For the sailors in the Brats....

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I have no idea of the truthfulness of this bit of history, but it sounds like some of the sailors that I have known...



LITTLE KNOWN TIDBIT OF NAVAL HISTORY...


The U. S. S. Constitution (Old Ironsides), as a combat vessel, carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea. She carried no evaporators (i.e. fresh water distillers).

However, let it be noted that according to her ship's log, "On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum."

Her mission: "To destroy and harass English shipping."

Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum.

Then she headed for the Azores , arriving there 12 November. She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine.

On 18 November, she set sail for England . In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchant ships, salvaging only the rum aboard each.

By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless, although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland . Her landing party captured a whisky distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch aboard by dawn. Then she headed home.

The U. S. S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February 1799, with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no whisky, and 38,600 gallons of water.


GO NAVY

 

[marvin4239]

I wonder why they wasted space carrying all that water?

 

[JamesTXSD]

I wonder why they wasted space carrying all that water?

Sometimes they would be forced to put a bit of water in their rum and/or grog to make it last longer. Those were tough times. :wink:

 

[Sea Wolf]

This story must be true, I've heard it at least a dozen times, and each time in warms my heart, belly, and soul with thoughts of rum in a sailor's gut! Let's go sailing ! ! !

Joe. :teeth :thup

 

[oldgrowth]

I have no idea of the truthfulness of this bit of history, but it sounds like some of the sailors that I have known...

Her mission: "To destroy and harass English shipping."

I have seen this around the net for awhile and it makes a good story.

In 1798 we were not fighting the British; I think it was more like the French and their pirate ships.
_______
Dave

 

[DoryLvr]

The story must have some truth to it, it is posted on www.navy.mil!

 

[matt_unique]

Ha ha - great story.

I was cruising past Old Ironsides last night with passengers actually. It was a cool night in Boston Harbor with a beautiful Harvest Moon and a 10.5' tidal swing.

 

[thataway]

Unfortunately there are multiple mistruths in this urban legend. This specific legend was started as a joke in 1998 by then Sec of the Navy Jack Dalton at the Association of American Ports and cited as a "true story".

From the History of USS Constitution:
"Built in Boston of resilient live oak, Constitution’s planks were up to seven inches thick. Paul Revere forged the copper spikes and bolts that held the planks in place and the copper sheathing that protected the hull. Thus armed, she first put to sea in July 1798 and saw her first service patrolling the southeast coast of the United States during the Quasi-War with France." The battle involving five ships she defeated was in the War of 1812!.

Here is a bit more detailed account of the first year:
"22 July 1798 with orders to patrol the Eastern Seaboard between New Hampshire and New York. A month later she was patrolling between Chesapeake Bay and Savannah, Georgia when Nicholson found his first opportunity for capturing a prize: off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, on 8 September, he intercepted Niger, a 24-gun ship sailing with a French crew en route from Jamaica to Philadelphia, claiming to have been under the orders of Great Britain.[21] Perhaps not understanding his orders correctly, Nicholson had the crewmen imprisoned, placed a prize crew aboard Niger, and brought her into Norfolk, Virginia. Constitution sailed south again a week later to escort a merchant convoy, but her bowsprit was damaged severely in a gale, requiring her return to Boston for repairs. In the meantime, Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert had determined Niger was operating under Great Britain as claimed, and the ship and her crew were released to continue their voyage, with the American government paying a restitution of $11,000 to Great Britain.[22]

Departing Boston on 29 December, Nicholson was to report to Commodore John Barry near the island of Dominica for patrols in the West Indies. On 15 January 1799 Constitution intercepted the English merchantman Spencer, which had been taken prize by the French frigate L'Insurgente a few days prior.[23] Technically, Spencer was a French ship operated by a French prize crew; but Nicholson, perhaps hesitant after the affair with Niger, released the ship and her crew the next morning.[24] Joining Barry's command from United States, Constitution almost immediately had to put in for repairs to her rigging due to storm damage, and it was not until 1 March that anything of note occurred. On this date, she encountered HMS Santa Margarita,[Note 6] the captain of which was an acquaintance of Nicholson.[Note 7] The two agreed to a sailing duel, which the English captain was confident he would win, but after 11 hours of sailing, Santa Margarita lowered her sails and admitted defeat, paying her reward of a cask of wine to Nicholson.[15][25] Resuming her patrols, Constitution managed to recapture the American sloop Neutrality on 27 March and, a few days later, the French ship Carteret. Secretary Stoddert had other plans, however, and recalled Constitution back to Boston. She arrived there on 14 May, and Nicholson was relieved of command.[26]"



She never sailed to England or Scotland that year. Lets also examine the claim of the amount of rum--it turns out to be 1.26 gallons per man per day!--not including the amount susposedly stole from the British. How would a landing party convey 40,000 gallons of malt back to the ship?

Moral--don't belive our politicians! Even if they say it is a "True Story"--and also question what you read on the internt.

 

[oldgrowth]

Let’s get our facts straight….

She left with 79,400 gallons of Rum
In Jamaica she took on 68,300 gallons of Rum
In the Azores she took on 64,300 gallons of Wine
In Scotland she took on 40,000 gallons of Scotch
She salvaged the Run from five defeated British men-of-war ships
It does not say how much was taken so we will leave it at zero
Total spirits taken on and consumed is 252,000 gallons
Number of days between July 27th and February 20th is 208 days
Number of men on board was 475
208 into 252,000 is more than 1,211 and ½ gallons per day
475 into 1211.5 is more than 2.55 gallons per day per man not counting the Rum from the five captured British men-of-war ships

Knowing the facts, the story must be true.
_______
Dave

 

[starcrafttom]

I learned this lesson as a marine a long time ago. never trust anything a sailor tells you. if there lips are moving, they are lying. marines on the other hand always tells the truth. :wink:

 

[Ramon Sr]

This reminded me of an enameled tin cup I've treasured for years. It is from British Navy Pusser's Rum. In the back of the cup it reads:

Royal Navy Traditional Toasts
Monday: To our ships at sea.
Tuesday: To our men.
Wednesday: To ourselves (as no one is likely to concern themselves with our welfare).
Thursday: A bloody war and quick promotion.
Friday: A willing soul and sea room.
Saturday: To absent friends and those at sea.
Sunday: To sweethearts and wives, may they never meet.