The BALTIMORE Incident (cont.)
16 NOVEMBER 1798
THE BALTIMORE INCIDENT (cont.)
As CAPT Isaac Philips approached Cuban waters a squadron of warships flying Spanish colors was sighted on the horizon. They shifted to British colors and bore down on USS BALTIMORE, 20, and the nine merchant sail she escorted. The British West Indies squadron regularly patrolled Cuban waters. France and England were at war and Spain was allied to France. The British reasoned that goods inbound to Cuba would likely end up in French hands and were attempting to intercept “contraband.” The activity was also quite lucrative, as ships and cargo confiscated by the British could be sold for profit by the captains and crews.
HMS CARNATIC 74, in company with QUEEN, 98; THUNDERER, 74; MAIDSTONE, 32; and GREYHOUND, 32, fired a gun to leeward and requested to speak the American captain. The convoy proceeded, and Philips–what papers he had in hand–was rowed to CARNATIC for a conference with British CAPT John Loring, an expatriate American Tory from the Revolutionary War days. Loring’s first request was that the convoy be halted, which was reinforced by shots across the bows of three merchantmen. Loring next announced his squadron was short of men, and informed Philips that his crew would be searched for any Englishmen. Philips protested, then produced a copy of his original orders from the Secretary of the US Navy. Loring’s response was flippant, “Who is Ben Stoddert?” When Philips returned to BALTIMORE he found British 2nd LT Wright mustering his crew. Fifty-five American sailors were pulled from the ranks and rowed across to His Majesty’s vessels (fifty were returned a few hours later). From BALTIMORE’s convoy Loring cut out the brig Norfolk as carrying contraband. Philips was then allowed to proceed.
Word of the event was greeted in Washington with bipartisan outrage! England and the United States were not at war, but the impressment of Americans seriously threatened that status quo. British minister Robert Liston defended Loring on the technicality that Philips carried no commissioning papers and was therefore subject to the British blockade as would be any merchant vessel. Loring had reported as much, though curiously his report enclosed a copy of a letter dated 17 November in which Loring referred to Philips as, “Captain Isaac Phillips American States Ship BALTIMORE.” Philips’ own report confessed he had submitted to a foreign authority without a fight and had allowed the junior Lieutenant to muster his crew. Stoddert was livid and summarily dismissed Philips by Secretarial caveat. A court martial would have pulled three of the Navy’s few seasoned senior officers from more critical duties at sea.
Watch for more “Today in Naval History” 23 NOV 22
CAPT James Bloom, Ret.
Rehabilitation Medicine
Cooper, James Fenimore. History of the Navy of the United States of America, Vol. I. Philadelphia, PA: Lea & Blanchard, 1840, pp. 250-59.
Department of the Navy, Naval History Division. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol 1 “A-B”. Washington, DC: GPO, 1959, p. 88.
Love, Robert W. History of the US Navy, Vol 1 1775-1941. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1992, pp. 63-64.
Maclay, Edgar Stanton. A History of the United States Navy: From 1775-1893, Vol I. New York, NY: D. Appleton and Co., 1893, pp. 171-72.
Palmer, Michael A. Stoddert’s War: Naval Operations during the Quasi-War with France, 1798-1801. Annapolis, MD: USNI Press, 1987, pp. 59-67, 242-50.
ADDITIONAL NOTES: Philips had been condemned by his self-incriminating report of the incident, in which he honestly related his improper submission to British authority. However, Philips would not rest after this incident and repeatedly petitioned for reinstatement. His last attempt came in 1825 and was accompanied by a revised second report of the incident that contradicted elements in his original report. (Philips believed his original report had been destroyed when the Washington Navy Yard was burned in 1814). He was unsuccessful, and a surviving copy of his original report re-surfaced in 1985, putting to rest any lingering doubt as to his culpability. A copy of that report has been reprinted in Palmer’s book above.
This event engendered Anglophobic feelings throughout the US Navy and was one in a series of incidents in which American ships were stopped on the high seas and American sailors impressed into Royal Navy service. Such abuse would eventually contribute to the War of 1812.