Pirates & Privateers: Books on US Navy History

Often overlooked in studies of the American Revolution are the war’s naval aspects. Merchantmen are converted to warships, while eleven of the thirteen states establish “navies” of their own. One of the first men to enter the fray is Abraham Whipple of Rhode Island. His experience as both master of merchant vessels and captain aboard privateers earns him a spot first in Rhode Island’s maritime force and later, in that of the Continental Congress. Two years prior to the opening salvos at Lexington and Concord, Whipple participates in the capture and destruction of HMS Gaspee, a British ship that pursues smugglers along the New England coast. When his naval and maritime careers end, he becomes a pioneer farmer in Ohio.

Most people have probably never heard of Whipple, but Cohen aims to rectify the omission with this full-length biography. He explores the man and those he interacts with, as well as the times in which Whipple lives. Presented chronologically, this account also corrects previously published inaccuracies and exaggerations about him.

The book is divided into six chapters and includes an extensive section of chapter notes and an in-depth bibliography of primary and secondary sources, as well as the repositories where information about Whipple can be found. The detailed index permits readers to easily gain access to pertinent information. Interspersed throughout the book are maps and illustrations pertaining to the time period.

While the biography is easy to read, the retelling of each voyage becomes tedious at times, even though many contain kernels of worthwhile seafaring knowledge. One strength of the book is Cohen’s adeptness at situating the man within his time period and explaining how the events of the day affect Whipple and others, especially mariners. The author’s reliance on primary documents further enhances this life story.

Commodore Abraham Whipple is an informative, complete accounting of a man who can be considered one of our nation’s founding fathers. The price, however, puts the book out of the hands of casual readers. Library and history collections pertaining to Rhode Island, the American Revolution, and maritime history will find this an invaluable resource.

Jefferson's War: America's First War on Terror, 1801-1805
by Joseph Wheelan
Carroll & Graf, 2003, ISBN 0-7867-1232-5, US $27.00

After centuries of warfare, privateering, and piracy, the Barbary States along the coast of North Africa imposed a national policy on all nations trading in the Mediterranean. Unless a country paid tribute to each state’s ruler, the Barbary corsairs attacked and plundered that nation’s maritime trade. Any crew and passengers aboard such vessels found themselves sold into slavery. As a fledgling nation, the United States had to decide whether to abide by these rules or cease trading in the region. In the waning years of the 18th century, many Americans were tired of war, and while the treasury could ill afford to negotiate and pay such demands, America paid the tributes. Thomas Jefferson felt the only way to deal with the Barbary States was to fight, and when he became President of the United States, that’s exactly what he did.

Jefferson felt war was the only way to deal with such blatant blackmail and terrorism. Although the country lacked much of a navy and few men experienced in waging war at sea and on hostile soil, he vowed America had not thrown off one tyrant only to submit to a lesser one. The ensuing Barbary War led to the establishment of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps. It made men like Stephen Decatur national heroes, and proved to more powerful nations that America was a force to be reckoned with and respected.

Joseph Wheelan writes a compelling and keen account about a period in American history rarely studied in history books. He concisely lays out the framework that results in war, from introducing the key players, the history behind the war, the steps needed to defend the nation and her honor, and the warts that kept the war going far longer than it should have. He breathes life into the men who fight the war and those who suffer enslavement. They do not remain mere names on a page. Wheelan does all this without digressing into a diatribe on religion or cultural differences. Readers go away with a better understanding of why fighting terrorism is necessary and why one country’s forefathers dared to take on the struggle against all odds.

The Lion and the Fox: Two Rival Spies and the Secret Plot to Build a Confederate Navy
by Alexander Rose
Mariner Books, 2022, ISBN 978-0-358-39325-2, US $28.99 / CAN $35.99
Also available in other formats

When civil war comes to the United States, the Union possesses forty-two warships of various sizes. The Confederate States of America have one. Their attorney general, Judah Benjamin, wants to change this and he knows just the man to accomplish this, James Bulloch is not your run-of-the-mill sea captain; in addition to the usual skills of an officer, he is knowledgeable about the latest nautical technology (steam) and has helped to build ships. More importantly, he is least likely to be seen as someone the Union should be leery of. He works for a Northern steam company. He’s a civilian. He has no land in the South. He seems innocuous, because he keeps personal opinions to himself. In reality, he is Southern born and bred and he possesses just the right traits to make him the right man for the job: guile, cunning, restraint, and obscurity.

