--135--

22d Congress.]

No. 480.

[1st Session.

NUMBER AND DESCRIPTION OF VESSELS-OF-WAR WHICH HAVE ARRIVED AT AND DEPARTED FROM EACH NAVAL DEPOT, NUMBER OF MEN RECRUITED AT EACH STATION, AND THE NUMBER OF VESSELS BUILT AND REPAIRED AT EACH NAVY YARD FROM 1815 TO 1832.

COMMUNICATED TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 4, 1832.

Navy Department, May 3, 1832.

Sir: In conformity to a resolution of the House of Representatives, passed March 15, 1832, I have the honor to report as follows:

Some of the information desired could be obtained only by opening a correspondence with the commanders of all our navy yards; and part of it has required long and careful examination in the office of the Fourth Auditor. But the results have been condensed, and are now submitted, under each distinct head, with all the correctness practicable, though, without doubt, subject to some unintentional mistakes.

1. "A statement of the number and description of vessels-of-war which have arrived at and departed from each of our naval depots, from January 1, 1815, to January 1, 1832," is annexed, marked A.

2. A statement of "the number of seamen recruited in the same term at each station, for the naval service, with the annual expense of transporting the same," is annexed, marked B.

3. A statement of "the number and description of vessels-of-war built and repaired since the late war, at each navy yard in the United States," is annexed, marked C.

4. A statement of such "of said vessels, during the periods above mentioned, as have arrived at any naval depots and other ports, to which they were not ordered, and the reasons thereof," is annexed, marked D.

5. A statement of "the length of time a rendezvous has been kept open, for the recruiting of seamen, at each of the said naval depots," is annexed, marked E.

6. A statement of "the difference in the expense, (if any,) which has attended the building and repairing vessels-of-war, at the several naval depots, during the periods mentioned," is annexed, marked P.

A more detailed and very full report, bearing on this last statement, (as well as other subjects,) up to A. D. 1826, was made by this Department, February 9, 1821, to the Senate of the United States. Those parts particularly applicable to this last statement will be found in tables A, B, and C, annexed to that report, printed by order of the Senate, February 12, 1827, (document No. 54.)

All which is respectfully submitted.

LEVI WOODBURY.

The Hon. Andrew Stevenson, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

--136--

A.

A statement of the number and description of vessels-of-war which have arrived at and departed from each of our naval depots, from January 1, 1815, to January 1, 1832.

Naval depots.

Arrived at—

Departed from—

Ships, 74's.

Frigates, 44's.

Frigates, 36's.

Sloops, 24's.

Sloops, 18's.

Brigs and schooners, 12 guns.

Vessels under 12 guns.

Ships, 74's.

Frigates, 44's.

Frigates, 36's.

Sloops, 24's.

Sloops, 18's.

Brigs and schooners, 12 guns.

Vessels under 12 guns.

Portsmouth, N. H.

1

1

1

1

Charlestown, Mass.

3

4

5

3

5

2

1

5

5

2

New York

3

12

4

7

38

46

12

1

10

5

7

40

46

11

Philadelphia, Pa.

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Baltimore, Md.

2

1

2

1

Norfolk, Va.

3

7

9

7

17

10

22

2

5

8

7

17

10

22

*Pensacola, Fla.

Washington, D. C.

1

1

2

1

21

1

2

1

1

3

3

21

Note.—In the arrivals and departures, although the same vessels arrived and departed several times within the period mentioned, each arrival and departure is put down as if it were of a separate and distinct vessel, with the view to meet the call.

B.

Treasury Department, Fourth Auditor's Office, April 27, 1832.

Sir: In compliance with your letters of the 5th and 16th ult., and the resolution of the House of Representatives adopted on the 15th, accompanying the latter, I have the honor to report the number of seamen recruited at each naval station in the United States, from the 1st January, 1815, to the 1st January, 1832, with the annual expense of transporting the same, so far as I have been able to collect the information from the files of this office.

The numbers ascertained to have been recruited are as follows, viz:

 

At Portsmouth

26

At Boston

3,466

At New York

12,002

At Philadelphia

2,450

At Carlisle, Pa.

