John Downes, USN-- Part 2: Service in the First Barbary War and War of 1812

From Wikipedia.

Commodore John Downes (December 23, 1784-August  11, 1854) was a career naval officer, whose service covered the first half of the 19th century.

John Downes was born in Canton, Massachusetts,  on December 23, 1784.  He served as  acting midshipman from September 9, 1800, and was appointed midshipman from June 1, 1802.  He rendered distinguished service during the  First Barbary War in  1804 on the frigate Congress and distinguished himself again on the frigate New York in a boat attack upon Tripolita feluccas (a type of ship).

In March 1807, he was made a lieutenant and served as executive officer for Captain David Porter on the USS Essex during her cruise in the Pacific during the War of 1812..  In an action off James Island (in the South Pacific) Downes was in command of the sloop Georgiana during the capture of three British whalers.

He also participated in the action off Charles Island (Galapagos Islands) before sailing to Nuku Hiva to assist in building America's first base in the Pacific Ocean.

--Brock-Perry

Newly Acquired Documents Shed History of USS Constitution-- Part 2

The USS Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat.  It was undefeated in battle and, in the War of 1812,  earned its nickname, Old Ironsides,  when British cannonballs bounced off its wooden hull.

The acquired papers cover several topics, including the construction of the nation's first six frigates, which included the Constitution.  Also, the strategic plans of the  undeclared Quasi-War against France from 1798 to 1800.

The collection belonged to James Sever, the first commander of the USS Congress, another frigate constructed at the same time.  These papers had been in his family ever since.  James Sever was the naval officer officiating at the launch of the Constitution as I have written about before.

Sever supervised the construction of the Congress  and was deployed withy the ship to the Caribbean Sea to protect U.S. merchant ships from French privateers.  The Constitution served alongside the Congress.

The collection also includes  correspondence from the Constitutions commander, Captain Silas Talbot, Henry Knox, Secretary of War under Washington, who oversaw appropriations for the construction of the Constitution and her sister ships; and Toussaint Louverture, the formerly enslaved leader of the Haitian Revolution, who corresponded with U.S. naval commanders about support for his government.

The documents will be  archived at the museum and shared publicly  via email newsletters and social media posts at first.  They also will be digitalized  and made available at the museum's website.

The More We Know.  --Brock-Perry

USS Vixen (1803)-- Part 5: Service in First Barbary War

Service During the First Barbary War:

1803

3 August-- Left Baltimore

14 September--  Arrived off Gibraltar

7 October--  Arrived off Tripoli with the USS Philadelphia

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1804

18 July--  Closed on Tripolitan Coast with USS Argus, Constitution, Syren, Nautilus, Enterprise,  and Scourge.    Later in August, the USS John Adams and Intrepid joined.  Multiple bombardments of Tripoli were initiated  in the following weeks.

September to November--  Syracuse, Tripoli, Malta, Syracuse and Messina.

7 November--    Arrived at Port of Syracuse.  USS Essex, John Adams, Argus, Constitution and Congress  were there as well.

--Brock-Perry

Captain James Sever-- Part 7: Others' Opinions of Him

Stephen Higginson, the Navy Agent at Boston thought that"  "Sever will be an excellent naval commander; he is a cool, firm, discreet, gentlemanlike man, who feels and conducts with dignity and zeal proper is station; he is remarkable  for discipline and regularity."

Charles Morris (the Constitution's first lieutenant in 1812)  served under Sever on the USS Congress and held only a partial flattering  opinion of his first commander:  "He was well educated, very austere and distant in his manner, not very amiable in temper, rigid in discipline, , and very punctilious in all manners of military etiquette.

"I believe he was rather deficient in seamanship, but remarkable coolness and self-possession in trying situations  enabled him to decide and direct what was proper to be done better than most of his officers who better understood their profession practically."

He evidently was one of those aboard the Congress when they ran into the problems on its maiden voyageand Sever's junior officers gave him a no confidence vote and several shipped off to the USS Chesapeake.

--Brock-Perry

Captain James Sever-- Part 6: His Background in the Continental Army and U.S. Navy

James Sever was born in Kingston, Massachusetts, in 1781.  He graduated from Harvardin 1781 and immediately received an ensign's commission in the 7th Massachusetts Regiment.  he later transferred to the 4th Massachusetts Regiment and continued service until 1784.

After making several cruises to Europe, he was appointed one of the six captains approved by the Naval Act of 1794.

He was appointed superintendent of the frigate building at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the USS Congress in 1795, but the government suspended construction of it the following year in March when a treaty was signed with Algiers.

Construction resumed on July 16, 1798, as relations with France worsened.  The Congress was launched on August 15, 1799.  James Sever served as her captain through the Quasi War.  After a less-than-spectacular cruise, she returned to the United States and was placed in ordinary in 1801.

--Brock-Perry

Captain James Sever-- Part 4: The Madeira Mystery and the Launch of the USS Constitution

From the USS Constitution Museum "Madeira Mystery."

