uss frolick

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,

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

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

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,

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

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,

Three John Adams 1799 plans do survive, enough for a complete reconstruction. Chapelle missed them.
 
1. Original body lines, pre 1829: National Archives, presumably (published in Charleston's Maritime Heritage, Coker.)
 
2. Out board profile, which includes partial inboard profile, partial waterlines (or are they diagonal projections?), as designed, 1/4" scale
Peabody Museum, Fox Papers. Note twenty-four broadside ports, but with no bridle port. The latter was added, along with a five feet extension of keel in Charleston. Not labeled as JA in Fox Papers.
 
3. Half-breadth of Decks, all, with stowage, 1/8th scale, as converted to a corvette, circa 1807, Fox papers. Position of projected stern chase ports indicate an original six window design, with ports in the two and five windows, with the others planked over. All they did was remove the spar deck in 1807-08. Shows length, mast and gunport position as built. (Labeled as "Decks Chesapeake" in Fox Papers, by some long dead, blind, crack-smoking staff volunteer!!)
 
I forgot one!
 
4. There is an inboard profile plan from the 1850s showing her final configuration. I've seen it, but I don't have a copy, from the NA, that shows ten ports aside - down from the 1829 rebuild's twelve - a full projecting stem-post, and a sketch of her bust figurehead.

Hello, dear friends!
Thank you for your kind words and support.
I appreciate your comments very much.
 
The five "Baille à Drisse" I have finished in the meantime.
To get an idea, I have placed the five container on the deck.

 

 

 

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.

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.)

I'd probably go mad interpreting some of those Humphrey's papers, though tbf with many of these ships they are probably the most viable resource there is for detailing especially ships like Congress and United States.  The Essex and Confederacy to appear to have some commonality though Essex is significantly smaller.  It's just that Alliance had a rather impressive career and deserves a model made of her.  I can't believe the hulk existed an a shore until the early 1900's and was then broken up with no thought of it's archeological value sheesh!  Regarding Duc De Duras I agree about the stern and that's sort of what I'm getting at here.  Is there enough info on the Congress (1797) to make a fully accurate model of her... probably not.  Can enough info be compiled to make a reasonably accurate representation of her... most likely.  It's been done many times with supposedly "historic" ship models.  Like Bon Homme Richard, Lexington and Enterprise models exist of them... they are interpretations but not wholly out of the ball park, especially Lexington.  So thought's are the more research and bits of info gathered the more realistic a model could be made of some of these fairly obscure historic vessels.

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.)

Three John Adams 1799 plans do survive, enough for a complete reconstruction. Chapelle missed them.
 
1. Original body lines, pre 1829: National Archives, presumably (published in Charleston's Maritime Heritage, Coker.)
 
2. Out board profile, which includes partial inboard profile, partial waterlines (or are they diagonal projections?), as designed, 1/4" scale
Peabody Museum, Fox Papers. Note twenty-four broadside ports, but with no bridle port. The latter was added, along with a five feet extension of keel in Charleston. Not labeled as JA in Fox Papers.
 
3. Half-breadth of Decks, all, with stowage, 1/8th scale, as converted to a corvette, circa 1807, Fox papers. Position of projected stern chase ports indicate an original six window design, with ports in the two and five windows, with the others planked over. All they did was remove the spar deck in 1807-08. Shows length, mast and gunport position as built. (Labeled as "Decks Chesapeake" in Fox Papers, by some long dead, blind, crack-smoking staff volunteer!!)
 
I forgot one!
 
4. There is an inboard profile plan from the 1850s showing her final configuration. I've seen it, but I don't have a copy, from the NA, that shows ten ports aside - down from the 1829 rebuild's twelve - a full projecting stem-post, and a sketch of her bust figurehead.

In general, if Chapelle didn't find it, it doesn't exist. The rare exception being the Frigate John Adams.
 
Your's Truly discovered them. {"Thank You! Thank You!" - Frolick bows to thunderous applause}.
 
#1 and #4 above are in the National Archives, not the Smithsonian, and you have get them directly from that source, if they can find them. #2 and #3 are part of the Josiah Fox Papers, in The Peabody & Essex Museum of Salem, in Salem Massachusetts. Good luck getting anything from them in timely manner ... :lol Maryland Silver has only a few of the many NA plans, and as you can see, he's a Civil war guy mainly. Coker's book is a really good illustrated history, but don't expect it to be a ship plan source, other than for the JA's body line plan.

In general, if Chapelle didn't find it, it doesn't exist. The rare exception being the Frigate John Adams.
 
Your's Truly discovered them. {"Thank You! Thank You!" - Frolick bows to thunderous applause}.
 
#1 and #4 above are in the National Archives, not the Smithsonian, and you have get them directly from that source, if they can find them. #2 and #3 are part of the Josiah Fox Papers, in The Peabody & Essex Museum of Salem, in Salem Massachusetts. Good luck getting anything from them in timely manner ... :lol Maryland Silver has only a few of the many NA plans, and as you can see, he's a Civil war guy mainly. Coker's book is a really good illustrated history, but don't expect it to be a ship plan source, other than for the JA's body line plan.

Three John Adams 1799 plans do survive, enough for a complete reconstruction. Chapelle missed them.
 
1. Original body lines, pre 1829: National Archives, presumably (published in Charleston's Maritime Heritage, Coker.)
 
2. Out board profile, which includes partial inboard profile, partial waterlines (or are they diagonal projections?), as designed, 1/4" scale
Peabody Museum, Fox Papers. Note twenty-four broadside ports, but with no bridle port. The latter was added, along with a five feet extension of keel in Charleston. Not labeled as JA in Fox Papers.
 
