The John Gwinn Papers-- Part 1

The John Gwinn papers are at the Library of Congress, Manuscript Division.

Spans dates  1815 to 1864 with most dates from 1825 to 1849.

It includes 900 items.

Official correspondence includes  orders to duty, general orders, circulars, regulations,  as well as letters received and drafts of letters sent.

The letters document the Navy's peacetime mission of protecting American commerce and interests at home and overseas.

Gwinn commanded the Vandalia (sloop-of-war),  and Potomac (frigate), Home Squadron and the Pensacola, Fl., Navy Base, 

At home he protected American commerce from aggression and piratical acts.  Abroad, he commanded the USS Constitution, the Mediterranean Squadron and, again protected American interests.  Because of political unrest in Italy,  the American consul wrote him asking for  protection of American citizens and their interests.

--Brock-Perry

John Gwinn's Many Burials

From the September 1, 2016, Naval Historical Foundation "Who was John Gwinn?"

167 years ago this Labor Day  weekend, U.S. Navy Captain John Gwinn died and was buried -- for the first time!  His third burial came 85 years ago in Arlington National Cemetery, marked by a benign headstone.

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It reads: 

John Gwinn

Maryland

Captain

US Navy

September 4, 1849

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Who was he and what was the story behind his grave-hopping  odyssey?    Stay tuned to the Naval Historical Foundation as we untangle  this mystery in the coming months.

--Brock-Perry

John Gwinn-- Part 7: The USS Constitution and Death

An ailing John Gwinn placed the USS Constitution back into commission early in October 1848.  The ship sailed for the Mediterranean Sea in December and made directly for Algiers, where she took on board Consul David Smith McCauley and his family for a transfer to Egypt.

As they entered the port of Alexandria, Egypt,  McCauley's wife, Frances Ann, gave birth to a son who they named Constitution Stewart McCauley in Captain Gwinn's cabin.

From there, the ship  returned west  to Italian waters  to join the rest of the squadron protecting American interests in revolution-torn Italy.  despite an injunction any action that might  indicate American bias, on August 1, 1949,  Gwinn hosted a visit by Pope Pius IX and the fugitive King of Two Sicilies, Ferdinand II, while anchored off  Gaeta, Italy.

Because a commissioned warship is considered U.S. territory,  this is considered the first visit by  a Roman Catholic pope to American territory.

Shortly thereafter, Gwinn's health deteriorated  to the point he was bed-ridden and suffered periods of delirium and mania.  He died  of chronic gastritis on September 4, 1849 while the ship was at Palermo, Italy.

Gwinn was buried with full military honors at Palermo, but the proceedings were  disrupted bu disaffected crew members who got roaring drunk along the route to the cemetery.  As a result,  at least 32 men were flogged in the days that followed.   He was reinterred in Arlington National Cemetery in 1931.

--Brock-Perry

John Gwinn-- Part 6: War of 1812 and Beyond

John Gwinn was later ordered to Boston for the commissioning of the sloop-of-war USS Frolic.  Unfortunately Gwinn and the crew were captured on the ship's very first  cruise by the frigate HMS Orpheus and schooner HMS Shelburne on 20 April 1814.   The crew remained prisoners until the end of the war.

After release, Gwinn was promoted to lieutenant in 1816 and in the following decade made two deployments to the Mediterranean Sea and a voyage to northern Europe in three different ships.

Between 1828 and 1848, he spent a total of ten years commanding the Philadelphia Navy Yard, three years on leave and five "awaiting orders."  The remaining two years was divided between commanding the sloop-of-war Vandalia and the frigate Potomac.

He was promoted to captain in 1842.

--Brock-Perry

John Gwinn-- Part 5: Died While in Command of the USS Constitution

From the USS Constitution Museum.

JOHN GWINN

Captain

Commanded USS Constitution October 9, 1848 to September 4, 1849.  Died while in command of the ship.

BIRTH:  June 11, 1791

DEATH:  September 4, 1849

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BEFORE JOINING THE CONSTITUTION

Marylander John Gwinn was born June 11, 1791.  He was warranted a midshipman in 1809 at age 18 which is an unusually older age for a midshipman back then.

His first service was on a schooner in the Chesapeake Bay.

