relative to the state of forwardness of the John Adams; there yet remains to complete her repairs; five strakes of wales to shift on each side and two strakes of the bottom under them; the gun deck waterways and two stakes next them to put in; a small part of her waist in board to plank. Stern to be built from her transom upwards; her gun deck to repair; one beam to be put in (which is nearly ready0 and two others to repair, new cable and bowsprit bits, and head to be built; and a few places to repair depending on the forgoing; if time will allow, her lower deck, ought to be kneed an better secured than it has ever been; and finally to be hove down and new coppered, and all work progresses with all the expedition in our power; having but few carpenters employed on her ..." -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
Much like the Syren/Wasp, but because she had quarterdeck cabins and a flush poop deck, her two stern chase ports were glazed in windows, and the John Huggin's watercolor "American Corvette", painted probably during her diplomatic mission to England, 1809-10, shows that she retained her frigate's quarter-galleries, and that her poop deck extended right up to the mizen mast. -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
The rebuilt JA is a very good modeling subject. She was one of only a few sloops of that period to actually go into action. She still carried her twenty-four medium 24-pounders too: In 1838, she and the Frigate Columbia sailed half way around the world to bombard and burn two Islamic (go figure!) Sumatran pirate strong-holds: the cities of Kuala Battoo and Muckie, in what became known as Commodore Reid's Second Sumatran Punitive Expedition. -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
Oh, there goes CharlieZ again: "Have a closer look at my stern, ladies!" Or is it "my futtocks"? Moving on ... It looks like a bust cameo of President Adams in the center taffrail, atop a stack of arms and flags, with a laurel wreath in the center and wreathed stars on either quarter... Works with me, for either sloop. -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
Report of Naval Constructor Josiah Fox, to Captain Thomas Tingey, Washing Navy Yard, August 26, 1807: "...Having had the John Adams opened in her upper works, etc, where decay was most visible, find that the greater part of upper deck beams, many of the knees, and a considerable portion of her upper works are in either a decayed or decaying state. Two of the gun deck beams, only, have been found injured by decay; The frame chiefly of live oak and some cedar, is in a very sound state, as are also her wales, bottom plank, ceiling, lower deck, together with the magazine, sail room and bread room, which are places most subject to decay. This ship, from the over proportion of weight in her upper works, etc, is found to be very unfit for a frigate, experience has proved that she is very tender when under sail, sails heavily and steers bad, and that the weight of her upper works occasions her to strain very much at the wales, occasioning the bolts to work loose, and consequently cause considerable leakage." First of all, it seems odd initially that Fox would find such fault in the design of the frigate, considering that he designed her! But the Charleston Frigate Subscription Committee back in 1799 was so concerned that the John Adams would draw too much water to sail over the port's notorious bar, that they altered her lines to make her more buoyant, and draw less water: They redrew her body lines plans with fuller, more rounder floors. This worked, but it made her roll too much. The frigate's forecastle and quarterdeck was converted into a spar deck , and was also raised and strengthened in 1804 to allow eight long 12-pounders to be mounted in her spar deck waist, because the gun deck was loaded up with supplies for Preble's squadron. The letter continues: "To remedy those defects in her construction, and render her a valuable and likewise a formidable ship, I take the liberty to recommend the expediency of cutting off (what i call in this instance) superfluous weight aloft, and make her into an elegant corvette, proposing to equip her with 24 42-pounder carronades on he gun deck only, by which mode of equipment, I conceive she be rendered more formidable than at present, as her round of shot [broadside] would weight 1008 pounds, whereas at present it weighs 336 pounds only. Her repairs (if what I recommend here is adopted) would cost not half of what it would take to repair her upper works, etc, and could be effected in 1/3d of the time. She would be made a better sea boat in every respect. The accommodations of her officers and men would be found ample, as well as the hold for stowing provisions, water, cables, and other stores,. She would be enabled to carry her guns a good height from the water, bear a greater press of of sail, sail faster, and the hull stronger, and kept in repair at much less expense than she has hitherto been ..." -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