Late in 1861, Thomas Dudley and his family arrive in Liverpool, England. It is a city with a vicious and volcanic reputation, teeming with people of ill repute. It is the last place the devout Quaker wants to be, but he has little choice. He is the new American counsel and is determined to do whatever he can to abolish slavery. One of his tasks is to doggedly pursue Bulloch and prevent him from carrying out his mission for the Confederacy.

Lacking the necessities to build their own navy, the Confederacy must go overseas to gain a fleet of modern, deadly vessels. To that end, Bulloch and Benjamin devise a three-point plan. Bulloch’s first objective is to purchase blockade-runners that will smuggle in needed weaponry and ammunition. Then he will acquire commerce-raiders capable of harassing Union merchant ships to such an extent that President Lincoln will have to reassign vessels currently on blockade duty to hunt down enemy ships. Finally, Bulloch will design and have built two ironclad warships capable of causing untold damage and confusion to the U.S. Navy. The ultimate goal is to gain British support as a Confederate ally. He and Benjamin think these are highly achievable outcomes. There is just one flaw: the Union knows the who and what. They just don’t know where Bulloch is. But Dudley is determined to thwart them no matter what.

This book contains a few pictures of key people and ships, as well as a double-page spread showing 1860s’ Liverpool. Notes, a bibliography, and an index are also included. Readers get to see how Bulloch operates and how Dudley finally pierces his “wall of secrecy.” The final chapter explains what happens to each principal player.

Readers familiar with the history of the Confederate navy may know about some of the ships that Bulloch acquires. After all, one of them is the most famous and successful commerce-raider CSS Alabama, captained by Rafael Semmes. What may be both new and illuminating are the behind-the-scenes, sly scheming and artful trickery, or the Union’s diligent pursuit of Bulloch. Rose deftly weaves together characters and elements to craft a true account of espionage and counterespionage: a quintessential maverick, a lace-and-chandelier front man, a private investigator, a mole in the Foreign Office, a drunk captain who runs into a coal brig, a rooster that crows at a critical moment, legal manipulation, arms trafficking, racism, phantom ships, mutiny, a sea duel, bigamy, and betrayal.

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Review Copyright ©2023 Cindy Vallar

Sink or Be Sunk! The Naval Battle in the Mississippi Sound that Preceded the Battle of New Orleans
by Paul Estronza La Violette
Annabelle Publishing, 2002, ISBN 0-9673936-3-9, US$24.95

Most people think of the Battle of New Orleans as a single battle, but in reality it consists of a number of skirmishes that precede the final battle on 8 January 1815. One that receives short shrift but is of strategic and tactical importance to Andrew Jackson's victory, is a naval battle at St. Joe Pass on 14 December 1814.

Lieutenant Thomas Ap Catesby Jones, of the fledgling United States Navy, commands a fleet of gunboats patrolling the coastal waters from Mobile Bay to New Orleans. His primary mission is to observe, delay, and prevent any attempt by the Royal Navy to land troops in Louisiana. Whichever side controls New Orleans controls the Mississippi River, and will determine the outcome of the War of 1812. In late 1814, Jackson arrives in the city intent on preventing it from falling into enemy hands, even if he has to burn the city to do so.

Commander Nicholas Lockyer of His Majesty's Royal Navy receives orders from the fleet admiral to destroy the American gunboats no matter the cost. Previous attempts to control the region have come to naught and this is the British forces' last chance to gain the upper hand. Having played a role in those unsuccessful endeavors, Lockyer is keen to win this time around.

This retelling of the events leading up to and including this unusual naval engagement reads like a well-paced maritime novel. All primary players are introduced in such a way that they become three-dimensional beings and La Violette has done painstaking research to learn the details of these men's lives -- before, during, and after the battle. Although the lack of a good copyedit is evident throughout the book, these minor flaws fail to detract from the engaging account of what transpires.

Piracy plays no part in this story, but those interested in Jean Laffite should take particular note of this book. The principal players cross paths with Laffite and the Baratarians. Lockyer delivers the packet of letters to Laffite, offering him a captaincy in the Royal Navy and promising him other perks if he aids the British in their attempt to capture New Orleans. Jones participates in the destruction of Barataria after some New Orleanians doubt the authenticity of the British letters and Laffite's offer to aid the Americans. Commandant Daniel Todd Patterson, Jones's commanding officer, engineers the attack on Barataria and also enlists Laffite's men to help crew the Carolina and the Louisiana prior to and during the Battle of New Orleans.

