uss frolick

Pope wrote another report trying to clarify matters: " Additional report of Captain Pope, U. S. Navy, commanding U. S. S. Richmond U. S. S. RICHMOND, Q~ Pass i~ (Ontre, lJfississippi River, October 17, 1861. SIR: My report to you in regard to our leaving the Head of the Passes having been made iii a great hurry, in order to acquaint you as soon as possible of the leading facts of the case many incidents vere omitted which I will now report. After the first blow given to this ship by the ram, on the morning of the 12th instant, it remained under our port quarter, apparently endeavoring to fix herself in a position to give us a second blow, but the slipping of our chain, and the ship ranging ahead under steam, frustrated the object. The ram dropped astern, but soon gathered headway and ranged our port beam, receiving the fire of our port bat- tery, some guns of which were discharged twice. It then ranged ahead, passing up the river, receiving the fire of the port battery o Page 710 710 GULF BLOCKADING SQUADRON. the Preble, disappearing in the darkness. Owing to the darkness I was unable to see the effect of our shot upon her, but some officers are of the opinion they heard shot strike the ram. I passed the Preble and stood up the river, when Acting Master Wilcox reporting we were getting too close to the starboard shore, the helm was put up and the ship rapidly fell off, presenting her broadside up and down the river. As soon as she had drifted near the Head of the Passes, inef- fectual attempts were made to get her head upstream, when I found myself a mile and a half down the South West Pass. I then put the helm up, continued down the river, hoping to be able to get her head round off Pilot Town. In doing this she drifted some distance below, grounding broadside to. Soon after this the enemy opened their fire upon us, which was kept up for about two hours. The day before leaving the Head of the Passes I had succeeded in placing one of our IX-inch broadside guns on the topgallant forecastle, giving a long range, and it was continually fired during the engagement. About 9 oclock a. ni., during the firing, it was reported to me that several boats filled with men were leaving the I79~ce~2~es; some went on board the lYater TVUeL, others came to this ship. In a few nun- utes Commander Handy, with several of his officers, canie on board, Commander Handy having wrapped around his waist in broad folds an American flag, and upon being asked, stated he had abandoned his ship in obedience to signal. Being told no such signal had been made, he insisted he so read it; that Captain Winslow had so read it. The fol- lowing day Lieutenant Commanding Winslow, being asked, remarked, he saw no such signal; that when he was asked by one of Captain Handys officers if that was the meaning of the signal, sent word to Captain Handy that it was impossible to get guns out of his stern ports and fight his ship. As soon as it was thought from the description of the slow match that it had gone out, Captain handy, his officers and crew, returned to their ship. In the evening I received a note from Captain Ilandy. a copy of which, and my reply, is enclosed. After I had taken the guns and ammunition from the i1I~ Clellan she was sent to the assistance of the T7ineeiines, and endeavored to get her afloat; in the meantime I carried out a stream anchor from this ship astern, and after unsuccessful attempts for two or three hours the il/c (Yellan returned to this ship and was lashed alongside to wait until a rise of the tide. At early daylight of the 13th instant the South Garolima, Commander Alden, came in, and I directed him to proceed and if possible get the Vincenne8 afloat. Soon after, this ship was got afloat, her head downstream, and the McCeilan was instantly cast off and went to assist in getting the Vincennes afloat. As there was not room for this ship to lay at anchor, or to turii to point her head up the stream, I had no other alternative than to cross the bar and anchor outside. My mind was very much relieved, knowing that the arma- ment of four rifled guns on board the iJilc (leilan, together with the long gun of the South carolina, would keep the enemy at bay. At about 2p. m. the Vincennes was got afloat, crossed the bar, and anchored near this ship, and the South Uarolina was immediately dispatched to Pass ~ lOutre to guard that place until I could send him a relief. My retreat down the Pass, although painful to me, was to save the ships, by preventing them being sunk and falling into the hands of the enemy, and it was evident to me they had us in their power by the operation of the ram and fire rafts. If I have erred in all this matte Page 711 GULF I3LOCKADJNG ~4QIJADI~ON. 711 it is an error of judgment; the whole affair came upon me so suddenly that no time was left for reflection, but called for immediate action and decision. The ram having made its appearance the next day at the mouth of the river, the inipression is she sustained no injury from our shot, only waiting an opportunity to destroy the ships. ft having been rumored there was a panic on board this ship at the time she was engaged with the enemy, I state it to be false; both offi- cers and men exhibited the utmost coolness and determination to do their duty. My orders and those of all the officers were carried out with as much coolness as if it had been an everyday affair, and their whole conduct merits high commendation, and they would feel grati- tied to prove their bravery by being permitted to take part in the contemplated attack on Pensacola, as requested in notes from me to you on this subject. In both engagements with the enemy the whole fire appeared to be directed to the destruction of this ship, most of the shot being apparently directed to the quarter of this vessel, pre- sumed for the purpose of disabling our rudder and propeller. I omitted in my hasty report to mention the essential aid I have received from Captain Gray, commanding the army transport M~ Ciel- lam, in getting this ship and the Vineennes afloat. From Lieutenant Commanding Winslow, commanding the Water TI7tck, I received every possible assistance that could be rendered. I directed Commander French, of the Preble, as soon as it could be done, to pr~eed to Pass ~ lOutre to guard that entrance. This he was unable to do at the time; the wind being ahead and a strong current to leeward, he was barely able to hold his own. He came in and anchored, and reported to me he was quite out of wood and coal. I told him he could procure wood off the North East Pass, where he would be stationed after the arrival of one of the steamers at Pass ~ lOutre. He replied it was impossible to get wood there, and earnestly requested to go to Ship Island, where he would, in two days, procure wood sufficient for himself and the Vincennes. 1 reluctantly consented to his doing so, knowing that one of the steamers, either the South Carolina or huntsville, would reach Pass ~ lOutre in advance of him. All of which is respectfully submitted. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN POPE, Flag-Officer WM. W. MCKEAN, (aptain. (~ovmnandinq Gulf Blockadinq Squadron. P. 5. This and my first report to you embrace all the facts to my best recollection, and if they are not satisfactory I respectfully ask for a court of enquiry in the matter; and if it can not be granted with- out detriment to the service at this time, that it may be referred to the honorable Secretary of the Navy. JOHN POPE. [Enclosure i.]