112

At Baltimore

1,511

At Washington

40

At Norfolk

2,494

At Savannah

56

Total

22,157

The annual expense of transporting the same has been as follows, viz:

 

For the year 1817

$1,120 50

For the year 1818

3,469 30

For the year 1819

1,662 50

For the year 1820

1,424 50

For the year 1821

504 00

For the year 1822

1,031 00

For the year 1823

2,229 50

For the year 1824

3,397 25

For the year 1825

2,162 00

For the year 1826

2,970 00

For the year 1827

4,240 00

For the year 1828

2,903 25

* No returns received. Expected daily, and will then be forwarded to the House of Representatives.

--137--

For the year 1829

$1,707 50

For the year 1830

8 00

For the year 1831

2,727 50

Unknown

4,332 29

Total

$35,889 09

The accompanying statement will give this information more in detail.

This office was established in March, 1817, and its files do not in general extend back beyond the 1st January of that year. Consequently these statements do not embrace the years 1815 and 1816.

Nor do I vouch for the entire accuracy of this information. It is necessarily collected from vouchers filed in agents', pursers', and other officers' accounts, and it is probable some items may have been overlooked.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, AMOS KENDALL.

Hon. Levi Woodbury, Secretary of the Navy.

Note.—Since this letter was written I have seen a report of Commodore Chauncey, embracing the years 1815 and 1816, which represents the number of seamen recruited at New York, within the time specified in the resolution, to have been 14,272, which I have no doubt is very near the true number.

A statement showing the annual expense of transporting seamen from one port to another within the United States, from January 1, 1817, to January 1, 1832, the ports whence shipped, the ports to which shipped, and the ports at which the expense of transportation was paid, during the same time.

Shipped from—

Shipped to—

Paid at—

Expense.

Total.

For the year 1817:

 

 

 

 

Norfolk

Wilmington

Norfolk

$13.0 00

 

Philadelphia

New York

Philadelphia

795 50

 

New York

Boston

Boston

195 00

 

 

 

 

 

$1,120 50

For the year 1818:

 

 

 

 

New York

Norfolk

Norfolk

$427 50

 

Philadelphia

New York

Philadelphia

114 00

 

New York

Boston

Boston

738 80

 

Baltimore

do

do

1,031 00

 

Philadelphia

do

do

600 00

 

Norfolk

do

do

3.60 00

 

Portland

do

do

112 00

 

Newport

do

do

75 00

 

Portsmouth

do

do

11 00

 

 

 

 

 

3,469 30

For the year 1819:

 

 

 

 

Boston

New York

New York

$420 00

 

New York

Norfolk

Norfolk

796 50

 

Boston

do

do

52 00

 

Philadelphia

do

do

292 00

 

Philadelphia

New York

Philadelphia

102 00

 

 

 

 

 

1,662 50

For the year 1820:

 

 

 

 

New York

Norfolk

New York

$570 00

 

New York

do

Norfolk

126 50

 

Boston

do

do

200 00

 

Norfolk

New York

do

268 00

 

 

Philadelphia

Philadelphia

 

110 00

Philadelphia

Baltimore

do

150 00

 

 

 

 

 

1,424 50

For the year 1821:

 

 

 

 

Philadelphia

New York

New York

$244 00

 

New York

Boston

Boston

260 00

 

 

 

 

 

504 00

For the year 1822:

 

 

 

 

Philadelphia

Norfolk

Norfolk

$164 50

 

Boston

do

do

686 00

 

New York

do

do

114 00

 

New York

Boston

Boston

66 00

 

 

 

 

 

1,031 00

For the year 1823:

 

 

 

 

Baltimore

Norfolk

Norfolk

$287 00

 

New York

do

do

367 00

 

Philadelphia

New York

Philadelphia

100 00

 

Philadelphia

Norfolk

Norfolk

540 00

 

--138--

A statement showing the annual expense of transporting seamen-—Continued.

Shipped from—

Shipped to—

Paid at—

Expense.

Total.