--Brock-Perry

John Gwinn-- Part 4

 

In Distinguished Men of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, John Gwinn listed as graduating from St.  John's College and being a Captain in the U.S. Navy.  St. John's College is one of the oldest educational institutions in the U.S.

David Glasgow Farragut,  John Gwinn, John Lowe, the Porter Family lists  John Gwinn's (1791-1849) papers with the bulk of material from 1825 to  1849 consisting of  personal journals, official and general correspondence.

In 1843, John Gwinn was serving on the Naval Court Martial Board.

There is correspondence between  John Gwinn and  E.A.F.  Lavalette, regarding affairs of the U.S. Navy Yard at  Pensacola  from 1845 in the Handbook of Manuscripts in the Library of Congress.

--Brock-Perry

John Gwinn, USN-- Part 3: Commanded USS Constitution in 1849

As captain of the famed USS Constitution,  Gwinn sailed on December 9, 1848, and arrived at Tripoli  on January 19, 1849. 

While transporting U.S. ambassador Daniel Smith McCauley and his family to Egypt, McCauley's wife gave birth to a son,  who was named Constitution  Stewart McCauley.

At Gaeta on August 1,Gwinn received on board  King Ferdinand II and Pope Pius IX.  This would be the first time a pope had set foot on American territory.

At Palermo on September 1, 1849, Captain Gwinn died of chronic gastritis and was buried  bear Lazeretto on the 9th,  ending a forty-year Navy career.

Gwinn's body was removed to Glenwood Cemetery  in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a few years and remained there until 1931, when he was reinterred  at Arlington National Cemetery.

--Brock-Perry

John Gwinn-- Part 2

From the U.S. Naval Heritage and History Command "U.S. Navy Officers 1798-1900."

JOHN GWINN

MIDSHIPMAN:  18 May 1809

LIEUTENANT:   27 April 1816

MASTER COMMANDANT:   9 February 1837

CAPTAIN:   17  April 1841

DIED:  4   September 1849

--Brock-Perry

John Gwinn, USN-- Part 1: Captured on USS Frolic

From Wikipedia.

In the last post, I wrote that the USS Dale, named for American Revolution naval hero Richard Dale, father of Midshipman Dale who I have written extensively about this past month, was commanded by John Gwinn when it was commissioned.

I hadn't heard of him before, so Wikipedia here I go.

JOHN GWINN, III

Born June 11, 1791  Died  September 1, 1849

Born in Maryland.

During the War of 1812, he was on the USS Frolic which was captured by the Royal Navy in 1814 and remained a POW or the remainder of the conflict.

Later commanded the USS Vandalia.

Later commanded the USS Constitution.

--Brock-Perry

There Were Seven Dales Who Were U.S. Navy Officers

U.S. Navy Heritage and History Command "Navy Officers 1798 to 1900."

I also looked at the list of officers with the last name of Dale and found seven of them who served back then.

Richard S. Dale, the one who died and is buried in Bermuda had two brothers according to Find A Grave.  The one, as mentioned as being also in the Navy was John Montgomery Dale.

JOHN MONTGOMERY DALE

Midshipman 18 June 182

Lieutenant   1 April 1818

Commander 12 February 1839

Died   14 December 1852

Wikipedia said that John M. Dale (1797-1852) was a captain in the U.S. Navy and eventually dedicated the sloop-of-war USS Dale in 1839 which was named in honor of his father, Richard Dale.  The Dale went on to serve a long and varied career until 1906.

The first commander of the USS Dale was John Gwinn, who was a naval officer in the War of 1812.

I was unable to find out anymore about him.

Richard Dale's other brother, Edward Crathorne Dale (1806-1866) was not listed as being in the Navy.

--Brock-Perry

Arkansas U.S.D. 1812 Acknowledges the Work of Sheila Beatty-Krout

From the March 14, 2021 Sentinel-Record  "National U.S.D. 1812 History Award recipient  announced."

The National Society United States Daughters of 1812 recently acknowledged the work of Sheila Beatty-Krout for historical preservation,  presenting her with a certificate and pin.

Her accomplishments include furthering research on the Orphan Trail Heritage era where she is currently researching  the Orphan Train Riders who were placed in Arkansas.

She also researched and  identified 634  patriots of the War of 1812 whose names were later added to  the historic War of 1812 Memorial Fountain at the state Capitol.  She has also marked the graves of 43 Arkansas War of 1812 veterans, written four historical books, reconstructed the history of the state society since its founding in 1906, published over  230 historical articles in the state  U.S.D. newsletter and has written over 700 newspaper articles which have brought awareness to the War of 1812 and the U.S.D. 1812.

