The story of our navy for young Americans, from colonial days to the present time

Front matter

THE STORY OF

UR NAVY

YOUNG AMERICANS

Chapter I Page

The Navy of Colonial Days — Discontent in the Colonies — The Evil of Impressment — Destruction of the " Gaspee " — John Manly, Father of the American Navy — The First Ship's Roster — The Many Flags i

CHAPTER n

Paul Jones, the First Great American Seafighter, but to the British a Pirate — In Command of the " Ranger " — His Invasion of England lo

CHAPTER HI

Career of Paul Jones Continued — His Descent upon the Castle of Lord Selkirk — The Affair of the Plate — The Descent upon Whitehaven — The Battle with the " Drake " . . .18

CHAPTER IV

The Career of Paul Jones Continued — His Search for a Ship — Given Command of the " Bon Homme Richard " — Landais and His Character — The Frustrated Mutiny — Landais Quarrels with Jones — Edinburgh and Leith Threatened — The Dominie's Prayer — The Battle with the " Serapis " . . .29

CHAPTER V

Britain's Great Naval Force — Biddle and Tucker — An Envoy in Battle — The Cruise of the " Raleigh " — The Taking of New Providence — The Work of Privateers and Colonial Cruisers — The " Alliance " and Captain Barry 56

CHAPTER VI

Work of the Privateers — The " General Hancock " and the " Levant " — Exploit of the " Pickering " — Raiding Nova Scotia — " Congress " and " Savage " — " Hyder Ali " and " General Monk " 81 viii CONTENTS

CHAPTER VII

PAGE

The Barbary Corsairs — America Finally Resists Piracy — Bainbridge and the " Philadelphia " — Decatur's Daring Exploit — An Attack on the Tripolitan Gunboats — The Fireship at Tripoli 96

CHAPTER VIII

The Quasi-war with France — " Constellation " and " Insurgente " —Decatur Once More — "Little Jarvis," a Boy Hero . . 115

CHAPTER IX

War of 1812 — British Pressgang Methods — The " Chesapeake " and " Leopard " — The " President " and " Little Belt " — Disparity of the Two Navies — " Constitution " and " Guerriere " 125

CHAPTER X

Three Fierce Naval Duels—" United States " and " Macedonian " — "Wasp" and "Frolic" — "Constitution" and "Java" . 147

CHAPTER XI

The War on the Lakes— Building a Fresh Water Navy— Perry at Put-in-Bay— McDonough on Lake Champlain . . .171

CHAPTER XII

The " Hornet " and " Peacock "—Escape of the " Constellation " — Cruise of the " President " — " Chesapeake " and " Shannon " — " Argus " and " Pelican " — " Enterprise " and "Boxer" 202

CHAPTER XIII

The Cruise of the " Essex "—A Twelve-Year-Old Captain- War with the Aborigines— A Squadron of Prizes— Trapped in Port— The Loss of the " Essex " 229

CHAPTER XIV

" Peacock " and " Epervier "—The Disappearance of the " Wasp "—Bombardment of Stonington— The Capture of Washington— Fort McHenry— Battle of New Orleans . . 248

CONTENTS

CHAPTER XV

Constitution," " Cyane," and " Levant' '-Loss of the "President "—Captain Reid— The "General Armstrong — Peacock" and " Nautilus "—Close of the War

CHAPTER XVI

Peace Again-The Decadence of the Navy-Its Work in the Mexican War-Perry and Japan-The Battle in the Pei Ho —"Blood Thicker than Water" 2»3

CHAPTER XVII

The Civil War— Secretary Dix's Stirring Dispatch— the South Destitute of Warships— The Blockade— Burning the Norfolk Navy-Yard— The Escape of the " Sumter "—The Hatteras

Forts

CHAPTER XVIII

A Romance of Commerce and War-The Blockade Runners— What the Trade Paid-How It Was Checked— Nassau s Days of Prosperity ^^^

CHAPTER XIX

The Trent Affair— Narrow Escape from War with England— Cushing and His Exploits— Destruction of the ' Albemarle —Loss of the "Harriet Lane" 324

CHAPTER XX

On Inland Waters-The River Gunboats-U. S Grant at Belmont-Capture of Forts Henry and Donelson-Northern Line of the Confederacy Broken— Stubborn Defense of Island No. 10— A New Channel for the Mighty River- Running the Gauntlet 34i