Commander McKean was not Happy: "Second report of Flag-Officet McKean, ~J. S. Navy. No. 5.] U. S. FLAGSHIP NIAGARA, Off South TVcst Pass ~Mississippi [River], October 25, 186]. SIR: On the 15th instant I had the honor to address to you, from the anchoiage off Fort Pickens, a short and hasty dispatch (No. 4) inform- Ing you of the disastrous intelligence received from this place by the army steamer life Olcllan. This dispatch I forwarded by the hands of Commander Ronckendorff, who took passage in the McClellan for New York. I left Fort Pickens at 2 p. m. on the 15th instant, spoke the U. S. S. South Carolina off Pass ~ lOutre at 2 a. m. on the 16th, and at 8:30 a. m. came to anchor off this Pass. I immediately commenced an investigation for the purpose of learn- ing all the circumstances of the affair, and I am sorry to be obliged to say that the more I hear and learn of the facts the more disgraceful does it appear. N w Il------YOL 16 4 Page 706 7O~ GULF BLOCKADING SQUADRON. My first impulse was to place another officer in command and order a reoccupation of the position, but upon mature reflection I decided to await the arrival of some of the Government-built gunboats, which I can not bitt hope are now on their way to join this squadron. My reasons are as follows: The Richmond, owing to her great length, is difficult to handle in a narrow channel with a strong current, and the ~9~tyler not having arrived, I had no steamer to support her unless I withdrew the South carolina from Barataria. This I was unwilling to do, having received informhtion from the crews of the schooners captured near that place that other vessels belonging to the same owner were loading with arms i p Havana. I say, no steamer, for I am convinced from experience that sailing ships in that position are worse than useless. On the arrival of snitable vessels I shall at once, unless otherwise instructed, again take possession of the Head of the Passes. I found on my arrival that the sloop Preble had been dispatched to Ship Island to obtain wood, though a supply can be procured on any of the mud banks at the entrance of this river. I can not but express surprise that any officer should have asked permission, or been allowed to leave at such a time, more especially, as I find that the Pass ~ lOutre was left unguarded for twenty-four hours, rendering it possible that armed vessels of the enemy may have escaped, though I have no information that such is the case. 1 had prepared a precept for a court of enquiry that I might be enabled to report legally ascertained facts to the Department, but I found that it would be impossible to assemble a court and obtain the testimony of the witnesses without diverting too many vessels and officers from the far niore important duties of the blockade. ..."

Here are Captain French's subsequent sailing orders, should anyone find them of interest: " Order of Flag Officer McLean, U. S. Navy, to commander French, U. S. Navy, commanding U. S. Ship Preble, regarding the cruising ground of that vessel. U. S. FLAGSHIP NIAGARA, Off Fort Pickens, November 26, 1861. SIR: You will cruise in the ship under your command between Ship Island Shoal and Sabine Pass until further orders. Commander T. D. Shaw, in the U. S. S. Montgomery, is ordered to blockade Berwick Bay. He will occasionally supply you with water. Should he not be able to furnish you a sufficient quantity, you will, when necessary, proceed to the South West Pass of the Mississippi for a supply, but are only to leave your cruising ground in case of necessity. About the time of the expected arrival of the supply steamer, you can run into Allafalaya Bay or to the anchorage off Galveston, for the pur- pose of obtaining from her a supply of fresh provisions, etc., and will resume your station as soon as that is accomplished. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, ~ MCKEAN, Flag- Officer, Commanding Gulf Blockading Squadron. Commander H. FRENCH, Commanding U. S. Sloop Preble.

