AAR July "The Pox You Say"
I am truly sorry for the directional difficulty of these photography. I just don't have the energy to fight with them. - Bob
July 29, 1800
To: Captain Samuel Nicholson, Commodore, Caribbean Squadron
From: George Whitfield, Chief Medical Officer Caribbean Fleet, United States Navy
Sir:
The small pox epidemic has spread to more than a quarter of the fleet. Your squadron is now rated as ineffective until the sickness has past. Isolation of the sick is recommended.
Good luck to you sir,
George Whitfield, MD
___________________ . ___________________
August 10, 1800
To: William Bainbridge: Captain; USS United States
Thomas Truxton: Captain; USS Constellation
Stephan Decatur Sr.: Captain; USS Philadelphia
Richard Valentine Morris: Captain; USS New York
Edwin Preble Captain; USS Essex
From: Samuel Nicholson, Commodore, Caribbean Squadron
Gentlemen:
William McHugh, master of the merchantman Wisteria, reported sighting a large French ship-of-the-line sailing in a southerly direction off the Bahamas. She could be headed for the Lesser Antilles through the Windward Passage between Cuba and Haiti, the former French colony. The captain reported that two heavy frigates were escorting the ship.
It is our task to identify the ship-of–the-line, if she exists, and eliminate the threat to American shipping. To accomplish this I will leave Essex in port to protect our base and hospital. Sailors from less effected ships to supplement the crews of those hardest hit by the pox. Essex cannot afford to lend any of her crew as she has half of them in sick bay herself. Constellation, New York, and Philadelphia will sail very shorthanded; so will act in support or as a diversion. Constitution and United States will be expected to engage the largest ship and capture or sink her.
___________________ . ___________________
USS Constitution: Squadron Log
1800
Samuel Nicholson, Commodore
August 13: USS Constitution, USS United States, USS Constellation, USS New York, and USS Philadelphia set sail on the morning tide in search of the ship-of-the-line reported to us by Captain McHugh. We are looking for either a first or second rater and two heavy frigates. McHugh has been known to exaggerate, so any French squadron will be fair game.
Our ships are greatly undermanned and we could be hard-pressed if we encounter a ship as large as McHugh describes. Constitution, United States and Constellation is missing one third of their crews due to the pox. New York and Philadelphia are down almost a half. It is my hope that we can bring all five ships back to port, though I have my doubts.
August 18: This morning I ordered the squadron into a line of battle, two abreast. The port division was lead by Philadelphia followed by Constitution and Constellation. The starboard division was lead by New York followed by United States.
A squadron of French ship was sighted almost due north of our position tacking into the southwesterly wind. There were four not three sets of sails, two large and two small. As the fleets got closer, Le Berwick was identified as a ship that had been inflicting much damage to American commerce for the last year; she was a prime target. The other third rated ship-of-the-line was Aquilon. She was newly sent to the Caribbean from Brest and escorted by L’Inconstante and Hermione.
The plan was to send Philadelphia north to block ships from trying to escape to the west. I ordered Constellation to follow in support. New York was to continue on her east-nor-easterly course to turn the French toward Haiti. Constitution and United States were to intercept Aquilon and either capture or destroy her. Le Berwick and the two frigates were targets of opportunity.
Le Berwick and L’Inconstante, as expected, swung to the east to make their escape, but, inexplicitly Aquilon tacked west and collided with Le Berwick. This was most fortunate for us because they were the more formidable of the enemy and they were greatly damaged. Aquilon lost her foremast and the debris shredded her main topsail. I was later to learn that both ships began to leak, Le Berwick more severely than Aquilon.
Philadelphia opened the engagement with an exchange of fire with L’Inconstante that cost the American her mizzenmast.
Le Berwick and L’Inconstante continued to plow forward. New York delivered a crushing broadside that raked L’Inconstante from stem to stern. United States added her forward division to the maelstrom and the frigate began to burn; her foremast came crashing to her deck and her rudder was shot away. Lifeboats were lowered and the crew abandoned their sinking hulk.
Le Berwick used her own broadside to deliver Constitution her own raking blow. Our foremast came down and considerable damage was done to our hull. Constitution was able to continue on her course into the thick of the battle.
Constitution swerved to avoid L’Inconstante then exchanged shots with Aquilon each using their forward divisions. The American caught fire amidship and the Frenchman’s mainmast and mizzenmast came crashing down, demisting her and causing her to strike her colors.
Then everything became very confusing. Berwick turned sharply to starboard cutting New York’s maneuver short and making it impossible for United States to avoid ramming his countryman’s stern. Berwick emptied her broadside into New York’s bow. The American suffered severe casualties and sprung leaks in two different locations. She then took fire from Berwick and Hermione sinking her on the spot.
Constellation and Philadelphia collided as they circled to rejoin the fight. United States, on her part, raked Le Berwick’s fantail causing her to surrender.
Hermione sliced through the remains of the final outburst of violence, cruised past the stricken Le Berwick, and made her escape.
Survivors from the wreck of USS New York were recovered, including Captain Richard V. Morris, and placed aboard the derelicts Aquilon and Le Berwick. Morris was placed in charge of Le Berwick and Edward Spicer Holms commanding Aquilon.
Depriving the French of the two ship-of-the-lines was a great accomplishment, but the loss of our frigate was costly.
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