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The USS Essex: And the Birth of the American Navy

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"USS Essex" is a fine piece of naval literature that does a strong job of depicting the very beginnings of the United States Navy while also telling the history of this remarkable ship. The USS Essex was the pride and joy of Salem, Massachusetts. Built in 1799 on the finances of hundreds of `subscriptions' (similar to war bonds) by the local citizenry, the Essex came into existence during a time when the nation as a whole was wary of establishing a government run Naval force. The arguments against its establishment were that a standing Navy was symbol of the oppression and tyranny of aggressor nations like France and Britain. In addition, the expense of maintaining such a force would be stressful on the finances of a fledgling nation that was still trying desperately to pay down its Revolutionary War debts. The points in favor of the establishment of a Navy were that American merchant vessels needed protection from aggressive nations, pirates, and the Barbary States of North Africa while conducting trade while also provided a nautical defense of the U.S.' ample Atlantic coastline. At the time of Essex' construction, state run Naval militias were the accepted form of seafaring force. The Quasi-War with revolutionary France and the ongoing struggles with the Barbary States (to say nothing of the War of 1812) began to show to the U.S. government the wisdom of having a naval force.

Authors Frances Robotti and James Vescovi have exhaustively searched the history of the Essex, its notable captains and crewmembers, while crafting a thesis that powerfully depicts the U.S. Navy's origin and growth from infancy. The first half of "USS Essex" is a bit more of a general Naval history, rather than a record specific to the Essex. The authors', themselves, concede that the Essex never had the notable confrontations of its more famous brethren like the Bon Homme Richard, USS Constellation, or USS Constitution, or even an infamous demise like the USS Philadelphia. The Essex was present for portions of the conflict with the Barbary States and had an occasional run-in with a British warship. It is necessary to take this broader approach before focusing directly on the Essex in order to frame the Essex' role in the evolution of the United States from disrespected rebellious nation to feared world power.

The Essex was home to such famed captains as Edward Preble, William Bainbridge, and the bold and brash David Porter. Prior to the end of its service to the United States, it was also home to midshipman, David Glasgow Farragut, a man who would later go on to become the U.S. Navy's first Admiral and distinguish himself during the Civil War. The authors show how the Essex played an important role in the subduing of the Barbary States. They also demonstrate, with great detail, the Essex' crucial role in wresting sole domination of a Pacific waterways from the British, while under the command of David Porter.

"USS Essex" is a tremendous read due to the fact that, not only does it expertly tell the history of this great ship, it also creates vivid imagery of what Naval battles were like back in that time period. Knowing what it means to `strike the colors', learning the pros and cons of cannons vs. carronades for weaponry, and understanding the unspoken rules of battle and seafaring make this book an invaluable resource for any Navy or history buff. It is also an enlightening read for anyone who is not as well-versed in our country's great Naval traditions.

Although ostensibly about the birth of the U.S. Navy from the perspective of one frigate, this book accomplishes so much more. Robotti and Vescovi not only explore the development of U.S. Naval strategy, they also discuss the growth of U.S. foreign policy, the disputes with the Barbary States, and the causes of the War of 1812. During the U.S.A.'s first hundred years, merchant and military vessels were its representatives to other countries. The U.S.S. Essex certainly represented Amercia in both peace and war, and through this ship, we can see the development of the American presence in the world arena. Vescovi and Robotti also provide revealing glimpses of the daily life of the men who served aboard an early American warship. Thoroughly researched, but briskly written, this book recaptures a way of life long vanished, while tracing the roots of American military and foreign policy.