Report of Captain Pope, commanding U. S. S. Richmond. Note no mention is made of the Preble signaling and firing her broadsides prior to the Ram striking the Richmond. "U. S. S. RICHMOND South West Pass of Mississippi River, October 13, 1861. SIR: I have the honor to make the following report: At 3:4~ a. in., October 12, 1861, while the watch on deck were employed in taking coal on board from the schooner Joseph IL Toone, a ram was discovered in close proximity to this ship. By the time the alarm could be given, she had struck the ship abreast of the port fore channels, tearing the schooner from her fasts and forcing a hole through the ships side. Passing aft, the ram endeavored to effect a breach in the stern, but failed. Three planks in the ships side were stove in about 2 feet below the water line, making a hole about 5 inches in circumference. At the first alarm the crew promptly and coolly repaired to their Page 704 704 GULF BLOCKADING SQUADRON. quarters, and as the ram passed abreast of the ship the entire port battery was discharged at her, with what effect it was impossible to discover, owing to the darkness. A red light was shown as a signal of danger and the squadron was underway in a very few minutes, hav- ing slipped their cables. I ordered the Prebie and Vincennes to proceed down the South West Pass, while I covered their retreat, which they did at about 4:50 a. m. At this time three large fire rafts, stretching across the river, were rapidly nearing us, while several large steamers and a bark-rigged propeller were seen astern of them. The squadron proceeded down the river in the following order: First, Preble; second, Vincennes; third, Richmond,,~ fourth, Water Witch, with the prize schooner Frolic in tow. When abreast of the pilot settlement the pilot informed me that he did not consider it safe to venture to turn this ship in the river, but that he believed he could pass over the bar. 1 accord- ingly attempted to pass over the bar with the squadron, but in the passage the Vincennes and Richmond grounded, while the Preble went over clear. This occurred about 8 oclock, and the enemy, who were now down the river with five steamers, commenced firing at us, while we returned the fire from our port battery and rifled gun on the poop, our shot, however, falling short of the enemy, while their shell burst on all sides of us and seven 1 passed directly over the ship. At about 9:30 Commander Handy, of the Vincennes, mistaking my sig- nal to the ships outside the bar to get underway~ for a signal for him to abandon his ship~ came on board the Richmond with all his offlcers and a large number of the crew, the remainder having gone on board the Water Witch. Captain Handy before leaving his ship had placed a lighted slow match at the magazine. Having waited a reasonable time for an explosion, I directed Commander Handy to return to his ship with his crew, to start his water and, if necessary, at his own request, to throw overboard his small guns, for the purpose of lightening his ship, and to carry out his kedge with a cable to heave off by. At 10 a. m. the enemy ceased firing and withdrew up the river. During the engagement a shell entered our port quarter port, and one of the boats was stove by another shell. At 10: 30 a. m. dispatched Acting Master Devens, of the Vincennes, in the ]4olic, with orders to the South carolina, in Barataria Bay, to come down to our assistance. At 1 p. m. made a steamei~ standing down from Pass de Outre toward us, which proved to be the army transport 2W~ (ilellan, with rifled guns from Fort Pickens for this ship. At4 p. m. sent the Water Witch down to Barataria Bay for the South Carolina and Huntsville, with orders to order the latter to Pass ~ lOutre and the former to this place. At 5 p. m. received on board the guns and ammunition from the Ate Clellan. My object in dispatching the Water Witch for the above-named steamers was for the purpose of having them up as soon as possible, and to send the Huntsville to guard Pass ~ lOutre and the South Carolina to assist in towing this ship and the Vincennes over the bar to prevent us being fired or sunk. I have this morning suc- ceeded in getting this ship over the bar. The McCellan and South Carolina are using all exertions to get the Vincennes off. The Night- imgale is hard ~and fast ashore to the northward of the bar. I have succeeded in reducing the leak of this ship, so that our small engines keep the ship free. This is only temporary, and the ship will have to go to some place and have three planks put in. I have received th Page 705 GULF BLOCKADING SQUADRON. 705 rifle guns, and placed the 32-pounder on the forecastle and the 12-pounder on the poop. The coal schooner Joseph IL Jioone fell into the hands of the enemy, having about 15 tons of coal on board. Could I have possibly managed this ship in any way than keeping her head up and down the river, I would have stopped at Pilot Town to give battle, but this was found too hazardous, owing to her extreme length. The attempt was made, but the broadside could not be brouoht to bear without running the ship ashore. I then concluded, as advised by the pilot, to run for the bar, and trust to chance of finding water enough to cross. The schooner Jo/tn ~V Ceni,~ is at anchor outside of the bar. As soon as I can discharge her, the guns, etc., the charter party will be endorsed as you directed. In narrating the affair of the river, I omitted to state that the ram sunk one of our large cutters and a shot from the enemy stove the gig. I am pleased to say that the Vincennes is afloat and at anchor outside on my starboard quarter. I send by the life (lellan the detachment of men belonging to the Niagara and Colo rado. I have ordered Assistant Surgeon Robinson froni the Vncennes to temporary duty onboard of this ship. At the advice of the surgeon of this ship, I have permitted Assistant Surgeon Howell (condemned by survey) to return in the iVic (ic/lan, all of which I hope you will approve. I have also directed Commander Alden to proceed with all dispatch to Pass ~ l~Outre, and as soon as relieved by a steamer to return to his station. I also loaned to him the rifled howitzer sent out for the Pow- /atan. I have ordered the master of the Nightingale to deliver 50 tons of coal to the 11Th Clellan. This, together with what I will take out, will, I trust, lighten her so that I will be enabled to haul her off, when I shall put the guns, etc., from the schooner on board. Very respectfully, your obedient serVant, JoHN POPE, Flag-Officer WM. W. MCKEAN, Captain, commanding Blockading Squadron." "Nice of Capt. Pope to name the prize schooner after me!

"If a man speaks alone in the forest, and his wife is not around to hear him, is he still wrong?"

Thanks for posting those Charley! The lines were probably taken off just before she was broken up in 1828. The builders in Charleston altered the plan that Fox had provided for them. They were worried that she might not make it over the bar, so in addition to lengthening her five feet, they gave her broader floors to decrease her draught - most evident in the drawing - but this made her roll more, not a good quality for a gun platform.

There was allegedly a full set of plans of the lengthened USS Adams. The late Dr. William M. P. Dunne, of SUNY, told me that Howard Chapelle had them at home in preparation for his sailing Navy Book in the 1940s, but he got in a final knock-down fight with his soon-to-be ex-wife, and she reportedly burned them, along with several others (USS Portsmouth too) that belonged to the Fox Papers of the Peabody Museum in Salem Mass. How true this is, I don't know, but Dr. Dunne was in a position to know.