The watercolor montage from the John Lenthal collection? Yes, repost it, but it was probably the rebuilt ship, but a valuable resource nevertheless. -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
An account of the figurehead survives, from The American Daily Advertiser, June 5, 1799: " A life-like bust portrait of of John Adams ... and which is said to be a great likeness of the President of the United States, arrived from Philadelphia some days ago, and is now placed on the frigate; it is from the masterly chisel of Mr. [William] Rush of the city, whose elegant productions have long placed him at the head of his profession." Nice joke: "Head of his profession"! This was the only subscription frigate known to have had only a bust figurehead, perhaps for economy reasons. The stern carvings, whose descriptions do not survive, were created by the local Charleston firm of Cotton and Stattler, of Mott Street. The JA had her bust removed in 1807 when converted to a corvette, and replaced with a classic fiddlehead, but when the ship was entirely replaced in 1830, the original bust, or an exact replica carved by Rush, was placed back on her. A drawing of it survives on an 1850-ish inboard profile drawing in the National Archives (which I sadly do not have), but it was reproduced in "American Figureheads and Their Carvers, by Pauline A. Pinkney, NY, Norton, 1940. Just for comparison, here is what they put on the head of the similarly sounding Frigate Adams in New York, in 1799 (from the NH Gazette, June 4, 1799.): "On the head of the ship is the figure of the President, represented in the attitude of addressing both houses of Congress. In his left hand is his scroll, supposed to be his address, - his right hand is raised in a spirited position, as if in the act of bidding defiance to the enemies of America - at his side is a branch of oak springing from a rock, emblematic of his firmness and patriotic virtues, in support of the rights of his country." Descriptions of the stern carvings of the USS Adams and the USS Maryland survive, so perhaps the John Adams' were similar: "1. USS Adams, 28 gun frigate launched in in New York from the New Hampshire Gazette, June 4, 1799: "On the stern in the centre of the taffrail, are the arms of the U. States, supported by Sybele and Neptune - the latter with his left hand resting on his Trident and his right extended over our "Infant Navy", with some Attributes of Commerce. The former reclining on a sheaf of wheat with a septre in her right hand, in her left is the Key of the Earth and Supporting a Cornucopia ..." 2. USS Maryland, 24 gun subscription-built ship-sloop of war, built in Baltimore , from the Federal Gazette and Baltimore Daily Register, June 4, 1799: "On the Taffrail is the Seal of Maryland, representing the figure of Justice and Peace with proper insignia; It is supported on the right by a Genius with a book and pen preparing to record the honors the ship may confer on her country, while on the left the Genius of Music is ready to strike his lyre in celebration of the rising greatness of America." And just for jollies, the Frigate USS Constellation and USS President: 3. USS Constellation, 36 gun frigate built in Baltimore, from the Federal Gazette, September 17, 1797: "The center is a large sphere with a constellation inserted, resting on a massy pedistal of an artificial form, with the fasces inlaid in the panel, emblematic of the Union and on the great basis on which our government rests; three large volumes and a Scroll, representing the three branches of Government and the Constitution, is reclining on the side of the Pedistal, and the Eagle and Arms of the United States on the other. Next are two of the Cardinal Virtues, Fortitude and Justice introduced as the supports, attributes indispensible with the happiness, honor and independence of a nation. Next to the figure of Fortitude on the Starboard side, is the figure or emblem of order, joined to the emblems of Industry and Agriculture ; supported by Ceres, the Goddess of Agriculture on the starboard quarter-piece ..." 