Boston

Norfolk

Norfolk

$380 00

 

Washington

do

do

200 00

 

Charleston

do

do

100 00

 

Philadelphia

do

Philadelphia

220 50

 

Norfolk

Philadelphia

do

35 00

 

 

 

 

 

$2,229 50

For the year 1824:

 

 

 

 

New York

Norfolk

New York

$688 00

 

New York

do

Norfolk

916 00

 

Boston

New York

New York

485 00

 

Philadelphia

Norfolk

Norfolk

171 00

 

Philadelphia

do

Philadelphia

700 00

 

Washington

do

Norfolk

133 00

 

Boston

do

do

303 75

 

 

 

 

 

3,397 25

For the year 1825:

 

 

 

 

New York

Norfolk

Norfolk

$684 00

 

New York

do

New York

485 00

 

Philadelphia

do

Norfolk

64 00

 

Philadelphia

do

Philadelphia

276 00

 

Boston

do

Norfolk

401 00

 

Norfolk

Washington

do

15 00

 

Philadelphia

do

Philadelphia

207 00

 

Baltimore

Norfolk

Norfolk

30 00

 

 

 

 

 

2,162 00

For the year 1826:

 

 

 

 

Norfolk

New York

Norfolk

$182 00

 

Baltimore

Annapolis

Baltimore

15 00

 

Baltimore

Norfolk

do

552 00

 

New York

do

Norfolk

1,027 50

 

Boston

do

do

96 00

 

Norfolk

New York

New York

486 50

 

Philadelphia

do

Philadelphia

120 50

 

Philadelphia

do

New York

82 50

 

New York

Philadelphia

Philadelphia

154 00

 

Philadelphia

Norfolk

do

44 00

 

New York

Boston

Boston

210 00

 

 

 

 

 

2,970 00

For the year 1827:

 

 

 

 

Philadelphia

Norfolk

Philadelphia

$566 00

 

New York

Boston

Boston

598 00

 

New York

Norfolk

Norfolk

535 50

 

Norfolk

New York

New York

411 50

 

Baltimore

Norfolk

Baltimore

1,315 00

 

Philadelphia

Boston

Boston

136 00

 

Philadelphia

New York

New York

218 00

 

Boston

Norfolk

Norfolk

344 00

 

Philadelphia

do

do

116 00

 

 

 

 

 

4,240 00

For the year 1828:

 

 

 

 

Philadelphia

New York

New York

$20 00

 

Philadelphia

do

Philadelphia

259 25

 

Philadelphia

Boston

Boston

40 00

 

New York

Philadelphia

Philadelphia

222 00

 

Norfolk

New York

New York

685 50

 

Boston

do

do

71 00

 

Baltimore

do

do

132 00

 

Baltimore

Washington

Baltimore

125 00

 

Philadelphia

Norfolk

Norfolk

157 00

 

New York

do

do

344 50

 

Boston

do

do

487 00

 

New York

Boston

Boston

360 00

 

 

 

 

 

2,903 25

For the year 1829:

 

 

 

 

Boston

Norfolk

Norfolk

$200 00

 

Baltimore

do

do

188 50

 

Baltimore

do

Baltimore

320 00

 

Portsmouth

do

Norfolk

135 00

 

Philadelphia

do

Philadelphia

132 00

 

Baltimore

New York

Baltimore

136 00

 

Boston

do

New York

226 25

 

Philadelphia

do

do

369 75

 

 

 

 

 

1,707 50

--139--

A statement showing (he annual expense of transporting seamen—Continued.

Shipped from—

Shipped to—

Paid at—

Expense.

Total.

For the year 1830:

 

 

 

 

Philadelphia

Norfolk

Norfolk

 

$8 00

For the year 1831:

 

 

 

 

Philadelphia

New York

Philadelphia

$182 00

 

Philadelphia

Washington

do

680 00

 

Baltimore

do

Baltimore

355 50

 

Baltimore

Norfolk

do

608 00

 

Norfolk

Washington

Washington

231 00

 

Norfolk

do

Norfolk

92 00

 

Boston

Norfolk

do

320 00

 

New York

do

do

259 00

 

 

 

 

 

2,727 50

Total cost of transportation from January 1, 1815, to January 1, 1832

$31,556 80

Unknown

4,332 29

 

$35,889 09

 

C.

