Post by Sailor on Nov 5, 2006 17:52:35 GMT -8
While lying in my hospital bed a couple of weeks ago I started reading a new book written by Ian W. Toll, the above mentioned "Six Frigates - The epic history of the founding of the U.S. Navy." In it he covers with attention to political as well as naval activities during the period of 1794 thru the end of the War of 1812.
Mr Toll seems to have done his homework in research for this book paying particular attention to details of the political arguments between the Jeffersonian Republicans and the other major party, the Federalists.
Kiddies, if you think politics today is a bare knuckle knockdown drag out fight let me say that NOTHING done or said today against one party's candidate by the other is new. NOTHING. Toss in the occasional dual for spice and by itself Mr Toll tells some interesting tales.
He also throws in several odd facts that I frankly hadn't seen elsewhere. For example, one of the first ships on hand at the aftermath of the Battle of Trafalgar was a US merchant, the ANN ALEXANDER, 18 days out of New York with her hold full of flour, tobacco, salt fish and apples. A boat from HMS VICTORY pulled across to her to inquire if any stores could be purchased to aid in the huge repair job that the victorious British had just begun. As good fortune would have it the ANN ALEXANDER's deck cargo was lumber which her master was happy to sell along with flour and apples at a good price in gold.
As Mr Toll put it, "It was a minor footnote to the Battle of Trafalgar, and not a significant event in itself. But it was typical of the presence of the Americans on the sea in those years." The already large and neutral US merchant marine was growing quickly and steadily as Europe tore itself apart in those war years. By 1805 the US flag was a common sight throughout the Mediterranean.
His attention to detail left me with a clearer understanding of the causes which led up to the decision to lay down 4 - 44 gun frigates as well as 2 - 38's and the reasoning behind the subsequent decision to delay construction of 3 of the ships, what went into Mr Humphrey's specifications for both classes and why USS CHESAPEAKE was completed to another man's specifications and not Mr Humphrey's original specs and drafts, a "slow and dull sailer" as several of her captains, including Stephen Decatur noted. He looks into the service of this ship with attention to the CHESAPEAKE - LEOPARD incident and why USS CHESAPEAKE was so grossly unready when HMS LEOPARD first put a shot across her bow.
The War of 1812 is not the principal focus of this book. At least equal attention is paid to the national and international politics, debates and negotiations of the Quasi-War with France and the war against the Barbary Powers and even the peace years.
Mr Tolls listed bibliography at the end of the book is quite extensive.
If you are a history nut like I am I heartily recommend this book.
Mr Toll seems to have done his homework in research for this book paying particular attention to details of the political arguments between the Jeffersonian Republicans and the other major party, the Federalists.
Kiddies, if you think politics today is a bare knuckle knockdown drag out fight let me say that NOTHING done or said today against one party's candidate by the other is new. NOTHING. Toss in the occasional dual for spice and by itself Mr Toll tells some interesting tales.
He also throws in several odd facts that I frankly hadn't seen elsewhere. For example, one of the first ships on hand at the aftermath of the Battle of Trafalgar was a US merchant, the ANN ALEXANDER, 18 days out of New York with her hold full of flour, tobacco, salt fish and apples. A boat from HMS VICTORY pulled across to her to inquire if any stores could be purchased to aid in the huge repair job that the victorious British had just begun. As good fortune would have it the ANN ALEXANDER's deck cargo was lumber which her master was happy to sell along with flour and apples at a good price in gold.
As Mr Toll put it, "It was a minor footnote to the Battle of Trafalgar, and not a significant event in itself. But it was typical of the presence of the Americans on the sea in those years." The already large and neutral US merchant marine was growing quickly and steadily as Europe tore itself apart in those war years. By 1805 the US flag was a common sight throughout the Mediterranean.
His attention to detail left me with a clearer understanding of the causes which led up to the decision to lay down 4 - 44 gun frigates as well as 2 - 38's and the reasoning behind the subsequent decision to delay construction of 3 of the ships, what went into Mr Humphrey's specifications for both classes and why USS CHESAPEAKE was completed to another man's specifications and not Mr Humphrey's original specs and drafts, a "slow and dull sailer" as several of her captains, including Stephen Decatur noted. He looks into the service of this ship with attention to the CHESAPEAKE - LEOPARD incident and why USS CHESAPEAKE was so grossly unready when HMS LEOPARD first put a shot across her bow.
The War of 1812 is not the principal focus of this book. At least equal attention is paid to the national and international politics, debates and negotiations of the Quasi-War with France and the war against the Barbary Powers and even the peace years.
Mr Tolls listed bibliography at the end of the book is quite extensive.
If you are a history nut like I am I heartily recommend this book.