CHAPTER XXI

The Expedition to Port Royal-The First Great Ironclad-How the "Merrimac" Changed Naval Architecture-Destruction of the " Congress " and the " Cumberland —Timely Arrival of the " Monitor "—End of the " Merrimac . . . • 35»

X CONTENTS

CHAPTER XXII

Moving up the Mississippi — The Ram " Manassas " — Farragut's Expedition — Porter's Mortar-Boats — Passing the Forts — Capture of New Orleans 380

CHAPTER XXIII

Surrender of Forts St. Philip and Jackson — The Navy at Port Hudson — On the Yazoo River — The Ram " Arkansas " — The " Webfooted Gunboats " — In the Bayous — Rescued by the Army — Commodore Porter's Joke — Running the Batteries . 398

CHAPTER XXIV

Farragut at Mobile — Loss of the " Tecumseh " — Craven's Gallant Death — Surrender of the " Tennessee " — The Navy at Charleston — Torpedoes and Submarines — Fall of Fort Fisher. 426

CHAPTER XXV

The Commerce Destroyers — The " Alabama " — Sinking the " Hatteras " — Battle with the " Kearsarge " — The " Shenandoah " and Other Cruisers 440

CHAPTER XXVI

Close of the War — The Greatest of All Navies — Its Gradual Decadence — The War with Spain — How the Navy Was Re-established — The Destruction of the " Maine " — The Spanish Navy — Dewey at Manila 454

CHAPTER XXVII

)n the Atlantic Coast — Mobilizing the American Fleet — The Blockade of Cuba — The " Winslow " at Cardenas — Searching for Cervera — The Race of the " Oregon " — The " Merrimac " at Santiago — Spain's Fleet Destroyed and Spanish Power Ended 472

CHAPTER XXVIII

The End of the War — Its Fruit in Territory and New Problems — The International March on Pekin — The Battleship Fleet Goes Around the World — Target Practice at Magdalena Bay — The New United States Navy and Its Relative Rank — The End 504

ILLUSTRATIONS

United States SS. " Connecticut " Cover inlay

Copyright, 1907, Enrique Muller

Return of the Conquerors, September 29, 1899 • • Frontispiece Paul Jones the Pirate as Seen by England . . Facing page 12

From a Prin4 of 1778 The Action Between the " Bon Homme Richard "

and the " Serapis," September 23, 1779 . . « " ^8

First Recognition of the American Flag by a

Foreign Government " " 62

Heroism of Reuben James " " 98

From a Print of the Time Burning of the Frigate " Philadelphia "... " " 104

Commodore Stephen Decatur " " ii8

The " Constitution " and the " Guerriere " . . " " 140

From a Print of the Time Captain Isaac Hull « « j^

From a Contemporary Portrait The " United States " and " Macedonian " . . " " 158

From a Print of the Time

Commodore Perry « « j^,^

Perry's Victory — The Battle of Lake Erie, September ID, 1813 « « jgQ

Perry's Despatch to the Secretary of the Navy . " " 188

Admiral David Porter i< « 232

The " Constitution," " Levant," and " Cyane " . " " 270 . The Brig "Armstrong" Engaging the British

Fleet " "280

Typical Blockade Runner <• « ^96

Landing Drill To-day <» « ^02

Bombardment of Island No. 10 " " 344 .

From a Print of the Time Iron versus Wood. Sinking of the "Cumberland"

by the "Merrimac" « « ^60

The "Monitor" and "Merrimac" .... «< " ^76 From a Print of the Time

Admiral Farragut « «< ^82

Farragut's Fleet Engaging the Enemy Near New xii ILLUSTRATIONS

A Modern Gun Crew Facing page 400 ''

Farragut in Action ^ .' ^jg

Battle of Mobile Bay " " 434

Opening the Way to New Orleans .... " " ^4 Engagement of the " Kearsarge " and " Alabama,"

