IMPORTANT 1850-51 JOURNAL OF THE U.S.S. PORTSMOUTH OF THE AFRICAN SQUADRON, USN,

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1850-51, 121pp. Launched at Portsmouth Navy Yard in 1843, the wooden sloop of war U.S.S. Portsmouth saw action during the Mexican War and helped guard San Francisco Bay before returning home to New England in May 1848. Under command of Commodore Francis H. Gregory, it was assigned in February 1849 as flagship to the African Squadron. Organized after striking a treaty with Great Britain, the purpose of the African Squadron was to protect legitimate American trading activity in western Africa, as well as to suppress "the Slave trade, so far as the Citizens of Flag of the U.S. may be found engaged therein." Based at Monrovia, Liberia, and Porto Praya, Cape Verde Islands, between September 1849 until May 1851, the Portsmouth and the other ships in the squadron cruised the coast from Luanda, Angola, to the Congo and northward, wherever slave stations were sighted or threats perceived. This copy book includes retained copies of letters and orders issued by Commodore Gregory, includes the run of official necessities relating to one of the most interesting operations of the antebellum American Navy. Among other incidents mentioned in the copy book are several letters discussing the destruction of the (first) USS Yorktown after it struck a reef at the Island of Mayo in the Cape Verde Islands and the hardships of other ships in the African service. Gregory wrote that after the accident, the Yorktown was so broken up he did not think it necessary to visit the site of the disaster and did not think they could salvage even the guns. "The Yorktown having been wrecked on the windward part of the Island, where the winds and currents are strong, and the sea high, and the wreck lying upon a reef of rocks, some of which are near the surface of the sea, renders the approach of any vessel of sufficient capacity to raise the guns, almost impracticable at any season, and is entirely so at present." There is as well a copy of Gregory's orders to the officers and crew of the Yorktown to return to the states and report to the Secretary of Navy for further assignment. Gregory advised selling the boats that had survived the wreck, given the wear and tear they had sustained from the climate and from "the depredations of the negroes," who literally pulled them apart for the copper nails. "The Squadron having been kept constantly upon active service, and under sail two thirds of the time," he wrote, "the wear and tear has been in proportion, particularly of the rigging - there is not now a coil in store, and a supply is much needed - from four inch downwards, twine, canvass, a few sheets copper, tacks, brooms, a small supply of tar and pitch, and perhaps leather, are wanted…." The letterbook also includes a letter to the commander of the U.S.S. Dale, sending a copy of the treaty with Britain that authorized the anti-slave trade patrols, and the following order: "Should you meet any of the British Cruisers engaged in the suppression of the Slave trade, you are to communicate freely with them on this service, and whenever it can be done, within the scope of your instructions - cooperate with them for that special Object, always preserving an equal, and independent position." Commodore Pearson is thereafter ordered to cruise down the coast to the River Volta and east to the Bight of Benin "and whenever you may have information, that your presence may be necessary for the protection of our legal commerce, or may afford any prospect of arresting those engaged in the Slave trade, and contravening the laws of the United States… In event of your making any captures of Slaving Vessels - if slaves are found on board, land them at Monrovia. Vessels without Slaves, send directly to the U. States, landing all foreigners." In another intriguing letter, Gregory orders the Brig Porpoise to Portendik, where he had been informed Arabs were holding Americans ransom, but when the ransom was paid, no Arabs and no Americans could be located. Several other letters discuss the attempts to assist the victims of the shipwreck of a commercial ship; the salvaging operat... read more

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