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Review Copyright ©2003 Cindy Vallar

Cover Art: The U.S. Navy
Pictorial History of the War of
1812

The U.S. Navy Pictorial History of the War of 1812
by Don Philpott
Rowman & Littlefield, 2012, ISBN 978-1-4422-1907-6, US $49.95 / UK £31.95
Also available in other formats

The introduction to this volume clearly states how the various combatants view the war. For the British, it provides the means for “a new era of trade and prosperity with the United States.” (2) It solidifies the national identity of Canada, while the United States emerges as a political force to be reckoned with, establishes the importance of the navy as a fighting force, and forms the nucleus for what this nation has become. But what propels the combatants to wage war, and how does the war achieve these “victories?” Philpott provides answers to these questions, while focusing on the rise of the U. S. Navy both through actions and in graphic representations.

“Storm Clouds Building” examines the causes that lead to war beginning in 1803, and culminating with the declaration of war in 1812. It provides not only the national picture but also the world view because the conflict between Britain and France trickles down to affect the United States and her relationships with both nations. The decade is also examined from the perspective of the key combatants: the British, the Canadians, the Americans, and the Native Americans. Chapter one concludes with an annotated “Time Line of Major Events Leading to the War of 1812.”

The second chapter focuses on “The Birth of the Navy.” It discusses the building of six frigates – Constitution, Constellation, United States, Congress, Chesapeake, and President – that form the heart of the American navy, the conflicts with the Barbary corsairs, the Washington Navy Yard, and the exploits of Constitution with particular emphasis on her escape from HMS Guerriere and four other British vessels soon after the War of 1812 begins.

“Declaration of War” provides an overview of the first year of war, both at sea and on land. For example, Constitution’s victory over Guerriere in October is shown through the correspondence of Captain Isaac Hull (USN) and Captain James R. Dacres (RN) to their superiors, and the artwork of John Trumbull, W. Strickland, Thomas Gimbrede, and M. F. Corne. Chapter four covers 1813, including several naval battles between British ships and American privateers. Primary emphasis is placed on the Battle of Lake Erie and events during the fall of that year. The fifth chapter focuses on 1814, including events such as the British burning Washington, the bombardment of Fort McHenry, and the battle between General Armstrong, an American privateer, and several British warships in the Azores. Events of 1815, such as the Battle of New Orleans and the final naval confrontations between vessels unaware that a peace treaty has been signed, are examined in chapter six. The final chapter summarizes the effects wrought by “Peace” on the combatants.

The volume is beautifully and generously illustrated with color portraits of key people and stunning depictions of naval confrontations, as well as engravings, prints, and lithographs. Excerpts of primary documents and observations pepper the narrative, while footnotes and tables are included where appropriate. A list of references and an index conclude the book.

This book covers much of the same material as other works on the War of 1812, but the inclusion of overlooked historical nuggets distinguishes it from those other volumes. For example, any narrative on the war discusses the Royal Navy’s impressment of American sailors, but few mention the French navy’s habit of boarding American ships “and confiscating vessel, crew, and cargo.” (8) Another illustration concerns the Bloody Assize in May 1814, trials that ended with fifteen Canadians being convicted of high treason. This is a good summary examination for any reader who wants an overview of the war, particularly from a naval perspective, that also incorporates key land battles and global events that impact the conflict.

Utmost Gallantry: The U.S. and Royal Navies at Sea in the War of 1812
by Kevin D. McCranie
Naval Institute Press, 2011, ISBN 978-1-59114-504-2, US $24.95

When discussing war, there are always at least two perspectives from which to view the conflict. For the United States, the War of 1812 is an affair of honor “against the most powerful navy in the world”. (xi) The British have a totally different perspective, because they wage a war against a greater threat – Napoleon Bonaparte – and the American navy is “a threat to the sea-lines of communication that were essential for the well-being of its economy and its empire.” (xi)

According to McCranie, other volumes written on the naval War of 1812 overemphasize the first six months of encounters, neglect to connect “the ship-on-ship battles to a broader understanding of the war; fail to fully use archival and primary material from British resources; and rely too much on secondary resources that include errors or twist the perspectives of both countries.” (xi) His intent with this volume is to provide a more balanced examination of the naval war using a variety of primary documents from archives in both countries. He also narrows the book’s focus to omit naval confrontations and activities on the Great Lakes, as well as the privateers’ contributions to the war effort. Utmost Gallantry confines itself to those confrontations that occur on the high seas between the American and British navies.