In otherwords, a historians historian.

Congratulations Sheila Beatty-Krout.  --Brock-Perry

There Sure Were a Lot of Reads in the U.S. Navy

I have found  several occasions where a particular family has had a lot of members in the U.S. Navy.  I looked at a list of Naval and Marine Officers from 1798 to 1900 and saw a lot of Reads.  There were 19 of them.

Unfortunately, I don't know if any of these were related to George Campbell Read.

Quite a few were Civil War era so one or more might have been his sons or grandsons.  At least one of the Reads served in both the U.S. and Confederate navies, Charles W. Read, who compiled quite a record of daring exploits.

And, of course, he was related to the famed Dale family through marriage, having married Revolutionary War's Richard Dale's daughter.

--Brock-Perry

George Campbell Read, USN-- Part 2: A Varied and Long Navy Career

He was promoted to commander in 1816 and then served in the Mediterranean and off the coast of Africa.  In 1825, he was promoted again, this time to captain and commanded the USS Constitution in 1826

In 1838-1839, he took part in the retaliatory action against pirates and raiders who preyed upon American shipping in India.  From 1836 to 1846 he commanded the Philadelphia Navy Yard.  He also contributed to the establishment of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

Then from 1846 to 1849, he commanded the African Squadron.  When the Civil War broke out, in 1861, he was in charge of the Philadelphia Naval Asylum.

His final promotion came in July 1862, to the rank of rear admiral.   He died a month later.

A Long and Varied Career.  --Brock-Perry

George Campbell Read-- USN-- Part 2: Married Into the Dale Family

George Campbell Read married Elizabeth Dale Read (Midshipman Richard S. Dale's sister and daughter of American Revolution Naval Hero Richard Dale).

He was in the Navy from the War of 1812 until the Civil War, a long time.

Entering the U.S. Navy in 1804 as a midshipman, he was promoted to lieutenant in 1810.  In 1812, he was serving aboard the USS Constitution under Commodore Isaac Hull during the War of 1812.  And that meant he was there for the famed battle with the HMS Guerriere.

As a matter of fact, after it became clear that the Constitution had won the battle on August 19, 1812, he was detailed by Hull to  board the English vessel and receive its surrender.

Later that year, he was with Commodore Stephen Decatur when his ship, the USS United States, captured the British frigate HMS Macedonian.

And, I'd never heard of him.

There At the Both Big Naval Victories!!  --Brock-Perry

Midshipman Richard Dale's Sister Elizabeth Married George Campbell Read, USN Officer War of 1812 to Civil War-- Part 1

From Find A Grave.

GEORGE CAMPBELL READ

BIRTH:  9 January 1788, in Glastonbury, Connecticut

DEATH: 22 August 1862 in Philadelphia, Pa. (aged74)

BURIAL:  Laurel Hill Cemetery Philadelphia, Section 14, Lot 136

War of 1812 to Civil War Union Naval Officer.

He entered the U.S. Navy  as a midshipman in 1804 and spent the next  58 years of his life in the Naval Service.

--Brock-Perry

Elizabeth Dale Read (Midshipman Richard Dale's Sister)

From Find a Grave.

BIRTH:  21 September 1807, Philadelphia, Pa.

DEATH:  1 March 1863, Philadelphia, Pa.

BURIAL:  Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pa.  Her parents are also buried there.  Civil War General George Gordon Meade is also buried there with a lot of famous people.

Elizabeth Dale was the daughter of  Commodore Richard Dale and Dorothy  Crathorne (Midshipman Richard Dale's parents).  John Montgomery Dale's sister.

SPOUSE:  George Campbell Read, USN

--Brock-Perry

Fort Schlosser-- Part 2

Fort Schlosser replaced Fort Petite Niagara, a small fortification built by the French which was burned by them while retreating prior to the Siege of Fort  Niagara in 1759.

The old stone chimney from the French fort was incorporated into the new fort.

Fort Gray guarded the end of the portage in Lewiston, New York.

Fort Niagara guards the mouth of the Niagara River where it flows into Lake Ontario.

Fort Schlosser was occupied by American troops  at the start of the War of 1812, but was captured and burned in 1813.