I have a couple of criticisms of this book, but let me say first that I really enjoyed it. I learned a lot about the early days of the U.S. Navy, the quasi-war with France, and the Barbary Wars. I would have also learned a good bit about the War of 1812, had I not already read a good history of that war. The book does a great job of bringing the captains of the Essex to life, which is very entertaining because they were all very colorful characters, especially David Porter. David Porter strikes me as the Dirty Harry of the early American Navy. He was a great fighter, but he was insubordinate at times and occasionally made rash, impulsive decisions. For example, while in port he had a British sailor who had been insulting them brought on board his ship and flogged (this was before the War of 1812). He also once sent Marines to Puerto Rico to force them to release a couple of his officers. They released the officers, but the incident almost caused a war with Spain. I do think, however, that the authors are too critical of Porter on two counts. First, they repeatedly assert that Porter should have burned all his prizes during his Pacific cruise, since most of them ended up back in British hands eventually. While it's true that this would have caused more damage to the British economy, the authors have failed to consider what effect the burning of the prizes would have had on the morale of Porter's crew. Crews at that time were largely motivated by the potential of earning prize money. The crew would have been furious with Porter if he had burned all the prizes and would have very likely mutinied. Secondly, the authors are critical of Porter's decision to go back to Valparaiso to pick a fight with HMS Phoebe. Taking on Phoebe was a bold move, that's for sure, but America's frigate captains were encouraged to be aggressive, and almost all of them were. At times this aggressiveness worked (the victories of the Constitution and United States) and sometimes it led to disaster (the defeat of the Chesapeake). In any case, Porter was a fighter, and was not content spend the entire war capturing British merchantmen practically without a shot. If Phoebe's captain (I forget his name) had not been such a scrub as to refuse Porter's offer of one-on-one combat, the Essex would have had a good chance to defeat Phoebe, which would have caused further deterioration in the British people's faith in their navy. I think the authors are a little to kind to Phoebe's captain. He turned down offers of a one-on-one battle with Essex, which he may well have won, and it was only his good luck that the Essex lost its maintopmast as it was escaping to sea. Had Essex not had that mishap it would have outrun Phoebe and been free to once again prey on British shipping. Okay, enough nitpicking. It is still a very enjoyable book.

Very often, fiction just can't keep up with real life. This is the case with USS Essex. This book is about the exploits of a U.S. Navy frigate in the early years of the American Republic, between the Revolution and the War of 1812. In those early years, the other nations of the world from Britain, the world's premier naval power, to the tatterdemalion despotisms of Africa's Barbary coast, regarded the United States as a 98-pound weakling. American ships were routinely boarded, and American sailors routinely kidnapped for ransom. In spite of the frugality and pacifism of early presidents, it became necessary to build a navy to achieve freedom of the seas. The authors do a wonderful job of telling the U.S. Navy's early years using the Essex as a vehicle for that story. The great captains of the Navy's early years are all here, Porter, Preble, Bainbridge, Decatur. There are even portents of future greatness in these pages as well as we see 11-year old Midshipman David Farragut (who was stationed on the Essex in the War of 1812), who would later lead the Union Navy to victory five decades later in the Civil War. The descriptions of naval life and tactics are well-done, and the authors handle the morass of nautical jargon deftly, not permitting the technical details to overwhelm landlubberly readers. The book contains a glossary of naval terms at the end and has maps and illustrations of the key engagements.

The history of the ship is thoroughly covered, from its beginnings in volunteerism (the citizens of Salem, Massachussetts used fund-raisers to pay for the ship--just imagine trying to build an aircraft carrier like that!) through its dramatic (and bloody) seafights to its sad and ironic end as a prison hulk used by the British Empire to house Irish prisoners. A quick and satisfying (but by no means simplistic)read.

I found it hard for me to put this book down! The content is great, the writing outstanding. I learned a great deal and it read very quickly.

Great work! Highly recommended.

If anyone approaches the fiction of a Patrick O'Brian or the real life tales of the men who plied the oceans with the hopelessness of a land lubber, this book is an excellent way to ease yourself into the vernacular of the Age of Sail.

Frances Robotti does an excellent job of explaining terms that some writers take for granted that their readership are expected to know, and for writing an engaging account of not only the building of the USS Essex, but also of the entire United States Navy. She puts the Essex in the context of the times as a subscription vessel built partly with the monies gathered by the people of Salem and a cash poor United States government. She also describes the fortunes of her various captains, from Edward Preble as the stern disciplinarian through William Bainbridge's lack of regard for the common sailor to David Porter's reckless abandon.

I mentioned that I read the book Truxtun of the Constellation in five days. Once I sat down to read this book sequentially, it took me all of three days to read through the pages of a most fascinating account of American history.

