EARLY FEBRUARY 1831 FRIENDSHIP AND THE SUMATRAN PIRATES Salem, Massachusetts, was one of our busiest seaports in the early days of our young nation. In fact, it was the major port through which the American spice trade was conducted. About the Read More
28 NOVEMBER 1775 THE CAPTURE OF NANCY As GEN George Washington watched Boston from the Dorchester Heights during the Fall of 1775, he noted how easily the British kept their forces supplied by sea. While Washington’s army scrounged for food, uniforms, Read More
23 NOVEMBER 1846 FORT STOCKTON, SAN DIEGO On the morning of 29 July 1846, the sloop USS CYANE, 20, dropped anchor in the quiet Mexican harbor of San Diego, whose peacefulness belied the war then raging between the US and Mexico. Read More
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 Read More
16 NOVEMBER 1798 THE BALTIMORE INCIDENT For five months the US Navy had been patrolling, President John Adams having ordered the protection of American shipping from French privateers during a brush with that nation known today as the “Quasi-War.” October found Read More
10 NOVEMBER 1822 USS SHARK VS. Caroline Officially, the US government banned American participation in the African slave trade in 1808, although enforcement was not attempted until our Navy began patrolling off West Africa in 1820. Two years later those patrols Read More
27-28 OCTOBER 1855 USS DECATUR vs. The Indians The Oregon Treaty with England in 1846 deeded that portion of British Columbia south of the 49th parallel to the United States–the area that would become our States of Washington and Oregon. Settlers Read More
20 SEPTEMBER 1776 PROVIDENCE vs. MILFORD On 10 May 1776, temporary CAPT John Paul Jones assumed command of the Continental Navy sloop Providence, armed with twelve 4-pounder guns. Jones received his permanent appointment on August 8th and departed the Delaware Capes Read More
TODAY IN NAVAL HISTORY 11 SEPTEMBER 1814 ACTION AT THE NORTHERN END The heavyweights concentrated at the northern end of the battle line. Here the headforemost approach of CAPT George Downie in the British flagship CONFIANCE, 37, allowed SARATOGA and Read More
TODAY IN NAVAL HISTORY 11 SEPTEMBER 1814 ACTION AT THE SOUTHERN END As MacDonough had correctly anticipated, HMS FINCH, 11, could not sail close enough to the wind to approach the southern American line. In falling to leeward however, she Read More