It was located in present-day Niagara Falls, New York, near the current water intakes  of the New York Power Authority off the Robert Moses Parkway.

Today, all that remains of the fort is the Old Stone Chimney, which was moved  to near the intersection of Buffalo Avenue and the Robert Moses  Parkway traffic circle.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Schlosser-- Part 1: By Niagara Falls

While looking at the map of the Niagara Frontier to the right of this, I saw this fort's name by Niagara Falls and didn't think I had ever written about it.  Turns out that I had on two occasions (click on the Fort Schlosser label).  But, these were essentially just in passing.

But. I determined to write some more about it, so here we go.

From Wikipedia.

Fort Schlosser was a fortification constructed in  Western New York  around 1760 by British Colonial forces in order to protect the southern part of the portage used to get around Niagara Falls.

The fort was named after is commander during construction, Captain John Schlosser of the Royal American Regiment of Foot, a practice that was common in the British Army.

The fort consisted of a stockade with several structures with including  two store houses and living quarters for men and officers.

There were also four cannons in the structure.

It was in use from 1760 to 1813.

--Brock-Perry

Richard Dale, Sr. Used Influence to Get Sons Into U.S. Navy As Officers

From Revolutionary War Talk.

CHILDREN

RICHARD DALE, JR/

January 2, 1795 to 1815

Richard Dale, Sr. used his  not insubstantial influence within the United States Department  of the Navy to get his first two sons positions in the Navy, with the caveat that they serve on different ships.

Dale, Jr.  served aboard his father's former command, the USS President.  During the War of 1812, the President engaged  a squadron of British warships.

Richard Dale, Jr. was struck by a cannonball that severed his leg and he later died as a prisoner on the island of Bermuda.

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JOHN MONTGOMERY DALE

January 4, 1797 to December 15, 1852.

Served as  a captain within the U.S. Navy and eventually dedicated the sloop-of-war USS Dale (1822-1921) which was named for his father.

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Richard Dale, Sr. had two other sons:

Samuel Sutherland Dale who died as an infant

Edward Crathorne Dale (1810-1868)

***************************************

Also three daughters:

Sarah Barry Dale (1804-1839)

Ann Dale (Died as an infant)

Elizabeth Dale  (1807-?)

--Brock-Perry

Lt. John Montgomery Dale (Midshipman Richard Dale's Brother)

A younger brother of Midshipman Richard Dale and son of Commodore Richard Dale of the American Revolution.

From Find A grave.

Birth 1797

Death:   15 December 1852 (aged 54-55)

Burial:  Christ Church Burial grounds, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Commander in U.S. Navy who first served in the War of 1812.

Midshipman, 2 February 1829.  Passed Midshipman, 3 July 1835.  Lieutenant, 25 February 1845.  

 Died  24 July 1848.  

His portrait  was painted by noted  Philadelphia artist Thomas Sully and now hangs in uin the Sewell C. Biggs Museum of  American Art in  Dover, Delaware.

--Brock-Perry

Richard Dale (Midshipman Richard Dale's Father) Was a Hero of the American Revolution

From Find A Grave.

BIRTH:  6 November 1756  Norfolk City, Virginia

DEATH:  26 February 1826  (aged 69)  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

BURIAL:  Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  (A lot of famous people are buried there.)

He was the father of Midshipman Dale who is buried in Bermuda and considered the last American casualty of the War of 1812.  I have been writing about him earlier this month.

Revolutionary War  Naval Officer.    Served in the British Navy from 1776 to 1777, when he took up the American cause.

Served as second-in-command to Captain John Paul Jones on the USS Bon Homme Richard in the famous battle with the HMS Serapis.

Later promoted to lieutenant and commanded continental vessels.

Promoted to captain, U.S. Navy in 1794 and led the Navy squadron in the Mediterranean Sea during the 1801-1802  Barbary Coast War.

Originally buried at  at the Christ Church Burial Ground in  Philadelphia, was reinterred in Laurel Hill Cemetery in 1888.

If you want to read about more details of this man's very interesting life, look him up in Wikipedia.

--Brock-Perry

Midshipman Richard Dale-- Part 4: 1967 Was a Highpoint of the Ceremony

**  Starting in 1932,  Captain Adams sent funds  for the wreaths used in the ceremony, but it was not until he retired from the Navy and returned home to Bermuda in 1963, that he was able to be present when the wreath was laid.  My  uncle, Richard Dale, was able to attend that year.