If true, it would be ironic if John Pope's career was destroyed by the CSS Manassas! The Vincennes Captain's last name was Handy.

I always liked them corollaries ...

No decorative detail, alas, although her original bust head was saved and placed on the new ship in 1829. Headrails in 2. only. The closest ship to her in Chapelle is the Boston. The John Adams was cut down in 1808 to a flush-decked corvette carrying 22 42-pounder carronades and two long twelves . She was very successful. In 1811, however, Captain William Bainbridge ordered her to be repaired with an armed quarterdeck once again, but not with a raised forecastle, and she thus became the infamous "jack-*** frigate". She was so unsuccessful that she sat most of the War-of-1812 out in New York. The quarterdeck was removed by 1814, and she sailed on one diplomatic mission to Europe. The 12-pounder Adams was cut in half circa 1809, lengthened 15 feet, and put back into service as an 18-pounder frigate. In this configuration, she was crank and unstable. All of her spar deck carronades were landed, and her upper bulwark lightened, but she never lost her upper deck. She was a spar decked corvette, similar to the Jamestown of 1844, but with one brass pivot on her forecastle. She was never cut down. Her 18-pounders were mostly only short versions called "columbiads". She was fast and beautiful, but the lengthening process moved her maximum breadth too far aft. This caused "chattering" of the water eddies at her rudder, which made her hard to steer and repeatedly wore out her pintles and gudgeons. Had she not been destroyed in 1814, she would not have been rebuilt.

The attack of the CSS Ram Manassas was actually the Preble's second "battle' of the week. Two days before the battle of Head of Passes, a rebel steamer, CSS Ivy, chugged down river and opened fire on the Richmond and the Preble with her rifled 32-pounder, performing a sort of recon by force. The Union ships returned fire, but to no avail, their smoothbores just could not reach. Here is the report of Captain Pope, U. S. Navy, regarding the attack by Confed- crate steamer Ivy upon the United States vessels at the Head of the Passes, MissIssippi River. "U. S. S. RICHMOND, Mississppi River, October 9, 1861. SIR: I have to report that the Ivy (steamer) has been down this afternoon and made an attack upon these ships, throwing shot and shell over this ship and the Preble, keeping herself entirely out of the range of any guns on board either of the ships, her shot passing some 500 yards over this ship, which makes it evident that we are entirely at the mercy of the enemy. We are liable to be driven from here at any moment, and, situated as we are, our position is untenable. I may be captured at any time by a pitiful little steamer mounting only one gun. The distance at which she was firing I should estimate at 4 miles. with heavy rifled cannon, throwing her shot and shell far beyond us. This may have been an experiment to ascertain the rang of our guns, which they now have, and of oourse will quickly avail themselves of the knowledge. The guns for the battery have not yet been landed. It would be the height of folly to send coal or provisions, as they could not be taken on board under the fire of the enemy. Respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN POPE, Captain. Flag-Officer Y~T W. MCKEAN Commanding Gulf Blockading Squadron." I suspect that shot flying 500 feet over the deck of the USS Richmond from the distance of four miles (from a 32-pounder) was a bit of an exaggeration.

OK. How about this one, Canute: "No guy's Saturday Night plans survive first contact with the ladies ..." On this, we can all agree ...

Here is a interesting, yet sad letter written by Commander French concerning four runaway slaves that sought US Navy protection. Note that the USS Preble and the USS Marion were identical sister-ships! How often did that happen? "Report of Commander French, U. S. Navy, requesting instructions regarding the disposition of four contrabands. U. S. SHIP PREBLE, head of the Passes, Mississippi River, October 5, 1861. SIR: While lying at anchor with this ship and the U. S. ship Marion at Ship Island, and being momentarily on board the last-named ship, on the afternoon of the 24th of September ultimo, a small rowboat wa reported as pulling from the mainland in the direction of the ship. Not certain whether they were coming there or intending to land on Cat Island, where rebel steamers had been passing, I directed Lieu- tenant-Commanding Bryant to dispatch a boat either to pursue or relieve them, as the case might be. In a short time the boat returned, bringing with them a small boat and four contrabands, or runaway slaves. They had made their escape from Handsboro, Miss., and were seeking refuge on board our ships. Their names and names of their masters are as follows: Parker Hamilton, Toney Graves, Stephen ONeil, belonging to R. C. Cowens; William Sanders, belonging to Robert Carr. Upon their statement that they were being almost starved to death, and worked to death, and that they wanted to stay with us, I directed Lieutenant-Commanding Bryant to retain them on board the Marion and to supply them with rations, and to send the other two on board this ship. On the arrival of Commander Smith in the steamer Massachusetts, with orders for me to report to you at Pass ~ lOutre, I reported the circumstances to him and received his orders to bring them all to you. I have them all here, and await your orders as to the disposition to be made of them. From these contrabands I learn the rebels have a powder mill in full blast at a place called Red Bluff, in Landsboro, on Bernards Bayou. They say it is working night and day and that daily trips are made by carts and wagons, bringing the raw materials, I presume, and taking& away the manufactured article. They state there are soldiers at Biloxi, a place 2 miles distant, and also at Ocean Springs, another landing place on the bayou, below the powder mill. One of them says a revenue cutter guards the entrance of the bayou, while the others know nothing about it. Very respectfully, H. FRENCH, Commander Flag-Officer WM. W. MCKEAN, Commander/ Gulf Blockading Squadron, U. S. S. Niagara."

