Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds
of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum. Then she headed for the
Azores, arriving there 12 November. She provisioned with 550
pounds of beef and
64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine. On 18 November, she set sail
for England. In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war
and captured and scuttled 12 English merchantmen, salvaging
only the rum aboard each.
By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless,
although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde
in Scotland. Her landing party captured a whisky distillery
and transferred 40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch aboard
by dawn. Then she headed home.
The U.S.S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February, 1799,
with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no
whisky and 38,600 gallons of stagnant water.
PHil C.
upholding a fine old tradition...
__________________________
— Phil Collins wrote:
>> The U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides) as a combat
vessel carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water... 79,400 gallons
of rum.<<
Obviously, this Constitution sailed before the
18th Amendment.
This should show us all the importance of knowing
where to shop:
Jamaica... 68,300 gallons of rum.
Azores... 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine.
five British men-of-war... 12 English merchantmen,
...the rum aboard each.
Firth of Clyde... 40,000 gallons of single malt
arrived in Boston, . . . no rum, no wine, no
whisky and 38,600 gallons of stagnant water.
__________________________
Message: 12
From: Lew
>> — Jeff UK wrote:
>> You Yanks know how to party, and don't let a little
thing like a war spoil the fun.<<
Jeff,
No problem! On that date:
"On July 27, 1798 . . . Her mission: "To
destroy and harass English shipping."
...we were not actually involved in a war anyhow.
The late unpleasantness had ended at Yorktown in 1781, with
paper formalities shortly thereafter; and the next nastiness
would not formally begin until 1812.
Mind you, the word "peace" would not
precisely describe the situation in 1798 either...
-Lew
___________________________
Message: 15
From: "Phil Collins"
One of these days, the revisionists will get around
to correcting the story - the REAL reason for the war wasn't
Taxes - it was just dreamed up as cover story to explain the
behavior of sailors!
I hope at this late date my posting that doesn't
offend anyone... (why the heck should it?) But I did think that
475 guys drinking 252,000 gallons of booze in 210 days was a
remarkable and admirable
feat. 2 ½ gallons per day per man! Think of the hangover!
____________________________
Message: 16
From: Lew
Actually, the real reason that the USS Constitution
was sent out to harass the Brits in 1798 is very
intricate, and a google search on the phrase "quasi war"
will turn up some good summaries. Six frigates were authorized
because of the Quasi War, and they make something of roll call.
Alphabetically:
The USS Chesapeake
The USS Congress
The USS Constellation
The USS Constitution
The USS President
The USS United States
The quasi war may even explain how a US warship
carrying such orders could dock and re-provision at a British
colony (Jamaica). Understand this, and you may be ready to makes
heads or tails of the XYZ Affair.
By 1798 the American Revolution was long over
- 17 years by that time - and so "taxation without
representation" (absolutely the dullest and most bureaucratic
rallying cry ever) was no longer an issue.
Consider:
"Workers of the world unite!"
"Who is on the side of The Lord, with me!"
"Down! Down! Down! Saddam!"
And now consider:
"No taxation without representation."
Pretty lame-ola, huh?
>> I hope at this late date my posting that
doesn't offend anyone... (why the heck should it?) . . .<<
Offend?
Of course, today we'd never launch a ship from
Boston to cruise the Atlantic for Jamaican rum, Portugese wine,
and single-malt Scotch. A panel van headed for New Hampshire,
sure - twice a week if necessary - but never a frigate.
-L
_________________________
Ron Magen
