uss frolick

Also looking into some of the archives on this site I decided I should also add a shot of the water color depictions of the sterns from John Lenthall's archives.  In it you can see John Adams, Constitution and Congress among others.  I figure I'll just make this post a big info dump since it feels like so much is out there just not in an organized place.  Happy to find the stern of the Congress... even if it's not the prettiest thing lol 

Let's let Captain Robert not-so-Handy of the Vincennes chime in:
 
"
 

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.]  
 

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?"

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

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

"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 ...

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.

Oh dear we boat loving nerds do need to be mindful of our significant others when plowing through historical documents don't we.  Anywhoo I scanned the pics from the Coker book and this is what I found. There's a John Adams body plan, painting and sail plan (though a bit small) also diagrams for the Delaware, Providence and 1776 Boston with clear figurehead details.  Based on these pictures the model above could very well be the 1776 Boston taken from admiralty lines and based on these diagrams it looks like all these ships had draughts taken by RN during enlistment.  Also posted the admiralty model of the L'indien aka South Carolina showing some fine details.  So overall that's quite a lot of continental frigates knocked off my list as well as a few new ones

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.

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.

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.

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

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.