The Super-Frigates of the U.S. Navy (or, the Original Six Frigates )

 Wikipedia.

In case you're wondering about these six frigates built as per the Naval Act of 1794, of which the USS Congress was one, here is a list of them, along with site built, guns, naval contractor and Navy superintendent:

CHESAPEAKE:  Gosport, Virginia (Norfolk, Va.), 44 guns, Josiah Fox, Richard Dale

CONSTITUTION:  Boston, Massachusetts,  44 guns, George Claghorn, Samuel Nicholson

PRESIDENT:  New York, New York, 44 guns,  Christian Bergh, Silas Talbot

UNITED STATES:  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,  44 guns, Joshua Humphreys,  John Barry

CONGRESS:  Portsmouth, New Hampshire,  36 guns, James Hackett,  James Sever

CONSTELLATION:  Baltimore, Maryland,  36,  David Stodder,  Thomas Truxton

--Brock-Perry

The Three USS Columbias in the Civil War

I am writing about three U.S. Navy ships named the Columbia which took part in the Civil War in my Running the Blockade:  Civil War Navy blog.

One of them was the second frigate by that name and this one was launched from the Washington Navy Yard in the 1830s.  However, it was burned when the Confederates captured the Norfolk Navy Yard.  The second one was a former blockade runner that was captured on its maiden voyage, turned into a Union blockader and ran aground and sank after just one month's service.

The third one was a former Cofederate ironclad captured at Charleston.

Three USS Columbias and not much service.

You can go to the Civil War Navy blog to read about them.

--Brock-Perry

Another USS New York Burned to Prevent Enemy Capture

Earlier this month I wrote about the frigate USS Columbia being burned at Washington Navy Yard in 1814 to prevent capture by the British and that another frigate named USS Columbia had been burned to prevent capture by Confederates in 1861 at Gosport Navy Yard in Norfolk, Virginia.

And, the USS New York name had a similar story.  The 1800 USS New York, which I have been writing about was burned at Washington Navy Yard in 1814.  The next USS New York was a 74-gun ship of the line that was laid down in 1820 at Norfolk Navy Yard, but never launched and burned in 1861 to prevent capture by the Confederates.

--Brock-Perry

Samuel Livingston Breese-- Part 3: Mexican War Service

Afterwards, he commanded the frigate USS Cumberland of the Mediterranean Squadron in 1845

He was in the Atlantic commanding the USS Albany during the Mexican War 1846-1847.  He took part in the capture of Tuxpan, Tabasco and Vera Cruz.  For a sort time he was military governor of Tuxpan.

In 1848, he was on special duty in the Great Lakes.  From 1853-1855 he commanded Norfolk Navy Yard and then commanded the Mediterranean Squadron.  From 1859-1861 he was in charge of the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

He married twice, but had no children.  As such, he was not the father of Kidder R. Breese, who fought at the First and Second Battles of Fort Fisher.

--Brock-Perry

John Cassin, USN-- Part 3

Near the turn of the century, it became necessary to increase the size of the U.S. Navy because of the Barbary Pirates and other threats to American shipping.  That meant, officers and sailors were needed.

John Cassin enlisted in the Navy as a lieutenant and on April 6, 1806, was promoted to master commandant and became the second to command the Washington Navy Yard.  On July 3, 1812, he became a captain, the then'highest naval rank.

In the War of 1812, he initially led naval forces in Delaware for the protection of Philadelphia and later became commanding officer of the Norfolk Navy Yard from August 10, 1812, to June 1, 1821.  On that date he became the commanding officer of the Southern Naval Station at Charleston, South Carolina.

--Brock-Perry

John Cassin, USN-- Part 1

Earlier this week I wrote about the Battle of Newport News Point and mentioned the commander of the Norfolk Navy Yard, John Cassin.  I have a great interest on Pearl Harbor and remembered the famous photo of the destroyers Cassin and Downes wrecked in the drydock with the USS Pennsylvania after the attack.  Was this USS Cassins named after John Cassin..

It turns out it wasn't, it was named after his son, Stephen.

--Brock-Perry

United Staes Ships-of-the-Line-- Part 3

Construction of U.S. ships-of-the-line all started during and shortly after the War of 1812, although a fair number were not completed for many years and several never were completed. None of the ships were ever converted to steam power and quite a few ended their service careers as receiving ships at various American ports and navy stations.

Some were in service during the Mexican War and some even saw non combat service in the Civil War. A few were destroyed when Confederates captured the Norfolk Navy Yard at the beginning of the Civil War in 1861. Two even survived into the 1900s.

Too bad that we do not have one of them still around like the USS Constitution.

I will be giving a short thumbnail sketch on each one.

--Brock-Perry

John Cassin-- Part 4: Defended Norfolk Navy Yard

During the War of 1812, John Cassin was placed in command the Navy in Delaware and charged with defending Philadelphia.

Later he commanded the Norfolk Navy Yard from August 10, 1812 until January 1, 1821. This was when he helped plan the defense of that spot.

Later, he commanded the Southern Naval Station headquartered at Charleston, SC.

--Brock-Perry

John Cassin, Commanding Officer Norfolk Navy Yard-- Part 1

From the Find-A-Grave site.  A prime reason it takes me so long to do these blogs, AND, I have seven of them!!  Earlier today I mentioned that the Commandant of the Norfolk Navy Yard, John Cassin, had helped organize the defense of Norfolk, Virginia, for what became a British attack on June 22, 1813, the Battle of Craney Island, just over 200 years ago.

I'd never heard of the man, but the name Cassin rang a bell as being the name of a destroyer that was complete wrecked in drydock with the destroyer Downs during the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor.  The battleship USS Pennsylvania, also in the drydock, was seriously damaged at the same time.  Could the Cassin be named for this John Cassin?  I had to find out.

A quick search found the Find-A-Grave site and this information.

JOHN CASSIN

Born in Philadelphia July 7, 1760 and died March 24, 1822, in Charleston, SC.  He is buried at St. Mary of the Annunciation Cemetery in Charleston, SC.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry