From 1841 to 1844, Thomas Catesby ap Jones was commander of the U.S. Pacific Squadron and he again commanded it 1848-1850.
Expecting a war to start with Mexico, in 1842 he seized the California port of Monterrey for one day before returning it to Mexico. In 1843, upon hearing that British captain Lord George Paulet had seized the Kingdom of Hawaii, he sailed there and restored the Kingdom.
In 1843, he returned the deserter Henry Melville to the United States from the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii). Melville later based his "Commodore J" in "Moby Dick" after Jones.
He arrived late in the Mexican War.
During the California Gold Rush, he provided the U.S. Navy presence in San Francisco. Jones was relieved of command in 1850 for "oppression of junior officers." President Fillmore reinstated him in 1858.
Never a Dull Moment With This Man. --Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
Showing posts with label Melville Herman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Melville Herman. Show all posts
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Saturday, October 27, 2012
The USS United States vs. HMS Macedonian-- Part 3: A Literary and Civil War Connection
Ordinary seaman Herman Melville served on the United States in 1843. Great Moby Dick!!
The United States was at Norfolk, Virginia and was not burned by retreating Union forces when the Confederates advanced on the naval yard April 20, 1861, but it was scuttled. The Confederates raised it and made it into a 19-gun receiving ship and known as the CSS United States. Kind of a strange name for a Confederate ship if you ask me. It was also referred to as the CSS Confederate States (better).
It was sunk in the Elizabeth River in May 1862 as an obstruction to advancing Union ships. It was raised and towed to Norfolk where it remained until March 1864 when it was broken up and sold for its wood.
But, What Happened to the Macedonian? --Brock-Perry
The United States was at Norfolk, Virginia and was not burned by retreating Union forces when the Confederates advanced on the naval yard April 20, 1861, but it was scuttled. The Confederates raised it and made it into a 19-gun receiving ship and known as the CSS United States. Kind of a strange name for a Confederate ship if you ask me. It was also referred to as the CSS Confederate States (better).
It was sunk in the Elizabeth River in May 1862 as an obstruction to advancing Union ships. It was raised and towed to Norfolk where it remained until March 1864 when it was broken up and sold for its wood.
But, What Happened to the Macedonian? --Brock-Perry
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