The magnificent U.S. warship's launch was not so impressive the first two times it was attempted.  The launch was a no-go.    The third time proved to be the charm.

Anxious shipwrights and boisterous onlookers gathered at Edmund Hartt's shipyard  that October day to see the ship enter its"destined element."

But, one mystery from that day continues.  According to most 20th century accounts, a man by the name of James Sever had the honor of christening the Constitution before she slid down the launching ways  into Boston Harbor.

Ira Hollis' 1900 book "The Frigate Constitution The Central Figure of the U.S. Navy Under Sail" wrote:  "The successful launch  finally occurred on October 2121. Captain James Sever, whose ship was on the stocks at Portsmouth (the USS Congress) awaiting congressional action, went down to break a bottle of wine over her bow."

That's Our James Sever.  --Brock-Perry

Captain James Sever-- Part 3: Some More on the Captain

The Naval History and Heritage Command  Navy Officers 1798-1900  has James Sever, Captain, 11 May 1798.  Discharged 18 June 1801 under Peace Establishment Act.

Also, under this under Christening, Launching and Commissioning of U.S. Navy Ships. I found this:

The first mention of the christening of a Navy warship we have  is that of the USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides," at Boston 21 October 1797.  Her sponsor, Captain James Sever, USN, stood on the weather deck at the bow.

"At fifteen minutes after twelve she commenced a movement into the water with such steadiness, majesty and exactness  as to fill every heart with  sensations of joy and delight."

As the Constitution ran out, Captain broke a bottle of fine old Madeira over the heel of the bowsprit.

The National Museum of the U.S. Navy has then sword and leather sea chest of James Sever, commander of the USS Congress during the Quasi War with France.

--Brock-Perry

Captain James Sever-- Part 2: Superintendent of USS Congress' Construction, Christened the USS Constitution

Captain James Sever was the first captain of the heavy frigate USS Congress which was a sister ship to the USS Constitution.

He was also the superintendent  of the construction of the USS Congress at a shipyard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  The sister ship of the Congress, the Constitution, still exists today in Boston Harbor.

In fact, it was Captain James Sever who christened the USS Constitution with a bottle of wine during her launching on October 21, 1797.

--Brock-Perry

Captain James Sever-- Part 1: From Massachusetts

I have been writing about this man in the last several posts about the USS Congress.

From Find A Grave.

This was the only information I could find out about him.

Birth  12 November 1761

Death:  16 December 1845 (age 84)

Burial:  Old Burying Ground   Kingston, Massachusetts.  Many of his family are buried here.

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American Revolution Major General John Thomas is buried here as well.

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Since he was alive through the War of 1812, you'd think I'd be able to find out more about him.  And, being given command of one of the U.S. Navy's best ships would make you think so as well.

--Brock-Perry

USS Congress (1799)-- Part 6: An Inauspicious Maiden Voyage

The USS Congress was launched on 15 August 1799 under the command of Captain James Sever.  It fit-out at Rhode Island and set off on its maiden voyage 6 January 1800 in company with the USS Essex to escort merchant ships to the East Indies.

Six days later she lost all of her masts in a gale.  Because her rigging had been set and tightened in a cold climate, it had slackened once she reached warmer waters.  Without the full support of all her rigging, all the masts fell within a four hour period, killing one crew member trying to do repairs.

The crew rigged a temporary sail and the Congress limped to the Gosport Navy Yard for repairs.  While there, some of Server's junior officers announced that they had no confidence in his ability as a commanding officer.  A hearing was held, and Captain sever was cleared  of any wrongdoing and remained in command of the Congress, though many of his crew soon transferred out to the USS Chesapeake.

Of course, the USS Chesapeake went on to have a somewhat checkered career as an unlucky ship.

--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

USS Congress-- Part 4: A Special Kind of Frigate

In 1785, Barbary pirates, mostly from Algiers in North Africa, began to seize American merchant ships in the Mediterranean.  In 1793 alone, eleven sere taken with their crews and cargoes held for ransom.    This caused the U.S. to pass the Naval Act of 1794. to provide funds for the construction of six frigates.  But in cost cutting, a clause was added that if a peace treaty was signed with Algiers that construction would be stopped.

Joshua Humphreys design was unusual for the time with a long keel and narrow beam and mounting heavy guns.The "ratings" or number of guns carried, was a bit of a misnomer as these frigates carried many different numbers of cannons.  The USS Congress was rated at 38 guns, but often carried as  many as 48.

The designs also gave these ships much heavier planking on their sides than was to be found on frigates at the time, meaning they could withstand broadsides better.  Humphreys design took into account that the U.S. Navy could not stand toe-to-toe with the European powers at the time, but could do well against other frigates.  They could, though, escape from the more powerful but slower ships of the line.

--Brock-Perry

USS Congress Stats-- Part 3

From Wikipedia.