An unidentified officer recalled the fire in the Portsmouth Journal of May 30, 1863: "Those on the lower deck had barely time to escape with their lives, many of them being quite severely burned ... In 15 minutes the ship was untenable, and the order was given to leave. It was impossible for many of them to reach the gangway, and they were obliged to throw themselves overboard, to be picked up by the boats. In less than an hour after the fire broke out, the magazine exploded, and all that remained of the Preble was in mid air. It was the most sublime and fearful sight I ever witnessed. The flames seemed to shoot upward for nearly a mile, and writhed and wriggled like so many fiery serpents, and near the top of the flames a second explosion took place, caused by a shell or large box of ammunition. The three masts were still standing when the explosion took place, and up they went into the air, whole, with the guard flag still flying at the fore." See "Constructing Munitions of War: the Portsmouth Navy Yard Confronts the Confederacy", By Richard E. Winslow III, Portsmouth Marine Society, page 164. Burned bits of the Preble reportedly wash up after heavy storms. The wreck was discovered by the navy in 1963, when artifacts were recovered, but its location was forgotten. Currently, archeologists are searching for her again.

Official Account of the USS Preble's destruction: Report of Acting Master Shanleland, U. S. Navy, regarding the destruc- tion by fire of the U. S. ship Preble at Pensacola. NAVY YARD, PENSACOLA, April 28, 1863. SIR: It is my painful duty to report the total destruction of the U. S. ship Preble, while lying at anchor off the town of Pensacola, on the morning of the 27th instant. At 9: 30 a. m. the alarm of fire was made. I immediately started for the deck, and in passing from my cabin saw a volume of dense black smoke and flame issuing from the forehold. I instantly ordered to beat to quarters, and at the same time made every effort to subdue the fire. At 9:40, finding the fire increas- ing rapidly, 1 ordered Mr. Knowlton, acting ensign and executiv Page 163 WEST GULF BLOCKADING SQUADRON. 163 officer, to have the magazine flooded and to inform me when the fire reached the bulkhead of the wardroom. At 10:15 or thereabouts the fire had reached the wardrooni bulkhead. I instantly gave the word, All hands leave the ship, as I found it impossible to save her. I beg to state that all hands did their duty in trying to subdue the flames. The officers and men lost all their personal effects. At 10: 50 the ship blew up. From a report from Vincent B. Clark, landsman, I learn that the fire originated by the carelessness of William J. Wilson, ships cor- poral, temporarily acting captain of the hold. I can not learn further than he was emptying a barrel of tar oil into the tank; neither can I tell if he had an open light or a lantern. My orders have been very positive that no open light be used on any account in the hold. For a list of casualties I respectfully refer you to the accompanying report of Surgeon James S. Knight. I respectfully ask that a court enquiry be called as soon as possible. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. F. SHANKLAND, Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Acting commanding. Secretary of tite Navy. [Endorsement.] From all I can learn, no blame can be attached to the conimanding officer of the Prebie. Respectfully, A. GiBsoN, Gommander and Senior (officer A/bat. [Enclosure.] PENSACOLA NAVY YARD, April 28, 1863. SIR: In compliance with your request, I beg to report the following casualties which happened during the burning of the U. S. ship Preble on the 27th instant: John Norris, boatswains mate; hand, feet, and face badly burned. William King, master at arms; hand burned slightly. William Vetterline, marine; contusion of great toe. William J. Wilson, ships corporal; suffocated. Respectfully, JAMES S. KNIGHT, Assistant Surgeon, U. S. Navy. WILLIAM F. SHANKLAND, Acting master, commanding. At the time, the Preble had been rearmed with 18 heavy guns: twelve medium 32-pounders, four 8 inch shell guns and two 20-pounder parrot rifles, a battery which she could not have born at sea, but suited her status as a stationary guard ship.