4. USS President, 44-gun frigate, built in New York, from Claypole's American Daily Advertiser, Philadelphia, April 14, 1800. "Stern: In the center of the taffrail, the figure of America the right arm resting on the base of a monument and three books representing the three branches of government; in the right hand a pen, to record the heroic actions of her sons; in her left, the Constitution of the United States; at her feet, the American Fasces erect, supported by the standards of the Army and the Navy. On her right the figure of Wisdom, and the left the figure of Strength, both inclined, and looking to the center; in the right hand of Wisdom, a spear, the left resting against the port, and the bird of vigilence at her feet.; the left hand of Strength resting on a herculean club, the right hand resting against the port as the grand supporters of America ..." -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
"FOX 773" continued. Anyone contemplating the construction of the Boston should take note. Although the lines survive of her, the deck plan does not. So you could use the tabular data here to reconstruct it. Number of berth deck beams: 15 A / 20 JA / 22 B (Note: The Boston must have been a stronger ship with seven more berth deck knees than the Adams! The John Adams's berth deck knees were dove-tailed into the clamps without knees, when launched, in the French fashion. ) Sided: 1. 0 A / 1. 1/2JA / 1 .1 B Moulded: 1.1 A / 1.0 JA / 1.0 B Center of fore mast from forward: 23.4 A / 17.10. JA / 18 .6 B Center of fore mast do 71. A / 75.4 JA / 78 .6 B Center of Mizen mast do. 107 . 6 A / 109 .10 JA / 116 .3 B Bowsprit bits asunder: 1.6 A / 1.6 JA / 1.5 1/2 B Bowsprit bits square: .10 1/2 A / .11 1/2 JA / 1 .0 1/2 B Fore Most Cable bits from forward: 17 . 11 A / 27.3 JA / 30 8. B Ditto asunder: 3. 4 A / 6.7 JA / 4.3 1/2 B Ditto square: 1.1 A / 1.1 JA / 1 .4 1/2 B After cable bits: from forward: 34.10 A / blank . JA / blank . B Ditto asunder: 5. A / blank . JA / blank . B ditto square: 1.1 A / blank . JA / blank . B Fore Hatchway Length: 4 .11 A / 6.7 JA / 10.10 B Ditto Thwartships: 6. 6 A / 5 . 11 JA / 7 . 4 B Main Hatchway Length: 11. 9 A / 7 .6 JA / 9 .6 B Ditto Thwartships: 6.6 A / 6.7 JA / 7 .6 B After Hatchway Length: 4. 6 1/2 A / 5 .4 JA / 10 .7 1/2 B Ditto Thwartships: 6. A / 5.4 JA / 7 .6 B Companion Hatchway Length: 4.4 1/2 A / 4 .4 JA / blank . B Ditto Thwartships: 6. 0 A / 3 . 9 JA / blank . B -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
You might also call them ventilation ports. They are shown in the berth deck portion of the deck plan. -
A first look at the Frigate John Adams, 1799-1829
uss frolick replied to Talos's topic in Nautical/Naval History
From document called 'FOX 773', in the Josiah Fox Papers in the Peabody and Essex Museum collections, a comparison of the three 12-pounder 28-gun US Frigates Adams, John Adams, and Boston, noted as A, JA and B, respectively: "Length on gun deck from fore part of rabbet of stem to after part of wing transom [in feet, inches, half inches]: 128.4 A / 127.9 JA / 133 B. Breadth extreme including both wales: 35 A / 33.3 JA / 35.6 B Depth of hold from limber streak: 15. 6 1/2 A / 16.10 JA / 17.1 B Height betwixt berth and gun decks: 5. 6 1/2 A / 5 . 10 1/2 JA / 5.9 B Height betwixt gun and spar decks: 6.10 A / 6.4 1/2 JA / 6. 3 B [Note: The above dimension shows that the JA was still a frigate when this document was written, probably 1807.] Draught of water when dimensions were taken Forward: 13 A / 11.1 1.2 JA / Blank B Draught of water when dimensions were taken Aft: 17. 7 A / 13 JA / Blank B Breadth at Wing Transom including wales: 24.4 A / 21. JA / 22. 6 B Number of Ports exclusive of Bridle ports: 24 A / 24 JA / 24 B Height of lower ports cills from deck: 1.10 1/2 A / .7 JA / 26 [obviously an error!] B Ports fore and aft in the clear: 2.6 1/2 A / 3.3 JA / 2.6 B Ports up and down in the clear: 2.2 A / Blank JA / 2.3 B Number of ports on quarterdeck: 6 A / Blank JA / Blank B Number of ports on forecastle: 4 A / Blank JA / Blank B [This figure would have been useful!. But the JA might have still been fitted out as a double-banked store ship at this time.] Forepart of foremost port from forward: 13. 8 A / 11. JA / 12. 8 B Afterpart of aftermost port from Ditto: 121.3 A / 121 . 3 JA / 126.11 B Gundeck ports from foreside to foreside: 9.6 1/2 A / 9 10 1/2 JA / 10.2 B Number of gun deck beams: 23 A / 22 JA / 23 B ditto sided: 1.1 A / 1.2 1/2 JA / 1.1 B ditto moulded: 1.0 A / 1.2 JA / 1/0 1/2 B More to come ....
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