--379--

14th Congress.]

No. 133.

[1st Session.

NAVAL FORCE ON THE FIRST OF JANUARY, 1816.

COMMUNICATED TO THE SENATE, JANUARY 2, 1816.

Navy Department, January 2, 1816.

Sir:

In compliance with your request of the 28th ultimo, in behalf of the honorable committee of the Senate upon Naval Affairs, I have the honor to transmit to you, herewith, a list of all the ships and vessels of the navy of the United States; among which are included those at Sackett's Harbor, not completed.

Fifteen barges remain at Sackett's Harbor, sis galleys at White Hall, Lake Champlain, and fourteen barges at Baltimore, which could not be sold, conformably to the act of Congress passed on the 27th day of February last, unless at a price far beneath their value.

There are also a few gunboats, retained for occasional service upon the several Atlantic stations, not included in the list.

I am, very respectfully, sir, your most obedient servant,

B. W CROWNINSHIELD.

Hon. Charles Tait, Chairman Naval Committee of the Senate.

Exhibit of the Naval Force of the United States,
on the 1st day of January,
1816, showing the names, rates, and

stations of the respective vessels.

Names.

Rates.

Stations.

Remarks.

Ship Independence,

74

At Boston,

Ready for service

" Washington,

74

At do.

Preparing for a cruise in the Mediterranean.

" Franklin,

74

At Philadelphia,

May be ready for service next spring.

" Guerriere,

44

At New York,

Ready for service.

" Java,

44

At do.

Under orders for the Mediterranean.

" United States,

44

Mediterranean.

" Constitution,

44

At Boston.

" Constellation,

36

Mediterranean.

" Congress,

36

At Boston,

Recently returned from the Mediterranean.

" Macedonian,

36

At do.

Ditto.

" John Adams,

24

Mediterranean,

Store ship sailed from Norfolk August 18, 1815.

" Cyane,

24

At New York,

Captured by the frigate Constitution, Feb. 20, 1815.

" Blockship,

At Tchifuncta, La.

Suspended on the stocks since 1814.

" Alert,

20

Mediterranean,

Store ship.

" Louisiana,

20

At New Orleans,

Directed to be sold; considered unfit for naval purposes.

" Hornet,

18

At New York.

" Wasp,

18

Sailed from United States May 1, 1814;
not heard from since October, 1814.

" Peacock,

18

At New York.

" Ontario,

18

Mediterranean.

" Erie,

18

Do.

Brig Epervier,

18

Passed out of the straits of Gibraltar July 14, 1815;
since which she has not been heard from.

" Enterprise,

14

At New York,

Recently returned from the Mediterranean.

" Etna,

At New Orleans,

Bomb vessel.

" Flambeau,

14

At New York,

Recently returned from the Mediterranean.

" Spark,

14

At do.

Ditto.

" Fire Fly,

14

At do. "

Ditto.

" Chippewa,

14

At do.

Ditto.

" Saranac,

14

At Sea,

Sailed Dec. 23, 1515, from New York for Mobile;
thence to cruise off the mouth of the Mississippi.

" Boxer,

14

At New York.

" Prometheus,

At Sea,

Cruising between Portsmouth, N. H. and river St. Croix,
in aid of the revenue laws.

Ketch Spitfire,

At Norfolk.

" Vesuvius,

At New York,

Receiving vessel.

" Vengeance,

At do.

A sheer hulk.

Schooner Nonsuch,

14

At Norfolk.

" Spitfire,

12

At New York,

Recently returned from the Mediterranean.

" Torch,

12

At do.

Do.

" Tom Bowline,

12

Sailed from N. York for N. Orleans Nov. 15, 1815.

" Firebrand,

12

At New Orleans,

Employed in the protection of the commerce.

" Surprise,

12

At do.

Ditto.

" Roanoke,

At Wilmington, N. C.

" Hornet,

Mediterranean.

" Lynx,

At Boston,

Recently returned from the Mediterranean.

" Despatch,

At Portsmouth, N. H.

Employed in transportation.

" Asp,

At Baltimore,

Receiving vessel for recruits.

" Corporation,

At Philadelphia,

Ditto.

" Ranger,

At Baltimore.

Sloop Buffalo,

At Philadelphia,

Retained for transportation.

" Camel,

At do.

Ditto.

" Tickler,

New Orleans,

Employed in conveying despatches, &c.

--380--

EXHIBIT—Continued.

NAVAL FORCE ON LAKE ONTARIO.

Names.

Rates.

Stations.

Remarks.

Ship New Orleans,

74

At Sackett's Harbor.

Under cover on the stocks; nearly completed.

" Chippewa,

74

At do.

Ditto.

" Plattsburg,

44

At do.

Frame and other timbers completely prepared.

" Superior,

44

Laid up for preservation.

" Mohawk,

32

At do.

Ditto.

" General Pike,

24

At do.

Ditto.

" Madison,

20

At do.

Ditto.

Brig Jefferson,

18

At do.

Ditto.

" Jones,

18

At do.

Retained; completely equipped for service.

" Sylph,

16

At do.

Laid up for preservation.

" Oneida,

14

At do.

Ditto.

Schooner Lady of the Lake,

At do.

Retained for occasional service.

 

NAVAL FORCE ON LAKE ERIE.

Brig Niagara,

18

At Erie, Penn.

Completely equipped for service.

" Lawrence,

18

At do.

Laid up for preservation.

" Detroit,

18

At do.

Ditto.

" Queen Charlotte,

18

At do.

Ditto.

Schooner Porcupine,

At do.

Completely equipped for service.

" Ghent,

At do.

Ditto.

 

NAVAL FORCE ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

Ship Confiance,

36

At White Hall, N.Y.

Laid up for preservation.

" Saratoga,

24

At do.

Ditto.

Brig Eagle,

18

At do.

Ditto.

" Linnet,

14

At do.

Ditto.

Schooner Ticonderoga,

At do.

Ditto.

Steam Frigate Fulton 1st,

At New York,

Could be prepared for service in a few days.

Steam Frigate,

At Baltimore,

Considerable progress was made on this
vessel previously to the restoration of peace;
at that time all further operations were suspended.

 

RECAPITULATION.

29

Ships,

20

Brigs,

3

Ketches,

17

Schooners,

3

Sloops,

2

Steam frigates.

74

Aggregate.

B. W. CROWNINSHIELD.

Navy Department.