USS Brandywine facts for kids
U.S.S. Brandywine off Malta, November 6, 1831
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | USS Brandywine |
| Namesake | Battle of Brandywine |
| Ordered | as Susquehanna |
| Builder | Washington Navy Yard |
| Laid down | September 20, 1821 |
| Launched | June 16, 1825 |
| Commissioned | August 25, 1825 |
| Out of service | September 3, 1864 |
| Stricken | 1867 (est.) |
| Fate |
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| General characteristics | |
| Type | frigate |
| Tonnage | 1708 |
| Length | 175 ft (53 m)(between perpendiculars) |
| Beam | 45 ft (14 m) |
| Draft | 22 ft 4 in (6.81 m) |
| Depth of hold | 14 ft 5 in (4.39 m) |
| Propulsion | Frigate sail |
| Speed | 13 kn (15 mph; 24 km/h) |
| Complement | 480 officers and enlisted |
| Armament |
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The USS Brandywine was a large, wooden sailing ship called a frigate in the United States Navy. It had three masts and carried 44 guns. Originally, it was named Susquehanna. Its first important job was to take the Marquis de Lafayette back to France.
This ship was used many times in different parts of the world, like the Mediterranean Sea, China, and the South Atlantic Ocean. The Brandywine was very good at a type of diplomacy called "gunboat diplomacy." This meant showing off its power to help solve problems without actually fighting. It had powerful long-range guns and shorter-range cannons called carronades. These weapons could cause a lot of damage to enemy ships and their crews.
Contents
A Special Voyage: Taking Lafayette Home
From July 1824 to September 1825, a famous French general named the Marquis de Lafayette visited the United States. He was the last surviving French general from the American Revolutionary War. People across the 24 states welcomed him as a hero. Many honors and monuments were created to remember his visit.
The ship, originally named Susquehanna, was being built in Washington, D.C. In the spring of 1825, President John Quincy Adams decided that an American warship should take Lafayette back to Europe. This was a special honor for the general who had helped America gain its freedom almost 50 years earlier.
Lafayette planned to sail home in late summer or early autumn of 1825. President Adams chose Susquehanna for this important task. To show the nation's deep respect for Lafayette, the frigate was renamed Brandywine. This name honored the Battle of Brandywine, where Lafayette was injured while fighting alongside American forces. The ship was launched on June 16, 1825, and officially ready for duty on August 25, 1825. Captain Charles Morris was its first commander.
To further honor the Marquis, officers for the ship's first voyage were chosen from as many U.S. states as possible. Many were descendants of people who had been important in the American Revolution. One of these young officers was 19-year-old Matthew Fontaine Maury from Virginia. He later became very famous for his work in oceanography, the study of the oceans.
After getting ready, the frigate sailed down the Potomac River to St. Mary's, Maryland. Lafayette had a final special dinner on September 6 to celebrate his 68th birthday. The next day, he traveled by steamboat to join the Brandywine. On September 8, the frigate left the Potomac River and sailed into the Chesapeake Bay, heading for the open ocean.
After a stormy three-week journey, the warship arrived in Le Havre, France, in early October. Lafayette and Captain Morris left the ship. Lafayette returned home, and Captain Morris spent six months touring France to study shipyards and naval designs.
Exploring Europe's Waters
The Brandywine left Le Havre the same day to join the United States' Mediterranean Squadron. On its way, it stopped in Cowes, England, to fix some seams that had opened during the rough Atlantic crossing.
After repairs, the ship continued its journey to Gibraltar on October 22, arriving on November 2. Gibraltar is a famous British stronghold at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. After two weeks there, the Brandywine sailed to the Balearic Islands with two other U.S. Navy ships: the large North Carolina and the smaller Erie. They reached Port Mahon, Minorca, after an 11-day trip. The Brandywine then spent three months getting refitted.
In February 1826, another ship, Porpoise, arrived in Port Mahon with orders for the Brandywine to return to the U.S. The frigate sailed for home later that month, stopping in Gibraltar in early March. It finally arrived in New York Harbor in mid-April.
Protecting Americans in the Pacific
The Brandywine spent the rest of spring and much of the summer being repaired and prepared for duty in the Pacific Ocean. On September 3, 1826, it left New York City. It served as the main ship, or flagship, for Commodore Jacob Jones. He was sailing around Cape Horn to the Pacific coast of South America. His mission was to take command of the American squadron there. The ship also carried a new crew for the schooner Dolphin.