3. Half-breadth of Decks, all, with stowage, 1/8th scale, as converted to a corvette, circa 1807, Fox papers. Position of projected stern chase ports indicate an original six window design, with ports in the two and five windows, with the others planked over. All they did was remove the spar deck in 1807-08. Shows length, mast and gunport position as built. (Labeled as "Decks Chesapeake" in Fox Papers, by some long dead, blind, crack-smoking staff volunteer!!)
 
I forgot one!
 
4. There is an inboard profile plan from the 1850s showing her final configuration. I've seen it, but I don't have a copy, from the NA, that shows ten ports aside - down from the 1829 rebuild's twelve - a full projecting stem-post, and a sketch of her bust figurehead.

In general, if Chapelle didn't find it, it doesn't exist. The rare exception being the Frigate John Adams.
 
Your's Truly discovered them. {"Thank You! Thank You!" - Frolick bows to thunderous applause}.
 
#1 and #4 above are in the National Archives, not the Smithsonian, and you have get them directly from that source, if they can find them. #2 and #3 are part of the Josiah Fox Papers, in The Peabody & Essex Museum of Salem, in Salem Massachusetts. Good luck getting anything from them in timely manner ... :lol Maryland Silver has only a few of the many NA plans, and as you can see, he's a Civil war guy mainly. Coker's book is a really good illustrated history, but don't expect it to be a ship plan source, other than for the JA's body line plan.

In general, if Chapelle didn't find it, it doesn't exist. The rare exception being the Frigate John Adams.
 
Your's Truly discovered them. {"Thank You! Thank You!" - Frolick bows to thunderous applause}.
 
#1 and #4 above are in the National Archives, not the Smithsonian, and you have get them directly from that source, if they can find them. #2 and #3 are part of the Josiah Fox Papers, in The Peabody & Essex Museum of Salem, in Salem Massachusetts. Good luck getting anything from them in timely manner ... :lol Maryland Silver has only a few of the many NA plans, and as you can see, he's a Civil war guy mainly. Coker's book is a really good illustrated history, but don't expect it to be a ship plan source, other than for the JA's body line plan.

Three John Adams 1799 plans do survive, enough for a complete reconstruction. Chapelle missed them.
 
1. Original body lines, pre 1829: National Archives, presumably (published in Charleston's Maritime Heritage, Coker.)
 
2. Out board profile, which includes partial inboard profile, partial waterlines (or are they diagonal projections?), as designed, 1/4" scale
Peabody Museum, Fox Papers. Note twenty-four broadside ports, but with no bridle port. The latter was added, along with a five feet extension of keel in Charleston. Not labeled as JA in Fox Papers.
 
3. Half-breadth of Decks, all, with stowage, 1/8th scale, as converted to a corvette, circa 1807, Fox papers. Position of projected stern chase ports indicate an original six window design, with ports in the two and five windows, with the others planked over. All they did was remove the spar deck in 1807-08. Shows length, mast and gunport position as built. (Labeled as "Decks Chesapeake" in Fox Papers, by some long dead, blind, crack-smoking staff volunteer!!)
 
I forgot one!
 
4. There is an inboard profile plan from the 1850s showing her final configuration. I've seen it, but I don't have a copy, from the NA, that shows ten ports aside - down from the 1829 rebuild's twelve - a full projecting stem-post, and a sketch of her bust figurehead.

Three John Adams 1799 plans do survive, enough for a complete reconstruction. Chapelle missed them.
 
1. Original body lines, pre 1829: National Archives, presumably (published in Charleston's Maritime Heritage, Coker.)
 
2. Out board profile, which includes partial inboard profile, partial waterlines (or are they diagonal projections?), as designed, 1/4" scale
Peabody Museum, Fox Papers. Note twenty-four broadside ports, but with no bridle port. The latter was added, along with a five feet extension of keel in Charleston. Not labeled as JA in Fox Papers.
 
3. Half-breadth of Decks, all, with stowage, 1/8th scale, as converted to a corvette, circa 1807, Fox papers. Position of projected stern chase ports indicate an original six window design, with ports in the two and five windows, with the others planked over. All they did was remove the spar deck in 1807-08. Shows length, mast and gunport position as built. (Labeled as "Decks Chesapeake" in Fox Papers, by some long dead, blind, crack-smoking staff volunteer!!)
 
I forgot one!
 
4. There is an inboard profile plan from the 1850s showing her final configuration. I've seen it, but I don't have a copy, from the NA, that shows ten ports aside - down from the 1829 rebuild's twelve - a full projecting stem-post, and a sketch of her bust figurehead.

Three John Adams 1799 plans do survive, enough for a complete reconstruction. Chapelle missed them.
 
1. Original body lines, pre 1829: National Archives, presumably (published in Charleston's Maritime Heritage, Coker.)
 
2. Out board profile, which includes partial inboard profile, partial waterlines (or are they diagonal projections?), as designed, 1/4" scale
Peabody Museum, Fox Papers. Note twenty-four broadside ports, but with no bridle port. The latter was added, along with a five feet extension of keel in Charleston. Not labeled as JA in Fox Papers.
 
3. Half-breadth of Decks, all, with stowage, 1/8th scale, as converted to a corvette, circa 1807, Fox papers. Position of projected stern chase ports indicate an original six window design, with ports in the two and five windows, with the others planked over. All they did was remove the spar deck in 1807-08. Shows length, mast and gunport position as built. (Labeled as "Decks Chesapeake" in Fox Papers, by some long dead, blind, crack-smoking staff volunteer!!)
 
I forgot one!
 
4. There is an inboard profile plan from the 1850s showing her final configuration. I've seen it, but I don't have a copy, from the NA, that shows ten ports aside - down from the 1829 rebuild's twelve - a full projecting stem-post, and a sketch of her bust figurehead.