Statement showing the number and names of each and every description of naval vessels built at each and all the navy yards, since the last war with England.

SHIPS OF THE LINE.

Remarks.

Portsmouth.

Boston.

New York.

Philadelphia.

Baltimore.

Washington.

Gosport.

Total.

Commenced before the peace, and launched after the war

Washington, 1

Independence, 1

 

Franklin, 1

 

 

 

3

Commenced and finished since the war

 

 

Ohio, 1

N. Carolina, 1

 

Columbus, 1

Delaware, 1

4

On the stocks, and nearly finished

Alabama, 1

Vermont,
Virginia, 2

 

Pennsylvania, 1

 

 

N. York, 1

5

Total number built at each yard, since the war

2

3

1

3

 

1

2

12

 

FRIGATES.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remarks.

Portsmouth.

Boston.

New York.

Philadelphia.

Baltimore.

Washington.

Gosport.

Total.

Commenced before the peace, and finished after the war

 

 

 

Guerriere, 1

 

Java, 1

 

2

Commenced and finished since the war.

 

 

 

 

 

Potomac,
Brandywine, 2

 

2

On the stocks and nearly finished

Santee 1

Cumberland 1

Sabine,
Savannah,  2

Raritan, 1

 

Columbia, 1

St. Lawrence, 1

7

 

1

1

2

2

1

3

1

11

 

SLOOPS-OF-WAR.

Remarks.

Portsmouth.

Boston.

New York.

Philadelphia.

Baltimore.

Washington.

Gosport.

Total.

Commenced and finished since the war.

Concord, 1

Boston,
Warren,
Falmouth, 3

Lexington,
Vincennes,
Fairfield, 3

Vandalia, 1

 

St. Louis, 1

Natchez, 1

10

 

Total number built at each yard

1

3

3

1

 

1

1

10

--140--

C.—Statement—Continued.

SCHOONERS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remarks.

Portsmouth.

Boston.

New York.

Philadelphia.

Baltimore.

Washington.

Gosport.

Total.

Built since the war.

Porpoise 1

Alligator,
Boxer, 2

Enterprise, 1

Dolphin, 1

 

Grampus,
Shark,
 Experiment, 3

 

8

Statement showing the number and description of naval vessels that have been repaired at each and all the navy yards, since the last war with England.

 

Portsmouth

Boston

New York

Philadelphia

Baltimore

Washington

Gosport

Total

Ships of the line

 

2

3

 

 

 

2

7

Frigates

 

7

6

 

 

2

7

22

Sloops

 

2

13

2

 

 

12

29

Brigs

 

2

3

 

1

 

2

8

Schooners

 

2

2

 

1

2

4

11

 

 

15

27

2

2

4

27

77

D.

The only cases ascertained by the Department of any vessels, during the period from 1st January, 1815, to the 1st of January, 1832, that arrived at any naval depots, and other ports to which they were not ordered, and the reasons thereof, are as follows:

The Macedonian, frigate of 36 guns, which had sailed on the 20th September, 1818, for the Pacific ocean, put into the port of Norfolk on the 10th October, 1818, in consequence of the damage sustained from a violent gale at sea.

The frigate Constellation, on the 2d of August, 1831, was ordered to return to the United States; but not to leave the Mediterranean station until November, in case the commander of the squadron—who was in ill health—did not himself return in her. She was directed to put into Portsmouth, N. H., Boston, or New York, as the state of the weather or season, on her arrival off the coast, might render more safe or convenient. She, however, left the Mediterranean early in October, under the command of Captain Wadsworth, who came home in her, and put into the port of Norfolk, Va. From the letters of Commodore Biddle and Captain Wadsworth, it appears that the orders alluded to had not been received when she sailed.

E.