Not many US Naval sailing ships fired their guns in anger after the War of 1812, let alone small flush-decked sloops of war like the USS Preble. Being the dimensions of the old Wasp/Frolic/Peacock Class sloops of war, the Preble was armed with only sixteen 32-pounder carronades when launched in Portsmouth, NH, in 1839. She had a long career, sailing to China and Japan. She fought in the Mexican war and served as a cadet training ship at the outbreak of the Civil War. She was immediately sent off to the Gulf of Mexico for blockade duty in 1861, rearmed with as many modern guns as she could carry: six medium 32-pounders, one heavy 32-pounder, two 8" shell guns, and one 24-pounder brass howitzer, ten guns in all. Under the command of Captain French, she found herself part of a blockading squadron at The Head of Passes Mississippi, alongside the sailing Sloop Vincennes, the Flag Steam Sloop Richmond, Commodore Pope and the steamer Water Witch. The poor Preble was a helpless floating battery that was towed into place at the head of the line and anchored there. Their job was to stop privateers from sailing out of New Orleans. Her only movement, in case of emergency, would have been to slip her anchor and head downstream, trying not to run aground. But this was the duty required of her, as there were few steamer then available to the US Navy at that time. Just such an emergency came one dark night when the Confederate Ironclad ram, the one gun CSS Manassas, attacked them without warning. French's Preble was the first to engage, and she fired her guns almost non-stop until ordered to retire. The Richmond was rammed, but did not sink. The Water Witch and Vincennes panicked and both ran aground, after firing very few shots, and the Vincennes's captain the ordered his crew to abandon ship, and even lit a powder train to the magazine to keep the ship from falling into rebel hands. But a clear thinking quartermaster snuffed it out. All four ships survived and escaped, but the affair caused much embarrassment in the press in what became known as "Pope's Run" or "The Great Skedaddle". Pope and the Vincennes' captain were sacked, but French was praised for his cool conduct. The following is reproduced from http://ebooks.library.cornell.edu/m/moawar/ofre_fulltext.html "Report of Commanc3er French, U. S. Navy, commanding U. S. ship Preble. U. S. Ship PREBLE, Mississippi River, October 22, 1861. SIR: In obedience to your order, I have to make to you the follow- ing statement of the occurrences at the Head of the Passes on the morning of the 12th instant: This ship was anchored about 150 or 200 yards distant from the Richmond and about two points on her starboard bow, being the most advanced ship of the forces there at anchor. I had been on deck most of the time during the night, had left it but a short time previ- ously, and was lying in my berth asleep with all my clothes on, when a midshipman rushed into the cabin exclaiming, Captain, here is a steamer right alongside of us. .1 sprang instantly on deck; the order had already been given to beat to quarters and the men were then assembling at their guns. This was about 3:40 a. m. The moon had set, or was obscured by clouds, and the night somewhat dark, with the wind from the northward. As I passed out of my cabin on my way to the deck I saw through a port an indescribable object not 20 yards distant from our quarter, moving with great velocity toward the bow of the Richmond. My orders from the senior officer were in the event of discovering any danger at night to hoist a red light at the gaff. This had been done by the officer of the deck, instantly, on the dis- covery of the object, which was first seen about 15 or 20 feet directly ahead of this ship, and drifting with the current directly toward us; not a speck of light, smoke, or any moving thing could be seen on or in it, and it looked somewhat like a huge whale in the water. The instant the persons on board of it discovered our movements it seemed to change its direction to avoid us and made directly for the Richmond. In an instant huge clouds of the densest, blackest smoke rolled up from it, and we all expected to see her blown up, but afterwards concluded it must have been the ram, of which we had been told so much. It next made its appearance about a hundred yards distant, and directly abeam of this ship, where it lay quietly for a few minutes, apparently hesitating whether to come at us or not. 1 instantly opened my port battery and gave her three broadsides in rapid succession, the Richmond also firing. She then slowly steamed up the river, and when on our port bow threw up a rocket. This ship had been lying all the time with a range of only 15 fathoms cable, in readiness to slip in case of emer- gen cy. While firing at him word was passed ~that the Richmond was going ahead of us and to hold our fire. I was directing the firing at the battery, and hearing it, looked out of a port and saw that she was astern barely lapping my quarter, and therefore continued my fir- ing until the ram was out of line of pointing. 1 at once manned my deck tackle (for my capstan has been crippled since the hurricane at Key West, and I and therefore compelled to use deck tackles) and beo~an to heave in my chain. Immediately on the rocket being thrown up from the ram, three bright lights were seen coming down the river directly toward this ship, which we at first supposed to be steamers coming to attack us. They soon, however, increased so rapidly in size, that we were fully convinced they were fire ships, and such they proved to be. I was then working smartly with my deck tackle, and should have succeeded in weighing my anchor, when it was reported to me that the Richmond was steaming down the river. 1 could not and would not believe it possible until I ran aft and saw her astern and heading down. The fire ships were then not more than 150 yards dis- tant, directly ahead, and coming down upon this ship. At the urgent suggestion of the first lieutenant and other officers, I then gave the order to make sail and slip the cable, having first taken off the slip buoy, so that the enemy should not easily obtain it. The ships head was immediately headed toward the South West Pass, orders to that effect, in the event of our being obliged to slip at any time, having been for some time previously given by the senior officer present. The moment this ship was discovered by the fire ships (which were in tow of two steam tugs, one on each side) to be underway, their direc- tion was changed toward the Richmond and Vincennes, which were on the opposite side of the river and below this ship. Continuing down the river I came up with the Richmond, which was burning the Cos- ton signals, and passing within a few yards of his stern, I hailed and said I can hear your orders; what are they? The answer was Proceed down the Pass. We were so near my reply was made without the use of a deck trumpet. I continued down the Pass and soon passed by the Vincennes, which soon after signalized to Richmond, Shall I anchor, which was answered by general signal Cross the bar. Not long after the Vincennes was discovered to be aground, with her stern up the river. This ship shortly after took the bottom, and I feared would also stick, but after two or three smart rolls worked herself over and crossed the bar, when I anchored near the coal ships liTi thn and Nightingale, to protect them in case of necessity. I should have stated that the fire ships were towed on shore by the enemy at the Head of the Passes, and two or three steamers were seen coming rapidly down the river to attack the ships. The Richmond was at that time slowly moving down, Water Witch assisting Vincennes. The engagement had now commenced between the Richmond, Vincennes, and Water Witch on our side, and three of the enemys steamers, one o them being a large bark-rigged vessel, said to be the iJfiramon, but now called the McRae; two other steamers were also in company, but I could perceive no firing from them. At this time signal was made from Richmond to ships outside the bar to get underway. I, of course, obeyed the signal, as did also the Kuhn; the Nightingale being ashore, of course could not. It was not long before we discovered the Richmond to be aground; the firing continued about two hours or more, when the enemys. steamers retired up the river. About noon received from the Water Witch 6 officers and TO men from the Vin- cennes~, which, we then learned, had been abandoned. The only signals I saw made by the Richmond during the engage- ment were those made to this ship, and one other to Water Witch, Engage the enemy. Respectfully, yom obedient servan ~, H. FRENCH, Commanding U S. Ship Preble. Flag-Officer Wi~r. MCKEAN, Commanding (Gulf Blockading /Squadron, U. S. S. Niagara.​)" The USS Preble was relegated to guard ship duties in 1863 at Pensacola, FL, when she was destroyed by an accidental storeroom fire. The Preble and her four sister ships Decatur, Hull, Marion and Yorktown, deserve to be modeled. A full set of plans survives of her drawn by Chapelle for the Smithsonian.

