Captain Sever's Commission As Captain in U.S. Navy-- Part 2

The commission reads:

"Know ye, that reposing special Trust and Confidence in the Patriotism, Valour, Fidelity and Abilities of James Sever, Esquire, I have nominated , and by  and with the Advice and Consent  of the senate, do appoint him a Captain in the Navy.

"He is therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of a Captain by doing and performing all Manner of Things thereunto belonging.

"I do strictly charge and requite all Officers, Seaman and Marines under his Command to be obedient to his Orders as a Captain.

"And he is to observe and follow such Orders and Directions from time to time, as he shall receive from me, or the future President of the United States, or his Superior Officer set over him, according to  to the Rules and Discipline of the Navy.

"This Commission to continue in Force during the pleasure of the President of the United States for the Time being.

"Given under my Hand at Philadelphia this Eleventh Day of May  in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety-Eight and in the Twenty ___?__ Year of the Independence of the United States.

"By Command of the President of the United States of America.   JOHN ADAMS"

Registered Josiah Fox

Got $24,000 Lying Around?  --Brock-Perry

Captain Sever's Commission Signed by President John Adams-- Part 1

From CopBlock "1798 John Adams signed naval commission frigate USS Congress birth of U.S.Navy."

Offered for $24,000.

President John Adams (1735-1826), second U.S. president, appoints on 5/11/1797, James Sever as Captain of the USS Congress, one of 6 war frigates started by the U.S. Navy under the Naval Act of 1794.

Professionally framed  in museum glass and with an early engraving of John Adams.

Frame measures 23" by 18.5".  Document is in excellent condition and signature is very strong.  Includes JSA Letter of Authenticity.

--Brock-Perry

A Flawed Launch for the USS Constitution-- Part 2: A Third Shot and the First Shot

But, George Claghorn had another new moon and a higher than average tide on October 21, so now a third effort was going to be made.  And, steeper ways had been made.  This one has to be the charm.

There had been extensive promotions made for the September launch (the first one) and this had attracted many visitors, including the President of the United States, one John Adams.  Also, there were thousands of Boston residents on hand for the festive occasion.  Come see the birth of the new U.S. Navy.

And, of course, the USS Constitution was one really impressive warship.

However, this first launch had resulted in a lot of disappointed people leaving.

--Brock-Perry

The Three Attempts to Launch the USS Constitution

In the last post, I mentioned that the Democratic papers made fun of the USS Constitution because of the fact that it had taken three tries to get the ship into the water.

From Wikipedia.

The ship's launch on September 20, 1797, was attended by President John Adams and Massachusetts Governor Increase Sumner.  Upon launch, the ship slid down the ways just 27 feet before stopping.  It turned out that her weight had caused the ways to settle into the ground, preventing further movement.

Work on it was hasty, and a second attempt two days later resulted in just an additional 31 feet.  People were wondering if the ship would ever get launched.  After a month of rebuilding the ways, the third time was the charm and on October  21, 1797. the Constitution finally reached the water.

Captain James Sever christened her by breaking a bottle of Madeira on her bowsprit.

--Brock-Perry

USS Congress (1799)-- Part 5: Finished For the Quasi War with France

The Congress was given her name by George Washington  after a principle of the U.S. Constitution.  According to reports, her keel was laid down in 1795 at a shipyard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire (or close to it, Badger Island).

James Hackett was charged with her construction and Captain James Sever served as superintendent.  Construction proceeded slowly  and was completely suspended in 1796 when a peace treaty was signed with Algiers.  The Congress remained in shipyard, incomplete, until relations with France deteriorated in 1798 and the start of the Quasi War.

At the request of then-President John Adams, funds were approved 16 July to finish her construction.

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ARMAMENT

The Naval Act of 1794 had rated the Congress as 36-gun frigates, but, because of their larger size, upped to 38-guns.  However, ships of this era  had no permanent batteries as do more recent warships.  The cannons were completely portable and often exchanged between ships and stations as needed.

--Brock-Perry

James McHenry-- Part 3: Adams Asked for Resignation

As Secretary of War, McHenry argued against reducing military forces.  He was instrumental in organizing the U.S. Army into four regiments, a troop of dragoons and a battery of artillery.  He is also credited with establishing the United States Depart of the Navy.

When John Adams became president, he kept McHenry on as Secretary of War.  Bit things went sour between them and in May 1800, he asked for McHenry's resignation which he did.

Leading up to the War of 1812, McHenry was a Federalist.

An attack of paralysis in 1814 left him without the use of his legs and in severe pain.  He died two years later in 1816 and is buried in Baltimore's Westminster Burying Ground.

Fort McHenry was named for him.

--Brock-Perry

Fort McHenry Named After James McHenry

From Wikipedia.

Fort McHenry was named for an early American statesman James McHenry (1753-1816).

Was an Irish immigrant and surgeon-soldier.  Was a delegate to the Continental Congress from Maryland and a signer of the U.S. Constitution.

Secretary of War 1796 to 1800 and served under Presidents Washington and John Adams.

--Brock-McHenry

Trouble On the High Seas-- Part 1: Make Treaties But Stay Out of European Wars

From the textbook "Adventures in American History"

Of interest to see how textbooks have covered the War of 1812.  This is one of the textbooks I used while teaching.

When Washington was President, his plan was to keep out of European troubles.  His policy was to make friendly treaties with the foreign countries but do nothing that might get the  United States into European wars.  That was John Adams' foreign policy, and it was Jefferson's too.

But after James Madison became President, war finally broke out between the United States and England.  It was the War of 1812.  This part of Chapter 11 is about the troubles between England and the United States that led to war between the two nations.

--Brock-Perry