End of the " Alabama " " "450

" For a Frolic or a Fight " " " 456

Type of Armored Cruiser « « ^^g

The " North Dakota " at Full Speed ... « " 462

The Newest Destroyer « « ^g^

The Daily Inspection " " ^53

Shore Liberty at Buenos Ayres " " 470

In the Turret " " 474

In the Turret " " 4/6

Bombardment of San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 13,

1898 " " 480

Admiral Sampson's Fleet off Puerto Rico, in

Search of Cervera's Vessels, May i, 1898 . . « " 484 Admiral Cervera's Fleet Approaching Santiago,

The Naval Board of Strategy; 1898 .... " " 488

Coaling— Jackies' Dirtiest Work " "492

President Roosevelt and Admiral Evans ... « " 4^5

The Fleet of Admiral Evans " " 498

Battleship of To-day Before Launching ("The

Admiral Evans' Flagship " " 506

Jack Ashore in Japan Sio

" Wisconsin " and " Kearsarge " at Malta . . " " ^14

The New Fighting Masts " " 518

THE STORY OF OUR NAVY FOR YOUNG AMERICANS

CHAPTER I

The Navy of Colonial Days — Discontent in the Colonies — ^The Evil of Impressment— Destruction of the "Gaspee"— John Manly, Father of the American Navy — The First Ship's Roster — The Many Flags.

In this second decade of the Twentieth Century, when the navy of the United States Is conceded by all to be third among the floating fighting forces of the nations, and held by many to be second, the story of Its beginnings seems trivial and hardly worth the telling or the reading. One Is apt to think that, In the face of the present-day voyage of sixteen steel-armored battleships around Cape Horn and the world, the similar voyage of Commodore Porter in the frigate "Essex" In 1 8 12 is of slight Import. And when we have In mind Dewey destroying In one morning's battle all vestige of Spanish power in the Far East, and Schley and Sampson in a few hours ending Spain's rule in the West Indies — the very lands which she was first to discover, to develop, and to exploit — what was done In the earlier days of the navy may seem of little importance.

But the armies of Washington were puny In comparison even with those which the nation sent forth for the subjugation of the Philippines. Nevertheless, the " ragged continentals " builded a nation. Paul Jones was proud when he secured command of the " Bon Homme Richard," a ship mounting forty guns, which would have been put out of action by one shell from the secondary battery of any modern American warship. Yet with that one weak ship he changed the story of naval triumphs and won such fame that, after more than a century of oblivion, his body was saved from an obscure resting-place in Paris, brought to the United States in a war vessel, and rests in the monumental chapel at Annapolis as an inspiration to the lads there being educated for the glorious service of the nation afloat. So it may be asserted that even in the light of recent magnificent achievements of the navy, the story of its earliest days is not without importance — as it certainly is not without interest.

In telling this story, some license must be allowed in the use of terms. There were sharp sea fights in the colonial days, and in the opening years of the Revolution. But there was no navy in the true sense of the word until the Revolution was well advanced.

Prior to that time there were ships commissioned by individual colonies, and privateers. Yet what they did on the ocean showed the naval spirit animating the American character — a spirit which, if it lagged between 1815 and 1 86 1, and 1870 and 1890, seems now to have been effectively revived.

Much of the discontent in the colonies, which led up to the Revolution, was bred of the aggressions of British men-of-war, and particularly of the practice of impressing American seamen. As early as 1764 the people of Newport seized a shore battery and fired upon a king's ship in the harbor, thus anticipating by twelve years the " embattled farmers " of Concord, who " fired the shot heard around the world." One incident is typical of many which led the seafaring folk of the colonies to be early in revolt.

One breezy afternoon, a stanch brig, under full sail, came up the bay, and entered the harbor of Newport. Her sides were weather-beaten, and her dingy sails and patched cordage showed that she had just completed her long voyage. Her crew, a fine set of bronzed and hardy sailors, were gathered on her forecastle, eagerly regarding the cluster of cottages that made up the little town of Newport. In those cottages were many loved ones, wives, mothers, and sweethearts, whom the brave fellows had not seen for long and weary months; for the brig was just returning from a voyage to the western coast of Africa.