Statement of the length of time a rendezvous has been kept open for the recruiting of seamen, at each naval depot, so far as ascertained: but from the imperfect returns on file, especially before A. D. 1825, the length of time at some of the rendezvous must probably have been somewhat longer.

Portsmouth, N. H.

Three weeks.

Boston, Mass.

561 days.

New York

2,448 days.

Philadelphia, Pa.

Four years and three months.

Norfolk, Va.

Four years and seven months.

Pensacola, Fla.

A rendezvous has not been open there.

Washington, D. C.

A rendezvous has not been open there.

F.

Navy Commissioners' Office, March 20, 1832.

Sir:

The Commissioners of the Navy duly received your letter of the 16th instant.

On the 13th instant, they had the honor of reporting "the number and description of vessels-of-war built and repaired since the late war at each navy yard in the United States;" and, as to "difference in the expenses (if any) which has attended the building and repairing vessels-of-war at the several naval depots," they would respectfully observe that, under the system pursued in procuring supplies, it would be extremely difficult, if not impracticable, to state with any precision any differences that may exist in such expenses at the different yards. If the places where vessels are built or repaired furnished all the materials and labor necessary in building or repairing, and the vessels were of the same size, constructed upon the same principle, and required the same degree of repair, then a satisfactory estimate might be

--141--

formed as to the differences in the expense of building or repairing them at the several navy yards. But when supplies are required for either of these purposes, or indeed for any other navy purpose, the practice has been to advertise for them, and to contract with the lowest bidder, without regard to his residence; hence we have never procured at any one place all the materials required in the construction or repair of any one of our vessels.

As to the labor necessary, we should greatly err were we to assume the per diem wages as the criterion by which to judge of the relative expense of building or repairing vessels at the several navy yards—so much depends upon the quantum of labor performed by each individual, and upon the different periods of the year when it is required to be done. Still, however, the labor may be estimated with more accuracy than the materials.

The ten sloops-of-war, built a few years since, cost, in materials and labor, as follows:

Sloops.

Built at—

Materials.

Labor.

Concord

Portsmouth, N. H.

$81,988 32

$40,679 47

Boston

Boston

75,533 17

24,491 44

Warren

Boston

74,478 09

29,890 65

Falmouth

Boston

71,926 76

28,723 02

Lexington

New York

68,710 69

43,348 89

Vincennes

New York

72,124 05

43,765 72

Fairfield

New York

75,389 78

35,756 68

Vandalia

Philadelphia

67,870 48

30,798 69

St. Louis

Washington

67,197 20

39,017 00

Natchez

Norfolk

77,463 57

44,800 44

These sloops were all very nearly of the same size, and did not vary so essentially in their models as to occasion any great difference in the expense of building them.

I am, with great respect, sir, your most obedient servant,

JNO. RODGERS.

Hon. L. Woodbury, Secretary of the Navy.

Navy Department, May 5, 1832.

Sir:

The enclosed return from Pensacola was received this morning, and is now forwarded, with a view to complete the returns and statements sent yesterday, under the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 15th of March past.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,

LEVI WOODBURY.

The Hon. Andrew Stevenson, Speaker of the Mouse of Representatives.

Statement of the number and description of vessels-of-war which have arrived at, and departed from, the United States naval station, Pensacola, from April 18, 1829, to January 1, 1832.

Names of vessels.

Date of arrival.

Where from.

Date of departure.

Where to.

United States schooner Shark

 

 

April 18, 1829.

On a cruise.

do ship Erie

April 28, 1829.

A cruise

June 2, 1829.

New York.

do ship Falmouth

May 4, 1829.

do

July 16, 1829.

On a cruise.

do schooner Grampus

May 16, 1829.

do

June 22, 1829.

do

do ship Hornet

July 9, 1829.

do

Aug. 11, 1829.

do

do schooner Shark

Aug. 1, 1829.

do

Aug. 23, 1829.

do

do ship Falmouth

Aug. 12, 1829.

do

Nov. 10, 1829.

do

do schooner Grampus

Oct. 11, 1829.

do

Oct. 23, 1829.

do

do ship Peacock

Oct. 24, 1829.

