Capture of the HMS Java Drawn & Etched by N. Pocock, from a Sketch by Lieut. Buchanan / Engraved by R. & D. Havell / Published by Messrs. Boydell & Co.
Posted on 12/30/2017 10:27:34 AM PST by NonValueAdded
Journal of Commodore William Bainbridge
Extract from Commodore
Bainbridge's Journal Kept
on board the U. S. Frigate
Constitution
Wednesday 30th December 1812, (Nautical Time) Commences with Clear weather and moderate breezes from E.N.E. Hoisted our Ensign and Pendant. At 15 minutes past meridian, The ship hoisted her colours, an English Ensign, --having a signal flying at her Main Red Yellow-Red At 1.26 being sufficiently from the land, and finding the ship to be an English Frigate, took in the Main Sail and Royals, tacked Ship and stood for the enemy
At 1 .50. P.M, The Enemy bore down with an intention of rakeing us, which we avoided by wearing. At 2, P.M, the enemy being within half a mile, of us, and to wind ward, & having hawled down his colours to dip his Gafft, and not hoisting them again except an Union Jack at the Mizen Mast head, (we having hoisted on board the Constitution an American Jack forward Broad Pendant at Main, American Ensign at Mizen Top Gallant Mast head and at the end of The Gafft) induced me to give orders to the officer of the 3rd Division to fire one Gun ahead of the enemy to make him show his Colours, which being done brought on afire from us of the whole broadside, on which he hoisted an English Ensign at the Peak, and another in his weather Main Rigging, besides his Pendant and then immediately returned our fire, which brought on a general action with round and grape.
The enemy Kept at a much greater distance than I wished, but Could not bring him to closer action without exposing ourselves to several rakes.-Considerable Manoeuvers were made by both Vessels to rake and avoid being raked.
(Excerpt) Read more at history.navy.mil ...
At 2,30. P.M, our wheel was shot entirely away
At 2.40. determined to close with the Enemy, notwithstanding her rakeing, set the Fore sail & Luff'd up close to him.
At 2,50, The Enemies Jib boom got foul of our Mizen Rigging
At 3 The Head of the enemies Bowsprit & Jib boom shot away by us
At 3.5 Shot away the enemies foremast by the board
At 3.15 Shot away The enemies Main Top mast just above the Cap
At 3.40 Shot away Gafft and Spunker boom
At 3.55 Shot his mizen mast nearly by the board
At 4.5 Having silenced the fire of the enemy completely and his colours in main Rigging being [down] Supposed he had Struck, Then hawl'd about the Courses to shoot ahead to repair our rigging, which was extremely cut, leaving the enemy a complete wreck, soon after discovered that The enemies flag was still flying hove too to repair Some of our damages.
At 4.20. The Enemies Main Mast went by the board.
At 4.50 [Wore] ship and stood for the Enemy
At 5.25 Got very close to the enemy in a very [effective] rakeing position, athwart his bows & was at the very instance of rakeing him, when he most prudently Struck his Flag.
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Fantastic start. Jack Aubrey would be impressed.
I remember much of the terminology from reading the “Hornblower” series as a teenager.
TYVM this is fun!
The USS Constitution is now the only commissioned US Navy ship to have actually sunk an enemy ship in combat.
And the only ship to have actually captured an enemy as well!
The engagement between Java and Constitution was fictionalized in the novel "The Fortune of War" by Patrick O'Brian.
I had to look up Jack Aubrey and have updated my reading list as a result! thanks again.
Gafft Spunkerboom - Soon to be CGI character in the next star wars movie.
One of my grandfathers was lost at sea in this war.
Technically, not true. About a week before D-Day, a German U-boat was forced to the surface off of Africa. A US destroyer crew boarded the damaged and abandoned sub.
Can't remember why the self-destruct charges didn't go off, but a US sailor closed a sea cock or two, saving it from sinking.
The code books were intact, and somebody in charge knew enough not to let the Germans know, especially so close to D-Day, so the sub was towed to the Bahamas, iirc, to minimize news of the event, otherwise letting the Germans know it might be a good time to do an early code change.
None of the ships that captured U-505 are still in Commission. USS Constitution is still in Commission.
I love the Hornblower series. I re-read it every year or so.
The engagement between Java and Constitution was fictionalized in the novel “The Fortune of War” by Patrick O’Brian.
>><<
Thank you for the great idea. I’ll read them again.
I read one or two Patrick O’Brien books but can’t remember the titles.
Happy New Year!
Great start to the series!
I always wish I knew more about sailing when I read stuff like this. And I’ve read full Nelson biographies and the like!
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