Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Bringing History Alive


My new blog is a “blog within a blog” and is based on a recent radio interview I did with Bookmark Radio in Denver.

By Michael Scott, co-host of Bookmark Radio

USS Constellation and L'Insurgente
What better way to learn about the early history of our country than with a series of engrossing novels that also get the facts right and weave in the actual historical figures who played pivotal roles during this era? That’s what it’s all about for Bill Hammond, author of the Cutler Family Chronicles, a series of nautical / historical fiction novels that are meticulously researched and thoroughly vetted.

Bill was my guest on Bookmark Radio on Monday, April 16.  (I was flying solo—my co-host Wendy was not able to make the show but she contributed by texting in some very good questions!)  You can hear the interview online here. The fourth book in his series, A Call to Arms, is scheduled for release in November by the Naval Institute Press in Annapolis, MD. Bill is working diligently on the fifth volume.

The Cutler Family Chronicles cover the years 1774 through 1815 as seen through the eyes of the Cutler family, which has residences in both England and New England, and also on the island of Barbados.  In the first book, A Matter of Honor, protagonist Richard Cutler is a Massachusetts teenager who joins the Continental Navy to avenge the death of his brother, who in turn had been pressed into service by the British. Each book stands alone, but I recommend reading them all in order since the characters evolve throughout the series.

It was almost inevitable that Bill would take on this mammoth literary project.  He grew up in Massachusetts on Cape Ann (“fifty feet from the ocean”) and learned to sail at age eight. His family was very literary and all were voracious readers.  Bill loved history and was a college history major. It all ties together so well!

Interest in nautical fiction, a subcategory of historical fiction, is growing according to Bill. He points out there are many excellent writers in this genre including C.S. Forester and Patrick O’Brian. The Cutler Family Chronicles tell the story of this era from the American perspective (the Continental Navy and the U.S. Navy) rather than the more common British viewpoint.

Look for the books from the Cutler Family Chronicles in your local bookstore and, of course, through Amazon and other on-line sources. Be sure to check out Bill’s website, www.bill-hammond.com, if only to see the beautiful cover artwork on these books!  My thanks to Bill Hammond for taking the time to join us on Book Mark Radio!

Michael Scott is co-host of the weekly radio show, Bookmark Radio.  www.bookmarkradio.com. It is on air live at 4:00 MDT in Denver, Colorado.  Follow the show on Twitter: @BookmarkRadio.  Please “LIKE” the show at www.facebook.com/bookmarkradio

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

The Burning of USS Philadelphia, 1804

The destruction of a U.S. Navy frigate in Tripoli Harbor proved to be a defining event in America’s first war on terrorism.

The burning of USS Philadelphia, as depicted on the jacket of A Call To Arms (to be released by the Naval Institute Press in November), was one of the most significant events to occur during the War with Tripoli, also known as the First Barbary War. Whichever name you prefer, it was America’s first war against terror – in this case, the terror of high seas piracy being perpetrated by the Arab states of North Africa.

Midway through a war that hitherto had produced little of consequence for either side, the new American commodore, Edward Preble, ordered Capt. William Bainbridge to Tripoli to blockade the harbor. Philadelphia was up to the task. One of the early frigates to be constructed for the fledgling U.S. Navy, she was launched in May of 1799 and commissioned in April of 1800. She weighed 1,240 tons, was 157 feet long, and carried a ship’s complement of 307 officers and crew. As ordnance, she carried twenty-eight 18-pounder long guns and sixteen 32-pounder carronades. Tripoli had nothing close to match her. Its navy consisted of a flotilla of gunboats plus a squadron of small naval brigs presented to the bashaw either as gifts from the Ottoman sultan or as bribes from the European maritime powers.

Capt. William Bainbridge
On October 1803 Capt. Bainbridge spotted an enemy corsair standing toward Tripoli and took off in pursuit of her. Fearing he had sailed too close to shore, he abruptly called off the chase and ordered evolutions for wearing ship. A short time later Philadelphia struck an uncharted reef and went aground.

Bainbridge (who as a commanding lieutenant had surrendered the naval schooner Retaliation in the Quasi War) did everything he could to free her. He ordered all but two of her guns tossed overboard, along with equipment and supplies. He even ordered her foremast cut down, to lift her bow as her crew fought to kedge her off the reef. The enemy ashore, meanwhile, had taken note of her struggles. A force of gunboats was sent out and surrounded her. Seeing no alternative, Bainbridge ordered Philadelphia’s two remaining guns fired at the enemy, for the sake of honor, while he secretly deposited overboard the ship’s signal book and other sensitive documents. Bainbridge and the ship’s crew were taken prisoner. Arab seamen, meanwhile, managed to coax Philadelphia off the reef and to salvage most of her guns.

Commodore Edward Preble
The capture of the American frigate posed a serious threat to Commodore Preble’s Mediterranean Squadron. She was too great a prize to remain in enemy hands. His dilemma was how to counter the threat. Preble conferred with his officers who put forth several proposals. Following is a conversation between Edward Preble and Richard Cutler, captain of the frigate Portsmouth. The conversation takes place aboard USS Constitution, flagship of the American squadron based in Syracuse, Sicily. Richard Cutler has just informed Preble of what intelligence he had garnered at the British naval base in Malta. .

 “[With this information] I have been able to approximate her position on a chart. That position, unfortunately, puts her well within the string of shoals and reefs that ring the inner harbor and make entry so difficult.”
“So cutting her out could prove challenging,” Preble mused.
“I should think extremely so, sir, under the circumstances. She has lost her foremast as no doubt you are aware…and her mainmast has also suffered damage. I understand its t’gant mast is gone. We don’t know the condition of her mizzen. I assume it remains intact, since Captain Bainbridge mentioned nothing about it in his [secretly encoded] letters.”
“So to retake her we’ll need to tow her out, just as she was towed in.”
“That would appear to be our best choice, sir. Unless…”
Preble arched his eyebrows. “Unless, Mr. Cutler?”
Richard met his hard stare. “Unless we destroy her where she lies.”
Preble returned the stare. “To keep her out of the hands of the Tripolitans? And having her guns turned on us?”
“Precisely, sir. And given the alternatives, I believe we’d have a much better chance of success. The odds would be more in our favor.”
Preble appeared to contemplate that. “A most intriguing notion, Mr. Cutler, one I intend to discuss further with my other squadron commanders. You will be interested to note that Master Commandant Hull and Lieutenant Decatur have reached the same conclusion. I daresay I am drawn to it as well.”

The raid took place during the night of February 16, 1804. It was led by Lt. Stephen Decatur, who assumed command of a recently captured local ketch that was renamed Intrepid, and it involved a hand-picked crew of sailors and Marines from Constitution and Enterprise. The raid was a complete success. Philadelphia burned to nothing and the Americans suffered no casualties. So startling and complete was the mission, it prompted Adm. Horatio Lord Nelson to subsequently label it “the most bold and daring act of our age.”

Photos:  William Bainbridge (1774-1833) Public domain; Commodore Edward Preble, painted before 1807. Public domain.