A great book on the history of the Salem frigate Essex from conception to her final duty as a prison hulk in Ireland. However, the book is more than a ship's history. The early exploits of the American Navy from the Revolutionary War and the Barbary War to the War of 1812 are vividly retold.

The authors are wonderful storytellers and the book was difficult to put down. The dashing cruise of David Porter 'round the Horn to harass the British Whaling fleet to his defeat at Valparaiso by Hillyar and all the intrigue in between reads like a novel, but its all true!

This book is in some ways was more enjoyable than O Brian's Aubrey/Maturin as it was much faster paced. However, I still love Patrick O Brian.

A must read for the Age of Sail buffs!

Robotti and Vescovi have done a terrific job with this swift but informative volume, a great example of how history ought to be written. Eschewing the dull recitation of facts for something more akin to the 'Fleming sweep,' they have crafted a moving and compelling story that also manages to foster a deep understanding of a world with which most readers have little (if any) connection. I have to disagree with those who say it reads like an O'Brian or C.S. Forster novel, however: I've read several works by both of those giants of naval history and frankly, this book is both more involving, more interesting, and far more rich in comprehensible detail than any of those two authors' works. Though Robotti has also written an intriguing account of whaling in early America, it is the addition of Vescovi to the admixture of authorial talent that makes this book really soar--one supposes his journalist's sense of snap and flow helped in this regard. In sum, this is a great story, a great work of history, and a great book.

Preble, Bainbridge, Stoddert, Farragut - ESSEX... Names that mean NAVY, and the ESSEX Tradition. Capt. Porter's son commanded the second Essex, a tradition. I served in the 4th Essex, the carrier CVA9, and know of that tradition. USS ESSEX CV9 earned the most battlestars of any ship in her class during WWII, every sailor that served in her was aware of that tradition set by the first ESSEX.

I liken this book to a C.S. Forester novel, a well written book about wooden ships and iron men. Capt Porter was brash, and some think foolish in some of his decisions about his captured prizes of war, and the outcome of his defeat in Valpariso by Capt Hillyar of the HMS Phoebe.

I disagree - I think he was a hero. He took the first US Navy warship into the Pacific, He managed to re supply his ship - keep his men healthy and free of scurvy, and practically destroy the British whaling industry in the Pacific.

He begged for long guns before he put to sea, and instead was armed with short range carronades. Hillyar was aware that he could stay outside of Porters gun range and fire at will with his longer ranging guns, and do it against a disabled ship.

I have read the British account of this battle and they make light of Porter and Essex, and tell of their heroic victory over Essex. I invite anyone that is interested in Naval history to read this excellant book and draw your own conclusions.

I for one remain an Essex sailor that thinks Capt. Porter set the trend for ESSEX and Navy tradition for yet years to come. I served under 3 ship's Captains in my tour in the Navy - they were all stamped in the 'Porter mold' All brash - all men of decision; men that were concerned with the well being of their crews, and all seaman of that first Essex tradition.

"A single frigate lording over the Pacific in saucy defiance of their thousand ships, reveling in the spoils of boundless wealth, and almost banishing the British flag from these regions where it had so long waved proudly predominate" - Washington Irving, on The ESSEX

No, she's not the infamous whaling ship who's crew survived her sinking through canabalism, nor is she the WWII Aicraft Carrier. She's not the current Aircraft Carrier of that name either.

She's the first American naval vessel to hold the proud name Essex, which is still in use in the American Navy today. Essex was one of America's first sailing frigates, and the vessel upon which one of the greatest stories of the War of 1812 took place.

There aren't many books out there that chronicle single ships in the early American navy. This alone, makes this book a gem. But it's value is further boosted by the fact that it is written in a gripping and entertaining narrative style. It is further valuable in the background it gives on the ship itself, the affairs of that day, and the people she was involved with.

The authors pull no punches as the weave a complex and instructive account of the ship's history and of her officers. Clearly, there were some bad eggs in there.

I strongly suggest this book to fans of historical fiction about this time period, or folks who are naval history buffs.