USS United States was a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy and the first of the six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. The name "United States" was among ten names submitted to President George Washington by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering in March 1795 for the frigates that were to be constructed.Pickering, Timothy (14 March 1795). Letter to George Washington. Founders Online, National Archives. Retrieved 25 September 2019 Joshua Humphreys designed the frigates to be the young Navy's capital ships, and so United States and her sisters were larger and more heavily armed and built than typical frigates of the period. She was built at Humphrey's shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and launched on 10 May 1797Cooper, 1856 p. 125 and immediately began duties with the newly formed United States Navy protecting American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France.
In 1861, United States was in port at Norfolk when she was seized by the Virginia Navy. She was commissioned into the Confederate navy as CSS United States, but was later scuttled by Confederate forces. The U.S. Navy raised United States after retaking Norfolk, Virginia, but the aged and damaged ship was not returned to service; instead, United States was held at the Norfolk Navy Yard until she was broken up in December 1865.
Design and construction
During the 1790s American merchant vessels began to fall prey to Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean, most notably from Algiers. Congress's response was the Naval Act of 1794.Allen (1909), pp. 41–42. The Act provided funds for the construction of six frigates; however, it included a clause stating that construction of the ships would cease if the United States agreed to peace terms with Algiers.Beach (1986), p. 29.An Act to provide a Naval Armament. (1794). Library of Congress. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
Joshua Humphreys' design was deep, long on keel and narrow of beam (width) for mounting very heavy guns. The design incorporated a diagonal scantling (rib) scheme to limit hogging while giving the ships extremely heavy planking. This gave the hull greater strength than those of more lightly built frigates. Humphreys developed his design after realizing that the fledgling United States could not match the navy sizes of the European states. He therefore designed his frigates to be able to overpower other frigates, but with the speed to escape from a ship of the line.Toll (2006), pp. 49–53.Beach (1986), pp. 29–30, 33.Allen (1909), pp. 42–45.
Originally designated as "Frigate A" and subsequently named United States by President George Washington,Toll (2006), p. 61. her keel was laid down in 1795 at Humphreys' shipyard in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Humphreys was assigned as her constructor and John Barry as its captain and was the first commissioned Captain of the newly established U.S. Navy.Allen (1909), p. 48. As Philadelphia was at the time America's capital, many visitors walked through observing her construction as it progressed. Humphreys personally led President Washington and First Lady Martha on a tour. The President expressed his admiration of the great size of the ship.Humphreys (1916), pp. 390–391. A less desirable visitor, Benjamin Franklin Bache (grandson of Benjamin Franklin) was physically assaulted by Clement Humphreys (Joshua's son) allegedly over Bache's opposition to the Federalist Party and his opposition newspaper, the Philadelphia Aurora.Toll (2006), pp. 74–75.
Fearing sabotage, Humphreys was concerned about the open nature of his ship yard which allowed anyone to wander in. He requested from the War Department a number of guards which were posted to keep out visitors but to little effect.Toll (2006), p. 73.
Construction slowly continued until a peace treaty was announced between the United States and Algiers in March 1796. In accordance with the clause in the Naval Act, construction of United States was discontinued. President Washington requested instructions from Congress on how to proceed. Several proposals circulated before a final decision was reached allowing Washington to complete the three frigates nearest to completion; United States, Constellation and Constitution were chosen.Maclay and Smith (1898), Vol. 1, p. 161.Toll (2006), p. 62.
On 10 May 1797 she was the first American warship to be launched under the Naval Act of 1794, and the first ship of the United States Navy. She was fitted out at Philadelphia during the spring of 1798 and, on 3 July ordered to proceed to sea. Relations with the French government had deteriorated, starting the Quasi-War.
Armament
United Statess nominal rating was that of a 44-gun ship. However, she usually carried over 50 guns.Roosevelt (1883), pp. 55–56. United States was originally armed with a battery of 55 guns: thirty-two 24-pounder (10.9 kg) cannon; twenty-two 42-pounder (19 kg) carronades; and one 18-pounder (8 kg) long gun.
Unlike modern naval vessels, ships of this era had no permanent battery of guns. Guns were portable and often exchanged between ships as situations warranted. Each commanding officer modified his vessel's armaments to his liking, taking into consideration factors such as the overall tonnage of cargo, complement of personnel aboard, and planned routes to be sailed. Consequently, a vessel's armament would change often during its career; records of the changes were not generally kept.
Quasi-War
United States sailed with Delaware to Boston where they were to meet with and to form a patrol squadron.Allen (1909), p. 66. Shortly afterward Barry sighted a frigate flying French colors. Raising his own French flag, Barry maneuvered closer and when reaching it, hoisted the American colors. As Barry was about to open fire on the frigate, she hoisted British colors and identified herself as , preventing an engagement from occurring.Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 169–170. When reaching Boston, Barry learned that Herald and Pickering were not ready to sail and he decided to continue without them. United States and Delaware departed for the West Indies on 26 JulyAllen (1909), p. 67.