I found this little gem in the stacks. I'm sure many have read it, but its new to me. Makes me want to cry ... "306 OPERATIONS ON THE ATLANTIC COAST. Confederate reports and correspondence relative Jo the destruction and abandonment of Norfolk navy yard. [Telegram.] NORFOLK, April22, 1861. North left for Charleston to-day; I answer your dispatch. The Penn- sylcania, Merrimack, Germantown, Raritan, Columbia, and Dolphin are burned to the waters edge and sunk. The Delaware, Columbus, and Plymouth are sunk. All can be raised; the Plymouth easily; not much injured. The Germantown crushed and sunk by the falling of shears. Her battery, new and complete, uninjured by fire; can be recovered. The most abominable vandalism at the yard. Destruction less than might be expected. The two lower ship houses burned, with the New York, line of battle ship, on the stocks. Also the rigging loft, sail loft, and gun-carriage depot, with all the pivot gun carriages and many others. No other buildings burned. The metal work of the car- riages will be recovered; most of it good. About 4,000 shells thrown overboard; can be recovered. The Germantowns battery will be up and ready for service to-morrow. In ordnance building all small arms broken and thrown overboard will be fished up. The brass howitzers thrown overboard are up. The Merrimack has 2,200 10-pound cartridges in her magazine in water-tight tanks. The flag of Virginia floats over the yard. Only eight guns, 32-pounders, destroyed; about 1,000 or more from 11-inch to 32-pounders taken, and ready for our cause. Many of them are ready in batteries. We saved about 130 gun carriages; all saved at St. Helena [Va.]. Many thousands of shells and shot, from 11-inch to 32-pounders, safe. All the machinery uninjured. Magazine captured, with 2,000 barrels of powder and vast numbers of shells and quantities of fixed ammunition. An attempt made to blow up the dry dock failed. Everything broken that they could break. Private trunks broken open and officers clothing and that of their wives stolen. Glorious news! General Gwynn just read me a telegram; it comes from a reliable source; the New York Regiment, attempting to march through Maryland, was met half waybetween Marlborough and Annapo- lis and cut all to pieces. G. T. SINCLAIR. S. H. MALLORY, Secretary of the Navy."

Remember the old saying: "No military plan survives contact with the enemy."

Somebody needs to build this fine frigate! No need to reconstruct the stern either!

A Rebel view of the Congress: "Report of Lieutenant Sharp, C. S. Navy, giving information obtained while a prisoner on the U. S. ship Congress in Hampton Roads. BUREAU ORDNANCE, Richmond, Va., December 9, 1861. MY DEAR SIR: In a moment of leisure it occurs to me to write you of my observations while on board of the Congress, Commander Wil. 11am Smith, off Newport News, during nine days. There is a strongly built battery of five large guns riverward, at the npper bridge toward the river. The southeast gun is on a semicircular battery alone; the others on a parapet. The battery seems continuous Page 748 748 NORTH ATLANTIC BLOCKADING SQUADRON. looking inland, but the Congress deck being about as high as the sand ~bank, I could not count inland guns, or even see then~, though the parapet curvature satisfied me that the battery is circular or oval. The same parallel line of view prevented me from the judging of the number of troops, but it was extensive. The river-edge trees remain; inland, they have been cut down, and houses, etc., are built and being built. In addition to the original old bridge, a fine, large one has been constructed, similar to the ordnance bridge, you may recollect, at Old Point. Steamers go to both bridges. The Express, steamer, runs twice daily between Newport News and Old Point; the other boats are hos- pital, house boats, etc. While there one night, about 8 p. in., a steamer was seen and reported as the P. II. [Patrick Henry]. General quarters and thorough prepara- tions were made, but relieved on falsifying the statement. The Congress has removed her gun deck cabin and has two long 32s out of stern ports. The original crew she had in Brazil, Lieutenants J. B. Smith and A. Pendergrast, Purser Buchanan, and Dr. Shippen; all the rest are masters and masters mates from the merchant service, unless for- ward officers. At sunset, though always loaded, batteries are primed, guns cast loose and ranged obliquely; regular sea watches kept; no hammocks allowed on gun deck, or lights above water; stream anchor at port quarter, hawsers bent, and others on deck; buoys all around ship, and spars in angular form reach from forward of flying jibbooms, lashed, hung by tackles from head booms and fore channels, passing the last so as to glance off passing objects, torpedoes, etc. Crew well drilled, furnisfied with Sharps and Mini~ rifles, and all modern appliances. Boat howitzer in Quarter-deck after ports. Stevens, Butt, and I were confined on the Congress; Dalton and Loyall on the Cumberland, Cap- tain Livingston; officers, Lieutenants G. U. Morris and Selfridge, Dr. Jackson, and others merchautmen appointments. The Cumbertand rows guard nightly. Both ships two cables length apart, nuder the battery, less than half a mile distant. The Cumberland has outriggers like the Congress. 1 left the Congress on the 20th ultirno,