By the time the frigate joined the squadron on January 6, 1827, Spain had stopped trying to take back its former colonies in the Western Hemisphere. Because of this, the Brandywine's time in the Pacific was much calmer than expected. Its main job was to protect American citizens, especially merchant sailors who were being forced to join the Peruvian Navy.
Another frigate, Guerriere, arrived in the summer of 1829. It brought Commodore Charles C. B. Thompson, the new squadron commander, and another crew for Dolphin. The Brandywine then set sail for home. It reached New York City on October 8 and was taken out of service soon after.
Showing Strength: Diplomacy with Ships
The Brandywine was put back into service on January 10, 1830, with Captain Henry E. Ballard in command. Two months later, the warship sailed to the Gulf of Mexico to gather information about conditions there. It returned to Norfolk, Virginia, on July 7 and began preparing for another trip to Europe.
On October 22, 1830, the Brandywine left Virginia and headed for Gibraltar. At first, this trip was mostly about visiting peaceful ports and showing the American flag to maintain the country's good reputation. However, President Andrew Jackson wanted to collect money owed to the U.S. for merchant ships that had been taken by some European nations during the Napoleonic Wars. He decided to start with the Kingdom of Naples.
While Napoleon's brother, Joseph Bonaparte, was king there, Naples had seized several American merchant ships. The current king, King Ferdinand II, refused to pay these debts. President Jackson sent a U.S. minister, John Nelson, to Naples to negotiate the payments.
He also sent Commodore Daniel Patterson to the Mediterranean with more ships and orders to take command of all American forces there. The Brandywine helped make Nelson's arguments stronger by showing America's naval power.
Demonstrating American Power
When John Nelson first brought up the issue of the debts, King Ferdinand refused to even discuss it. This led Nelson to ask Commodore Patterson for naval support.
The commodore divided his squadron into two groups. The first group, led by the Brandywine and including Constellation, arrived in Naples on July 23, 1832. They anchored near King Ferdinand's palace. This group stayed in port until late August before returning to Port Mahon. Then, starting with Concord on September 17, the ships of the second group began arriving in Naples harbor one by one. Soon, the frigate United States arrived, followed quickly by John Adams and Boston.
No shots were fired, and the ships were not directly mentioned during the talks. However, the unspoken message of American power helped the king understand the fairness of the American claims. He then signed a treaty promising to pay 2,100,000 ducats to the U.S. over the next nine years. The Brandywine's remaining months in the Mediterranean were less dramatic. It sailed for the United States in late spring 1833, returning to New York on July 9 and being taken out of service two days later.
A Second Pacific Adventure
The Brandywine was put back into service in the spring of 1834, on April 4, with Captain David Deacon in command. It set sail on June 2 to replace Vincennes as the flagship of the Pacific Squadron. It reached Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 22 and stayed until August 14. Then, it continued its journey down the coast and around Cape Horn.
The Brandywine arrived at Valparaiso on October 3 after a stormy trip around the cape. Commodore Alexander S. Wadsworth made it his flagship on November 1. For the next three years, the warship sailed along South America's west coast, protecting U.S. citizens and trade. On November 3, 1836, it accidentally hit a Peruvian ship named Limena near Callao, Peru. The Limena was badly damaged and had to return to Callao for repairs.
Finally, with many sailors' enlistments ending, it was time for the Brandywine to sail home. It left Callao in January 1837, bringing Commodore Wadsworth back to the U.S. after his tour of duty. After a relatively calm 94-day journey, it reached Norfolk, Virginia, on April 22, 1837, and was put into storage on May 9, 1837.
Tensions with Britain: The Caroline Incident
After being stored for more than two years, the frigate was put back into service on August 2, 1839. Captain William C. Bolton was in command. Once ready, it sailed for the Mediterranean on October 22.
This trip was made more exciting by tensions with Great Britain over the Caroline incident. In 1837, during a rebellion in Canada, some Canadian loyalists captured an American steamboat called Caroline from the American side of the Niagara River. In November 1840, a Canadian man was arrested in Lewiston, New York, and accused of murder. He had boasted that he took part in the Caroline incident and had killed an American.