Namesake:  The United States Congress

Ordered 27 March 1794

Builder:  James Hackett

Cost:  $197,245

Laid Down:  1795

Launched:   15 August 1799

Maiden Voyage:  January 6, 1800

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Type:  38-gun frigate

Displacement:  1,265 tons

Length:  164 feet

Beam:  41 feet

Depth of Hold:  13 feet

Decks:  4  (Orlop, Berth, Gun, Spar)

Propulsion:  Sail

Complement:  340 officers and enlisted

Armament:

1799

28  Eighteen Pounders and 12 Nine Pounders

1812

24  Eighteen Pounders and 20 Thirty-Two Pounders (carronade)

--Brock-Perry

USS Congress (1799)-- Part 2: Action in First and Second Barbary Wars, War of 1812 and Against West Indies Pirates

Her first duties with the U.S. Navy were to provide protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi War with France and to defeat Barbary pirates during the First Barbary War.

During the War of 1812, she made several extended cruises in company with her sister ship, the USS President.  During those, the Congress captured or assisted in the capture of twenty British merchant ships.

At then end of 1813, because of lack of materials for repairs, the Congress was placed in ordinary for the remainder of the war.

In 1815, she returned to duty for service in the second Barbary War and made patrols through 1816.  In the 1820s, she helped suppress piracy in the West Indies and made several voyages to South America.

The Congress was also the first American ship to visit China.

The last ten years of her service were as a receiving ship until ordered broken up in 1834.

The next USS Congress, (1841) was a 52-gun frigate destroyed by the CSS Virginia in 1862.

--Brock-Perry

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

USS Congress (1799)-- Part 1: Built at Badger's Island, Portsmouth, N.H.

From Wikipedia.

The USS Congress was a nominally rated 38-gun wooden hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the U.S. Navy.  Built by James Hackett in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on Badger's Island.  She was launched 15 August 1799 and was one of the original six  frigates in the U.S. Navy authorized by the Naval Act of 1794.

The name Congress  was one of the ten names submitted to President George Washington by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering  in March 1795 for the six frigates to be constructed.

Joshua Humphreys, famed ship builder and naval contractor, designed these ships to be the young Navy's capital ships., so the Congress and her sister ships were designed  to be larger and more heavily armed than most frigates at the time (especially in the British fleet).  Essentially, they were Super-Frigates or, in the 20th century, heavy cruisers.

The USS Constitution was one of these six frigates.

A battle between them and a standard frigate would probably not go well for the regular frigate.

--Brock-Perry

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine

I have been writing about this shipyard in Maine in my Tattooed On Your Soul: World War II blog.  During the 1900s, this place was very involved in the construction of submarines, but I also saw there were some ships with War of 1812 connections.

There were three American Revolution ships as well.

The USS Portsmouth, a 24-gun sloop of war was constructed with funds from the citizens of Portsmouth for use during the Quasi War with France in 1799 and sold in 1801.

The USS Congress was a 38-gun frigate was launched in 1799 and saw service in the Quasi War with France, First Barbary War, War of 1812, and Second Barbary War.  It was broken up in 1834.

The USS Washington was a 74-gun ship of the line launched in 1814.  Served until 1820 and broken up in 1843.

--Brock-Perry

Unproductive Cruise of the USS Congress

From "War of 1812: The Navy's War" by George C. Doughan.

In December 1813, the USS Congress returned to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, from a long cruise  in the South Atlantic.  The ship's commander was Captain John Smith.

In its 8-month voyage, the Congress had only captured four British prizes.  It was the most unproductive frigate voyage of the war and the ship's crew's enlistments were coming up and most were leaving the service.

In May, 1814, Secretary of the Navy Jones sent what was left  of the crew to Sackets Harbor to man the new frigate USS Mohawk.  The Congress' guns were sent further up the Pisctagua River for protection.

In September 1814, Charles Morris was put in charge of getting the USS Congress ready for duty again.

--Brock-Perry

HMS Belvidera-- Part 2: Chased By U.S. Frigates

On July 22, 1810, the Belvidera and HMS Nemesis captured 3 Danish vessels. After that, the Belvidera was transferred to the Halifax Station in North America.

Just five days after the U.S. declared war, on 23 June 1812, it encountered the American heavy frigates President, Congress (not the Civil War one) and United States. Any one of these ships could take the Belvidera single-handedly.

The crew of the Belvidera were not even aware that war had been declared, but managed to escape anyway and in so doing, led the American ships away from the convoy it was escorting.

On 16 July 1812, the Belvidera was part of a British squadron that chased the USS Constitution which was able to escape despite a light breeze by using its anchors to pull itself. The Belvidera did likewise and eventually pulled close enough to exchange gunfire.

For the remainder of the war, the ship was on blockade duty and quite successful at it.

Quite a Successful, But Little-Known Ship. --Brock-Perry