New York

Nov. 2, 1829.

do

do sloop Florida

Nov. 19, 1829.

Tortugas

Dec. 9, 1829.

Tortugas.

do schooner Shark

Nov. 20, 1829.

A cruise

Dec. 3, 1829.

On a cruise.

do ship Erie

Jan. 12, 1830.

do

Jan. 18, 1830.

do

do schooner Grampus

Jan. 18, 1830.

do

Feb. 18, 1830.

do

do ship Falmouth

Feb. 4, 1830.

do

do

do

do ship Peacock

April 4, 1830.

do

April 26, 1830.

do

do schooner Shark

April 20, 1830.

do

July 7, 1830.

do

do ship Falmouth

May 9, 1830.

do

June 4, 1830.

do

do ship Erie

June 9, 1830.

do

Aug. 4, 1830. do

 

do frigate Brandywine

June 11, 1830.

do

June 20, 1830.

Now York.

do ship Natchez

July 3, 1830.

Norfolk

July 16, 1830.

On a cruise.

do schooner Shark

July 8, 1830

 

July 10, 1830.

do

do schooner Grampus

July 12, 1830.

A cruise

July 13, 1830. 

Balize.

do ship Peacock

Aug. 20, 1830.

do

Nov. 18, 1830.

On a cruise.

do ship Erie

Aug. 23, 1830.

do

Nov. 16, 1830.

do

do ship Natchez

Aug. 28, 1830.

do

Oct. 21, 1830.

do

do schooner Shark

Aug. 29, 1830.

do

Nov. 16, 1830.

do

--142--

Statement of the number and description of vessels—Continued.

Names of vessels.

Date of arrival.

Where from.

Date of departure.

Where to.

United States sloop Florida

Oct. 12, 1830.

Key West

Nov. 4, 1830.

 

do schooner Porpoise

Nov. 4, 1830.

Norfolk

Nov. 10, 1830.

On a cruise.

do schooner Grampus

Dec. 25, 1836.

A cruise

Jan. 23, 1831.

do

do ship Erie

March 1, 1831.

do

April 24, 1831.

do

do schooner Grampus

March 19, 1831.

do

April 25, 1831.

do

do ship Vincennes

March 31, 1831.

do

May 22, 1831.

do

do schooner Shark

April 18, 1831.

do

May 12, 1831.

do

do ship Natchez

April 20, 1831.

do

June 7, 1831.

do

do schooner Porpoise

 

 

April 30, 1831.

do

French barque Ceres

May 11, 1831.

A cruise

June 4, 1831.

do

do brig Faune

May 13, 1831.

do

do

do

United States sloop Florida

May 31, 1831

June 8, 1831.

New Orleans.

 

do ship Erie

June 7, 1831.

A cruise

June 17, 1831.

On a cruise.

do sloop Florida

 

 

July 1, 1831.

Norfolk.

do schooner Grampus

July 20, 1831.

A cruise

Aug. 3, 1831.

On a cruise.

do ship Vincennes

do

do

Oct. 18, 1831.

do

do ship Natchez

do

do

Aug. 9, 1831.

Norfolk.

do ship Erie

July 22, 1831.

do

Aug. 7, 1831.

On a cruise.

do schooner Sylph

July 29, 1831.

Norfolk

do

Barrataria.*

French brig Faune

Aug. 4, 1831.

A cruise

Sept. 18, 1831.

On a cruise.

United States schooner Shark

Aug. 7, 1831.

do

Aug. 9, 1831.

Norfolk.

do schooner Porpoise

Aug. 9, 1831.

do

Oct. 10, 1831.

On a cruise.

do schooner Ariel

Aug. 18, 1831.

Norfolk

 

 

French barque Ceres

Sept. 21, 1831.

A cruise

Oct. 13, 1831.

On a cruise.

do do

Nov. 10, 1831.

do

 

 

* Surveying.

Note.—The schooners Shark and Grampus, and sloop Florida, were repaired at this yard; the other vessels mentioned came in for supplies. No rendezvous has been open on this station.