It is easy to imagine the feelings aroused by the arrival of a ship in port after a long voyage. From the outmost end of the longest wharf the relatives and friends of the sailors eagerly watch the approaching vessel, striving to find in her appearance some token of the safety of the loved ones on board. If a flag hangs at half-mast in the rigging, bitter is the suspense, and fearful the dread, of each anxious watcher, lest her husband or lover or son be the unfortunate one whose death is mourned. And on the deck of the ship the excitement is no less great. Even the hardened breast of the sailor swells with emotion when he first catches sight of his native town, after long months of absence. With eyes sharpened by constant searching for objects upon the broad bosom of the ocean, he scans the waiting crowd, striving to distinguish in the distance some well-beloved face. His spirits are light with the happy anticipation of a season in port with his loved ones, and he discharges his last duties before leaving the ship with a blithe heart.

So it was with the crew of the home-coming brig. Right merrily they sung out their choruses as they pulled at the ropes, and brought the vessel to anchor. The rumble of the hawser through the hawse-holes was sweet music to their ears; and so intent were they upon the crowd on the dock, that they did not notice two long-boats which had put off from the man-of-war, and were pulHng for the brig. The captain of the merchantman, however, noticed the approach of the boats, and wondered what it meant. " Those fellows think I've smuggled goods aboard," said he. " However, they can spend their time searching if they want. I've nothing in the hold I'm afraid to have seen."

The boats were soon alongside; and two or three officers, with a handful of jackies, clambered aboard the brig.

" Muster your men aft, captain," said the leader, scorning any response to the captain's salutation. " The king has need of a few fine fellows for his service."

" Surely, sir, you are not about to press any of these men," protested the captain. " They are just returning after a long voyage, and have not yet seen their families."

"What's that to me, sir?" was the response. " Muster your crew without more words."

Sullenly the men came aft, and ranged themselves in line before the boarding-officers. Each feared lest he might be one of those chosen to fill the ship's roll of the " Maidstone "; yet each cherished the hope that he might be spared to go ashore, and see the loved ones whose greeting he had so fondly anticipated.

The boarding-officers looked the crew over, and, after consulting together, gruffly ordered the men to go below, and pack up their traps.

" Surely you don't propose to take my entire crew? " said the captain of the brig in wondering indignation.

" I know my business, sir," was the gruff reply, " and I do not propose to suffer any more interference."

The crew of the brig soon came on deck, carrying their bags of clothes, and were ordered into the mano'-war's boats, which speedily conveyed them to their floating prison. Their fond visions of home had been rudely dispelled. They were now enrolled in His Majesty's service, and subject to the will of a blue-coated tyrant. This was all their welcome home.

Newport and the maritime colonies of New England sent thousands of sailors into the war with Great Britain, and dispatched scores of privateers. It was exactly such outrages as the foregoing that made these people spring to arms. Long before the academic question of '' taxation without representation " turned Boston harbor into a teapot the people along Narragansett Bay were fighting for their personal rights on water and on land. The affair of the " Gaspee " is the most typical in this conflict, though not the first. The " Gaspee " was an armed vessel stationed In Narragansett Bay to enforce the revenue. She was commanded by Lieutenant Dudingston of the British navy, and carried eight guns. By pursuing the usual tactics of the British officers stationed on the American coast, Dudingston had made himself hated; and his vessel was marked for destruction.

The propitious time arrived one bright June morning In the year 1772, when the " Gaspee " gave chase to a Newport packet which was scudding for Providence, under the command of Captain Thomas LIndsey. The armed vessel was a clean-cut little craft, and, carrying no heavier load than a few light guns of the calibre then in vogue, could overhaul with ease almost any merchantman on the coast. So on this eventful day she was rapidly overhauling the chase, when, by a blunder of the pilot, she was run hard and fast upon a spit of sand running out from Namqult Point, and thus saw her projected prize sail away in triumph.

But the escape of her prize was not the greatest disaster that was to befall the " Gaspee " that day.

Lindsey, finding himself safe from the clutches of the enemy, continued his course to Providence, and on arriving at that city reported the condition of the " Gaspee " to a prominent citizen, vi^ho straightway determined to organize an expedition for the destruction of the pest of marine traffic. He therefore gave orders to a trusty ship-master to collect eight of the largest long-boats in the harbor, and, having muffled their oars and rowlocks, placed them at Fenner's Wharf, near a noted tavern.

That night, soon after sunset, as the tradesmen were shutting up their shops, and the laboring men were standing on the streets talking after their day's work, a man passed down the middle of each street, beating a drum, and crying aloud:

" The schooner ' Gaspee ' is ashore on Namquit Point. Who will help destroy her?"