The book is divided into the following fourteen chapters:

1: “Every Appearance of Hastening the Crisis”: The Royal Navy, the United States Navy, and the Background to the War
2: “’A Little Bit of Dust’ With an English Frigate”: The Opening Naval Campaign, June to September 1812
3: “It Is a Thing I Could Not Have Expected”: The Second Round, September 1812-March 1813
4: “If We Could Take One or Two of These D—d Frigates”: Reassessment of Britain’s Naval Objectives, 1812-13
5: “Cast Away . . . or Taken”: American Naval Failure and Reassessment, June 1812-Early 1813
6: “Creating a Powerful Diversion”: Secretary Jones and the Naval Campaign of 1813
7: “A Glorious Retrieval of Our Naval Reputation”: The Turning Point, 1 June 1813
8: “More Than Ordinary Risk”: United States Frigates, Winter 1813-14
9: “Pursuing My Own Course”: The Essex in the Pacific, 1813-14
10: “Some Hard Knocks”: Reassessment – The United States, September 1813-March 1814
11: “Into Abler Hands”: Britain Turns to New Leadership, 1814
12: “Repulsed in Every Attempt”: The Culmination of the Jones’ Small Cruiser Strategy, mid-1814
13: “The Current Demands of the Service”: An Appraisal of British Naval Operations, 1813-14
Epilogue: “A Wreath of Laurels . . . a Crown of Thorns”: The Last Naval Campaign, 1815

The material presented is augmented with numerous images, maps, tables, and diagrams. At the conclusion of the narrative are an extensive section of chapter notes, a glossary of nautical terms, a bibliography, and an index.

McCranie provides a comprehensive appraisal of events, tactics, and strategies that the two navies utilize during the War of 1812. As promised in the preface, he stays true to the narrow focus of the conflict while providing sufficient information and details for the reader to fully understand what happens and why. The presentation is thorough, well balanced, and well organized, but it lacks what today may be called the “wow factor.” Unlike other recent works on the naval war, this one is geared toward serious students of this conflict and is a valuable asset to historians because of its impartial and well-researched analysis.

Victory in Tripoli
How America’s War with the Barbary Pirates Established the U.S. Navy and Shaped a Nation
by Joshua E. London
John Wiley & Sons, 2005, ISBN 0-471-44415-4, US $24.95 / CAN $31.99 / UK £15.99

In the fall of 1800, Dey Mustafa of Algiers asked Captain William Bainbridge to ferry the Algerine tribute to the sultan of the Ottoman Empire in Constantinople. Bainbridge, as well as Consul General Richard O’Brien, vehemently refused the request, but the Dey made it clear that not acceding to his “request” would be tantamount to declaring war. To further humiliate the fledgling American navy, Algerine naval personnel boarded USS George Washington on 9 October 1800, took down the American flag, and replaced it with the flag of Algiers. This incident, the capture of American merchantmen sailing the Mediterranean Sea, and the enslavement of their crews initiated a long conflict between the United States and the Barbary States. It also resulted in the establishment of the United States Navy and the Marine Corps.

According to Mr. London, “The story of America’s struggle against the terror of piracy in the Mediterranean stands as testament to the essential American attributes that have given rise to American exceptionalism: the problem-solving mind-set of the individual overcoming life’s difficulties through brains and talent, faith and strength of purpose, and guts and perseverance.” Yet, this story doesn’t unfold in a vacuum. At the same time, the United States finds itself struggling to maintain its independence and vying with Old World nations to be recognized as a new country with a right to trade freely, while confronting the political problems facing Europe.

While 2005 saw the publication of three books on this topic, each sheds light on different aspects of the Barbary Wars. Richard Zacks’ The Pirate Coast concerns the covert operation William Eaton leads against Tripoli and the role American Marines play in that battle. Frank Lambert’s Barbary Wars covers the entire period of the Barbary Wars with particular emphasis on Algiers. Joshua London covers these topics, but his primary emphasis is on the naval aspects of the period and the early history of the U.S. Navy. Victory in Tripoli is a concise and understandable retelling of the political battles waged between presidents and Congress over the need for a navy and the cost of having one, the failures and successes of the naval war against the Barbary States, and the naval heroes who emerge to renew honor and pride in this young country. It is an inspiring account of America’s first attempt to end the paying of tribute and to deter terrorism.