In the ensuing two months two French privateers were captured, Sans Pareil on 23 August and Jalouse on 5 September and brought into New Castle, Delaware on 20 September.Allen (1909), p. 69.Cooper (1856), pp. 129–130. United States put to sea again on 17 October with orders to cruise along the New England coast and eastward. However, a severe gale arose the following day and United States was disabled with a sprung bowsprit and slackened rigging. Emergency repairs had to be made. After the storm passed, she made her way back to Delaware, arriving on 9 November. Barry received orders in December which returned United States to the West Indies, taking command of the American squadron there. This squadron, in addition to United States, would by early 1799 include: , , , , Herald and the revenue cutters Pickering, Eagle, Scammel, and Diligence.Allen (1909), pp. 81–82.Maclay and Smith (1898), Vol. 1, p. 175.
On 13 January 1799 French batteries at Deshaies, Guadeloupe fired 9 rounds at her, but all missed. On 3 February 1799, United States sighted a French ship and began a five-hour pursuit of the schooner L'Amour de la Patrie.Allen (1909), p. 90. After coming in close to the vessel, United States opened fire; the third shot went completely through L'Amour de la Patrie, sinking her rapidly. Barry sent out his boats to collect survivors of the schooner, and they were taken prisoner.Hill (1905), p. 200. United States then set a course for Guadeloupe to arrange a prisoner exchange with the French, but Barry's flag of truce was ignored when shore batteries opened fire on the boat carrying Barry's envoy. Barry returned to United States and ordered his gun crews to bombard the batteries in return.Allen (1909), p. 91.Maclay and Smith (1898), Vol. 1, p. 176. On 26 February, United States pursued the French privateer Democrat, which had recently capture the British merchantmen . United States recaptured Cicero but the pursuit of Democrat ended when she escaped into shallow water. United States also recaptured Maria, another one of Democrats prizes, and sent both Cicero and Maria into Martinique.LL №3070.
Returning to Guadeloupe, Barry made another attempt at a prisoner exchange. However, Governor Edme Étienne Borne Desfourneaux told Barry he held no prisoners because there was no war with the United States. Though skeptical, Barry released his prisoners.Allen (1909), pp. 91–92.
On 26 March, United States took the French privateer La Tartueffe and its prize, the American ship Vermont southeast of Antigua. Also recorded is the capture of Le Bonaparte sometime in 1799.Details of United States captures during this period are sketchy. DANFS is the only source to mention Vermont; Allen puts the capture of La Tartueffe before the prisoner exchange; Hill is the only source to mention Le Bonaparte but makes no mention of the day it occurred. In April, Barry turned over command of the squadron to Thomas Truxtun. United States sailed for home and arrived at New Castle, Delaware, on 9 May. Barry recruited new crew members to replace the ones whose enlistments had expired while United States underwent refitting and repairs.Allen (1909), pp. 108–109. She sailed again 1 July with orders to patrol the southern Atlantic coast of the United States. Encountering a storm on the 6th which sprung her bowsprit, she continued on to deliver an artillery company to Fort Moultrie and then put into the Gosport Navy Yard for repairs on the 22nd. Returning to patrols on 13 August, United States experienced an uneventful period and at times sailed in company with George Washington and .Allen (1909), p. 110.
United States returned to Newport, Rhode Island, in September and Barry waited for further orders. In October those orders were to deliver Oliver Ellsworth and William Davie as envoys to France to negotiate a settlement of the Quasi War.Maclay and Smith (1898), Vol. 1, p. 188. United States departed on 3 NovemberCooper (1856), p. 134. arriving at Lisbon, Portugal on 27 November, departing for Lorient on 21 December but had to put in to A Coruña on 11 January 1800 due to bad weather, and returned in early April 1800. She remained in port for needed repairs until December when Barry was ordered to return to the West Indies.Allen (1909), p. 220. The treaty of peace with France was ratified on 3 February 1801 and United States returned home in April.Allen (1909), p. 221.Hill (1905), p. 201. An act of Congress, passed on 3 March 1801 and signed by President John Adams, retained thirteen frigates. Seven of those frigates, including United States, were to be placed in a reserve fleet.Allen (1909), p. 255. Ordered to the Washington Navy Yard, United States was decommissioned there along with and .Allen (1909), p. 258. In a letter dated 12 November 1802 Midshipman Ralph Izard was ordered to take command with the rank of Sailing Master.
War of 1812
United States remained in the Washington Navy Yard throughout the First Barbary War of 1801–1805 and up until 1809, when orders were given to ready her for active service. On 10 June 1810, now under the command of Stephen Decatur, she sailed to Norfolk, Virginia, for refitting.
While she was at Norfolk, Captain John Carden of the Royal Navy, commander of the new British frigate HMS Macedonian, wagered Decatur a beaver hat that his vessel would take United States if the two should ever meet in battle. Ichabod Crane, whose name was appropriated for the main character in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, served under Decatur as a lieutenant in the marine detachment aboard ship.