All who expressed a desire to join in the enterprise were directed to repair to the Sabin House; and thither, later in the evening, flocked many of the townspeople, carrying guns, powder-flasks, and bullet-pouches. Within the house all was life and bustle. The great hall was crowded with determined men, discussing the plan of attack. Guns stood in every corner, while down in the kitchen half a dozen men stood about a glowing fire busily casting bullets. At last, all being prepared, the party crossed the street to the dock, and embarked, — a veteran sea-captain taking the tiller of each boat.

On the way down the harbor the boats stopped, and took aboard a number of paving-stones and stout clubs, as weapons for those who had no muskets. After this stoppage the boats continued on their way, until, when within sixty yards of the *' Gaspee," the long-drawn hail, "Who comes there?" rang out over the water. No answer was made, and the lookout quickly repeated his hail. Captain Whipple, one of the leaders of the attack, then responded, —

" I want to come on board."

Dudingston, who was below at the time, rushed on deck, exclaiming, " Stand off. You can't come aboard."

As Dudingston stood at the side of the " Gaspee " warning off the assailants, he presented a good mark; and Joseph Bucklin, who pulled an oar in the leading boat, turned to a comrade and said, " Ephe, lend me your gun, and I can kill that fellow." The gun was accordingly handed him, and he fired. Dudingston fell to the deck. Just as the shot was fired, the leader of the assailants cried out :

" I am sheriff of the county of Kent. I am come for the commander of this vessel; and have him I will, dead or alive. Men, spring to your oars."

In an instant the boats were under the lee of the schooner, and the attacking party was clambering over the side. The first man to attempt to board seized a rope, and was clambering up, when one of the British cut the rope, and let him fall into the water. He quickly recovered himself, and was soon on deck, where he found his comrades driving the crew of the " Gaspee " below, and meeting with but little resistance.

A surgeon who was with the party of Americans led the boarders below, and began the task of tying the hands of the captured crew with strong tarred cord. While thus engaged, he was called on deck.

"What is wanted, Mr. Brown?" asked he, calling the name of the person inquiring for him.

" Don't call names, but go immediately into the cabin," was the response. " There is one wounded, and will bleed to death."

The surgeon went into the captain's cabin, and there found Dudingston, severely wounded, and bleeding freely. Seeing no cloth suitable for bandages, the surgeon opened his vest, and began to tear his own shirt into strips to bind up the wound. With the tenderest care the hurt of the injured officer was attended to; and he was gently lowered into a boat, and rowed up the river to Providence.

The Americans remained in possession of the captured schooner, and quickly began the work of demolition. In the captain's cabin were a number of bottles of liquor, and for these the men made a rush; but the American surgeon dashed the bottles to pieces with the heels of his heavy boots, so that no scenes of drunkenness were enacted. After breaking up the furniture and trappings of the craft, her people were bundled over the side into the boats of their captors, and the torch was set to the schooner. The boats lay off a little distance until 'the roaring flames satisfied them that the " Gaspee " would never again annoy American merchantmen. As the schooner's shotted guns went off one after the other, the Americans turned their boats' prows homeward, and soon dispersed quietly to their homes.

After the battle of Lexington attacks upon British armed vessels were numerous all along the coast from Maine to the Carolinas. The coastwise waters saw some hard fighting, but it was not naval, except in the sense that it was done afloat and mainly by seafaring men. But it was in the latter part of 1775 that the first suggestion of a true navy was made by General Washington. On his own responsibility he sent out two armed schooners to capture the enemy's ships and secure provisions and munitions of war. They had some success, but when in October of the same year Congress commissioned several small vessels the American navy had its true beginning.

The first vessel thus commissioned was the " Lee," a small but swift brig, commanded by John Manly, who really deserves the title of the " Father of the American Navy." The work of Manly and of the small vessels of which the " Lee " was a type encouraged Congress to proceed with the organization of a true navy, and by 1776 the building of thirteen war vessels, carrying from twenty-four to thirty-two guns each, had been authorized. But as some naval force was obviously necessary during the construction of this fleet, five old vessels were procured, and the new navy was organized with the following roster of officers :

EsEK Hopkins Commander-in-chief

Dudley Saltonstall Captain of the "Alfred"

Abraham Whipple .... Captain of the " Columbus " Nicholas Biddle . . . Captain of the " Andrea Doria " John B. Hopkins Captain of the " Cabot "

A long list of lieutenants was also provided, among whom stands out boldly the name of John Paul Jones. John Manly, whose dashing work in the schooner " Lee " we have already noticed, was left in command of his little craft until the thirty-two-gun ship " Hancock " was completed, when he was put in command of her.