Feelings grew stronger on both sides of the Atlantic in the spring of 1841. The American minister in Britain wrote to Commodore Hull, urging him to leave the Mediterranean. He was worried that if war broke out, the squadron might get trapped there.
Easing Tensions and Returning Home
When Commodore Hull received this warning, he ordered his ships to sail immediately for Gibraltar. Not knowing what they would face at the strait, the Brandywine and its companion ships were ready for anything. Skilled pilots guided the ships, and peace remained unbroken as the warship passed through the strait and entered the Atlantic Ocean.
The frigate continued westward and arrived in New York Harbor on May 12, 1841. Later that summer, the crisis with Great Britain calmed down. The Brandywine headed back to the Mediterranean on June 29. It finished its planned tour there under the command of Captain David Greisinger. Then, it returned to New York on July 12, 1842, and was taken out of service on July 30, 1842.
A Mission to China
The Brandywine was put back into service on February 16, 1843, with Lieutenant Charles W. Chauncey in command. It set sail for the East Indies on May 24. After sailing around the Cape of Good Hope, it reached Bombay, India, on October 24. There, it picked up a special envoy, Caleb Cushing, who was going to China. The ship took him to Macau, where he went ashore to begin talks for a treaty. While Cushing worked to connect with the Chinese government, the Brandywine visited Manila, Hong Kong, and Whampoa. On June 16, 1844, a high official sent by the Chinese emperor, Ch'i-ying, arrived at Macau. The negotiations began on June 21.
After 12 days of discussions, the Treaty of Wanghia was signed on July 3. This treaty allowed for five American treaty ports to be set up in China. It also promised protection for American sailors who were shipwrecked on Chinese shores. It made sure that legal cases involving Americans would be handled in special consular courts. This treaty gave the U.S. similar rights to those Britain received in the Treaty of Nanking, which ended the First Opium War. The treaty also gave Chinese officials the power to take American ships that were operating outside the treaty ports. It also removed consular protection for U.S. citizens who were trading in opium.
Cushing sailed back to the U.S. with the new treaty on August 29 aboard the brig Perry. The Brandywine, however, stayed in the East until December 2. It then left Macau for Honolulu, Hawaii, carrying news that the Chinese government had approved the treaty. From Hawaii, it sailed to the west coast of South America, stopping at several ports. Then, it sailed around Cape Horn on its way home. After a long and successful journey, the Brandywine arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, on September 17, 1845, and was taken out of service eight days later.
Guarding Interests in Brazil
After almost two years in storage, the frigate was put back into service on August 30, 1847, with Captain Thomas Crabbe in command. On September 13, the Brandywine sailed for the Brazil Station. It cruised there for more than three years, protecting United States interests in the region. The warship then returned to New York City on December 4, 1850, and was taken out of service 10 days later.
Serving in the Civil War
The Brandywine was stored for over a decade. It finally returned to active service because of the American Civil War. It was put back into service at the New York Navy Yard on October 27, 1861, with Commander Benjamin J. Totten in command. It immediately sailed for Hampton Roads, Virginia, arriving on October 29.
The old warship was covered and turned into a storeship, which is like a floating warehouse. It supported the operations of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron for almost three years. It spent most of that time anchored near Fort Monroe. Its most noticeable absence was after the CSS Virginia tried to break the Union blockade in early spring 1862.
The Brandywine was towed to Baltimore, Maryland, by Mount Vernon. It stayed there until early June 1862, by which time the danger from the Confederate ironclad ship had greatly reduced. Later, it was moved to Norfolk and also served as a receiving ship for the squadron, where new sailors would report.
The End of the Brandywine
The Brandywine continued in its role until a fire started in its paint locker on September 3, 1864. The fire destroyed the ship. It sank where it was anchored in Norfolk. However, it was later raised and sold to Maltby & Co., of Norfolk, on March 26, 1867.
Interesting Facts About the Brandywine
The Brandywine is important because it was the final version of the 44-gun frigate design. This design began with the USS Constitution and its sister ships about 25 years earlier. While other ships built in the 1840s, like Raritan, had small differences, their basic design was the same as the Brandywine. The Brandywine was also the very first warship ever built with an innovative elliptical stern. This special rounded shape at the back of the ship made it less vulnerable to enemy fire compared to older square-shaped sterns. It also allowed the ship to carry guns at the very back.