**  In 1967, the ceremony reached its peak when the United States agreed to send the frigate USS Luce for the occasion.  Personnel from the U.S. Bases in Bermuda, which had been established in the Second World War, also, participated.

**  After Captain Adams' untimely death in 1973, the service waned and eventually ceased when  the U.S. Forces withdrew  from Bermuda in 1995.  However, a meeting  between St. Georgian Beau  Evans and Louise  Reider sparked  the reintroduction of the ceremony in 2006.

Edward Dale closed with this remark:  "It gives me great pleasure to once again, 199 years after the death of my great- great- great grand uncle, Midshipman Richard Dale, to express the heartfelt gratitude of the Dale family."

--Brock-Perry

Midshipman Richard Dale-- Part 3: A Commemoration Ceremony in 2014

At the February 2014 ceremony for Dale, Edward Morgan Dale, a descendant of  of Commodore Richard Dale, took part in the occasion and gave a talk at the dinner hosted by the Friends of St,. Peter's.  This was also attended by Louise Reider, the daughter of  Captain Adams (who started the ceremonies), her daughter Abigail and his great grandsons Nicholas and Paget Kellogg.

Here are some of his remarks:

**  Captain Adams' research revealed the touching tale of  the kindness shown by the people of  St. George's to Midshipman Dale, one of the last casualties of the War of 1812.  He died here on February  22, 1815, despite the dignified  care provided by the St. Georgians to the seaman in distress.

**  Midshipman Dale's  father, Commodore Richard Dale,  arranged for the horizontal tombstone so inscribed:  To Commemorate the Gallant Deeds of the People of  St. George's whose Generosity and tender sympathy prompted the kindest attention to him while living and honored him when dead."

--Brock-Perry

Midshipman Richard Dale-- Part 2: A Ceremony Held Every Year Now

After the battle, he was brought to St. George's for treatment and cared for at Stennet's Hotel where the Bank of Butterfield now sits on the Town Square.  However, he succumbed to his injuries on February 22, 1815.

But, he was not forgotten.  Every February 22, when the Us Marine Corps had a station on the U.S. base, a small parade would be held to honor the final the Midshipman who gave his life in the last action on the seas between the U.S. and Britain

This ceremony came to a stop when the base closed in 1995.    However, the friends of St. Peter's Foundation, which works to preserve and increase the  interest in the church in St. George, reintroduced the ceremony in 2006.

Descendants of Bermudian Scarret Adams, who served in the U.S. Navy and found Dale's grave and started the ceremony,  donate funds each year for a wreath of white Passion flowers to put on his grave.

--Brock-Perry

Midshipman Richard Dale-- Part 1: Father Was a U.S. Navy Commodore

From Find A Grave

RICHARD SOUTHERLAND SALE

BIRTH:  1795

DEATH:  22 February 1815 (aged 19-20)

BURIAL:  St. Peter's Church Graveyard, Bermuda.

Midshipman Richard Dale who was the last victim of the War of 1812.

Midshipman Richard Southerland Dale was the oldest son of Commodore Richard Dale from  Philadelphia, who was 20 years old when he lost his leg after his ship, the President engaged a British warship in the 1815 war between Britain and the United States.

His father fought in the American Revolution and was second in command of the USS Bon Homme Richard in its famous fight against the HMS Serapis.  That ship's commander, of course, was none other than John Paul Jones.

--Brock-Perry

Midshipman Richard Dale: The Last American Death in the War of 1812

From Bermuda Historic stories:  A last casualty of the War of 1812 by Dr. Edward Cecil Harris.

On Christmas Eve 1814, the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent that ended the War of 1812, but that news took several months to reach the North America.   At sea on Jan. 15, 1815, off New York City the British vessel HMS Endymion captured the USS President.

One of the Americans, however, Midshipman Richard Dale Jr., was severely wounded and had his leg amputated.  He died at Bermuda a month later and was buried at St. Peter's Church in St. George's.

In 1932, a young Bermudian, Scarritt Adams, serving in the U.S. Navy,  came upon Richard Dale's inscribed gravestone and decided that his passing should be commemorated by the United States and Bermuda.

Thus began the "Midshipman Dale Ceremony."

--Brock-Perry