Under flags of various designs — the rattlesnake with the motto, " Don't Tread on Me "; the flag of each colony; the flag first hoisted by Paul Jones, showing a pine tree on a white ground, with " Liberty Tree " and "Appeal to God" displayed; these and other American vessels entered upon a naval war with the nation which even then was the greatest of all sea powers.

Chapter II

Paul Jones, the First Great American Seafighter, but to the British a Pirate— In Command of the "Ranger" — His Invasion of England.

With the crowning importance of the later days of the American navy it is possible to pass over hastily its earlier achievements — the triumphs of Ezekiel Hopkins, Captain Mugford, Captain Wickes, and a host of lesser seafighters of the Colonial navy must be set aside for the more careful description of the naval cruises and actions which had a direct bearing on the fate of the infant nation. That American privateers harried the seas, driving British cruisers to port, had its influence, of course, on the issue of the conflict. But for the important naval operations we must turn to the names of John Paul Jones, Nicholas Biddle, and Isaac Barry.

John Paul Jones was a Scotchman, born in July, 1747. By inheritance his name was John Paul, and it was not until 1773 when residing in North Carolina that he added the surname of Jones. Almost from his earliest days a seaman, he was in turn an apprentice, mate of a slaver, commander of merchantmen, until, winning his way upward by sheer pertinacity, he became the foremost figure in the naval annals of the American Revolution. His earlier services in this struggle were as a privateersman, or in command of small commissioned vessels. But even thus handicapped by lacking power to meet and give successful conflict to any armed British vessel, he preyed upon British commerce in a way that struck terror to shipowners and to shippers, and brought into the United

FOR YOUNG AMERICANS ii

Colonies supplies of uncounted value to Washington's half-clad and starving army. It was this period of Jones' activity that led the British to dub him " Paul Jones, the pirate," and to publish broadsides ranking him with Tench, Blackbeard, and Captain Kidd. In one brief cruise he captured sixteen vessels; in another he landed on the British territory of Nova Scotia, burned a great transport and a warehouse full of supplies, and returned to port with live prizes. Exploits like this caused Congress to call upon him for advice as to the increase and organization of the navy, and on this task he spent six months ashore.

It was not until June 14, 1777, that a command was found for him. This was the eighteen-gun ship " Ranger," built to carry a frigate's battery of twenty-six guns. She had been built for the revolutionary government, at Portsmouth, and was a stanch-built, solid craft, though miserably slow and somewhat crank. Jones, though disappointed with the sailing qualities of the ship, was nevertheless vastly delighted to be again in command of a man-of-war, and wasted no time in getting her ready for sea.

It so happened that, on the very day Paul Jones received his commission as commander of the " Ranger," the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes for the national flag. Jones, anticipating this action, had prepared a flag in accordance with the proposed designs, and, upon hearing of the action of Congress, had it run to the masthead, while the cannon of the " Ranger " thundered out their deep-mouthed greetings to the starry banner destined to wave over the most glorious nation of the earth. Thus it happened that the same hand that had given the pine-tree banner to the winds was the first to fling out to the breezes the bright folds of the Stars and Stripes.

Early in October the " Ranger " left Portsmouth, and made for the coast of France. Astute agents of the Americans in that country were having a fleet, powerful frigate built there for Jones, which he was to take, leaving the sluggish " Ranger " to be sold. But, on his arrival at Nantes, Jones was grievously disappointed to learn that the British Government had so vigorously protested against the building of a vesselof-war in France for the Americans, that the French Government had been obliged to notify the American agents that their plan must be abandoned. France was at this time at peace with Great Britain, and, though inclined to be friendly with the rebellious colonies, was not ready to entirely abandon her position as a neutral power. Later, when she took up arms against England, she gave the Americans every right in her ports they could desire.