I found this letter in the Naval Records of the Rebellion, North Atlantic Blockading squadron, Volume 4, page 393: "Report of Commander Smith, U. S. Navy, commanding U. S. ship Con- gress, regarding means for protection against torpedoes, etc. U. S. FRIGATE CONGRESS, Newport News, November 4, 1861. SIR: I have received your note about torpedoes, etc. We have been preparing some guards against fire craft, torpedoes, infernal machines, etc., but, in consequence of the bad weather, only completed them to- day. I suppose that any of these things with which the rebels may attack us will be towed and placed directly ahead and as near the ship as they can safely come, so that when let loose they will drift with the tide to the ship, taking the chain or cutwater; on this supposition we have acted. We have made with spars a frame in the shape of the letter A, which is suspended by the crosspiece from the bowsprit cap; the ends reach aft to the lower booms, resting on the water, and are secured by tackle Page 393 NORTH ATLANTIC BLOCKADING SQUADRON. 393 to the ships sides to steady them. At night the lower booms are brought nearly alongside, forming a continuation of the spars in the water. A stout grapuel has 2 fathoms of chain attached to it; to the end of the chain 10 or 12 fathoms of stout rope with a kedge. This apparatus is put into the bow of a boat at night at the gangway ready for use. Should any fire craft come down with the tide directly ahead of us it must take agaiust the frame and glance off and pass clear of the ship. Should the fire craft be on fire at any distance from the ship, the boat will be sent to it, the grapnel secured to it, and the kedge thrown overboard; it will be anchored and can burn out at leisure. These arrangemeuts, I think, will protect us against any attack of fire craft Suspended from the jibboom and under the above frame is a spar athwartships, some 30 feet long, to which is attached on its whole length a strong netting 14 feet deep and kept in a vertical position by weights at the bottom. Should such a machine as the one that attacked the ]lfinnesota approach us and come near the cable, it must be caught in the net and held there until we relieve it. Or should it pass outside the net, the tube which floats on the surface to supply the inmates with fresh air would be caught on the A spars, and the supply of fresh air be cut off, causing suffocation, and if it should pass outside of the spars it would go entirely clear of the ship, doing no harm. I think this arrangement will secure us against such torpedoes. There is another plan of preparing an infernal machine or torpedo by having two tanks containing powder submerged, and each suspended to a buoy floating ou the surface of the water. The tanks connected by a line and the buoys also connected by a line, the two connecting lines being of the same length. These machines are placed directly ahead of the ship and let go; they drift down, the connecting rope catching against the cable or cutwater brings the tanks under the ships bot- tom, where they are made to explode by matches leading from the buoys through elastic tubes to the tanks. To guard against these we are riding by a scope of cable 20 fathoms greater than the length of the ship, and on the buoy rope close under the buoy a grapuel is secured. At the distance of 40 fathoms from the anchor, on each side, is placed a kedge with a buoy and rope with a grapuel attached, as to the anchor buoy. Should any machine of the latter description be sent to attack us, the connecting rope must be caught on one of the grapuels and hang there, the floats would swing together, taking with them the tanks ahead of the ship, and explode without doing any damage to the ship. I think all of these arrangements will protect us against any fire craft, torpedoes, or infernal machines. J have not yet devised any plan to defend us against the Merrimack, unless it be with hard knocks. Yery respectfully, your obedient servant, W. SMITH, Commanding U. S. Frigate Congress. Flag-Officer L. M. GoLDSBoROUGH," Hard knocks, indeed!

The round-sterned USS Brandywine was the second built, but the first launched ahead of the older square-sterned sister USS Potomac, and the sister USS Columbia was constructed on Brandywine's ways. But Potomac and Columbia were both completed in normal, quick time, but sat on the ways seasoning until needed. Both were complete by 1827. Jones superintended the construction of the America, 74, in Portsmouth, NH, in 1782, and ordered the heavy stern galleries left off.

All historians agree that the Congress was built to Humphries 36-gun draught. It is fairly complete, given that most of the inboard profile is superimposed over the lines. With that, and the 1820-ish Charles Ware sail plan, one could make a reasonably accurate post-1812 model of her, except for the carvings and once again, that freakin stern! Makes me kinda wish that the British had captured her ... kinda.

The Essex was thought to have been built on the design of the Alliance, as the same family built both twenty years apart. It may surprise many to learn that not one single line survives for the Bon Homme Richard, just dimensions. That beautiful Ancre monograph is entirely a reconstruction by Jean Boudriot based on French East India Company practice. I've always had a problem with the stern, with its huge gallery. It's OK for the Indiaman Duc De Duras (Duck De Donald? ), but it most certainly would have been removed or simplified in its conversion to a man of war. And I definitely disagree with the placement of the six extra gun-ports cut into the lower deck for the 18-pounders. I believe they all would have been in close line with each other, and placed as far back as they could be fitted. The only known deviation of the USS Columbia from her sisters is described in a letter by Humphries written to William Bainbridge in 1827. The only difference was in her "upper bow", in so much as she was "less full than the others". But no explanation was given. Did Humphries mean that the stem-post was smaller, with less of an overhang, (called "the flam of the stem", i.e., the Raritan having a huge flam), or was he referring to the hull lines being less bluff in the upper bows than did the others? (See Donald L. Canney, "Sailing Warships Of The US Navy, Naval Institute Press, page 70.)

Lafayette was a proposal for a three decked ship based on the Spanish Santisma Trinidad (spelling!). The project eventually evolved into the 120-gun USS Pennsylvania.