Frigate Duels of the War of 1812 - USS Constitution vs HMS Java
2024 ж. 15 Мам.
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Today we take a look at the third true frigate duel of the War of 1812, with more to come!
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:55 - Constitution vs Java
Episode 1 (Constitution vs Guerriere) - • Frigate Duels of the W...
Episode 2 (United States vs Macedonian) - • Frigate Duels of the W...
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Pinned post for Q&A :)
Had the War of 1812 gone on for longer and the Americans built their own freshwater first-rate to counter HMS St. Lawrence, how would the naval situation on Lake Ontario turn out?
wasn't this encounter the basis for Master and Commander?
In your opinion, what class or type of ship was the most cost effective?
What exactly is raking fire. Why is it important that it is done from the bow?
raking fire is when they hit a ship from the bow or Stern. They're the weakest points on an old age of sail ship because they had those Open Spaces where everyone lived and had the artillery so there was nothing to stop the shots from going straight through. I hope that helps, but I'm hoping he'll answer this question because I would like his input as well😊
Former USS Constitution Museum employee here (again). One of the most impressive artifacts on display in the Museum is actually a result of this battle. If I recall correctly, while he was recuperating aboard the victorious USS Constitution, Lt Chads was approached by the first officer of the USS Constitution (A Lt. Parker, I think) with a request that they work together to figure out what happened in the confusing, twisting battle between the two vessels, with an eye towards making a copy for each of their nations. Chads agreed and the two eventually had created an after action report. Parker then made two clean, neat copies of the report (on paper with colored pencils) as a map of the battle showing the progress of the action. The American copy is there in the Museum, on display, in a special box, over two hundred years after the battle. I don't know what happened to Lt. Chad's copy, but hopefully as worst it is still someplace safe and awaiting discovery by some enterprising soul at the Admiralty.
That's really cool.
What a total…..Chad….😂
Thank you for sharing!
I will also hope for the same 😊
Name checks out
I love Drach’s “inane ramblings” as he has such a unique way of stating things. Moreover, being an independent historian and, therefore his own small business, Drach needs to be able to pay his bills. The intro ad segments are easy to fast forward if one wants to jump right into the main content and is a small price to “pay” for truly quality programming.
Absolutely! 😎
I just let the ad play,, the AI notices when you skip ads...
For sure. I kind of despise how the internet became as corporatized and for profit as TV.
@jonny-b4954 Somebody has to pay the bills! What Drachinfel does isn't cheap!
@@mahbriggsNo doubt. I don't mind it. It just sucks in an ideal world. I mean, without ad blocker, literally 50% of my screen is ads.
Fun fact drach at the time of the battle the Java was carrying copper sheets and plating for HMS Trincomalee which is now a museum ship and was also carrying plans for ship of the line HMS Cornwallis
I can picture the still standing sailors on HMS Java, manning the remaining guns, eyes fixed on the USS Constitution and going, sotto voce, "Closer...closer...".
I have a different mental picture of Java’s crew bent over with their cheeks spread, waiting, hoping for lube.😄
As some of Drach's followers are well aware, there is a terrific (slightly) fictionalized account of the Constitution-Java battle in Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin novel The Fortune of War.
One of the better books in a fantastic series.
That battle is a wild ride in the book. I thoroughly recommend it.
Aw Dangit... I just posted something simaler. (Shoulda read the other comments first.) Anyway, that IS a fantastic series, one which I reread every few years. The NY Times book review once called it the 'best historical fiction ever written.', etc. Cheers.
@@amh9494 what's your favorite book in the series? I lean towards 'The Ionian Mission', and 'Desolation Island' (other than the first book, anyway.) Cheers!
@@bholdr----0 I do enjoy the bits after the stock fixing outside of the navy if I'm honest.
The end of HMS Java; In Portsmouth NH there are a pair of guns set as gate posts for a private home. I last read the cast crest about 30 years ago, but I would sweat they were cast for HMS Java. They were smaller guns, less than 5 feet sticking out of the ground. If I can get down there again I will send photo's.
Drach, thanks for doing these videos about the War of 1812 Frigate Duels. The War of 1812, as interesting as it was, has sadly been overshadowed by The Napoleonic Wars, The American Civil War, World War I, and World War II. It is because of this fact I believe that many young people today probably don't know why the U.S.S. CONSTITUTION has been preserved as a memorial
Agreed
It was because it was far less important or dramatic. America becoming what America is today has made it more popular than actually should be. The American war of independence wasn't really that big of a deal in British history never mind 1812.
War of 1812 just part of Napoleonic Wars for the British of course not being a main theater mostly ignored and as US did not have a Navy to threaten England to the public I assume not that big a deal. Plus the American Revolution became the Bourbon War to England once France came in and like 1812 a minor theater compared with France. . But losing that much land and a war with the Revolution I would have to say British just did not want to think about it and the stupidity of Parliament that caused it. Refusal of seats just because the other side might be able to gain control of Parliament with the Colonies population it would not be that many seats. Although I do joke that having Parliament in that small of a space cost the British the Empire because they had no more space for seats. With seats the biggest gripe of the Americans would be over. Then ending the rules prohibiting the Colony from making fine clothing and goods would have lifted the other very taxing aggravation for the Colonies. Hostile to the colonies trade rules reduced the Colonies often having no currency to use having to resort to stuff like using bundles of Tobacco to trade. Note this unfavorable trade rules was a major factor that Gandhi used in hid campaign for India Independence. Gandhi spinning thread to make a point they should make their own clothing to address a very hostile trade imbalance and point out that the once thriving Indian textile industry known for a huge number of centuries had been ended by England. So I understand your point and as an American I often hit school American history classes for making such a big deal of not very important Frigate battles when the US was helpless to actually stop the British Navy overall. Both wars for US were the only thing for us but for the British they half lost in the conflicts with France of the same period. @@RonSill1986
This action has always been captivating to me. Plus the fact that Constitution still has Java's wheel to steer her with.
"I'm going -shopping- looting. What do we need?"
Even if some people go too far with that British order talked about at the end, the fact that they issued what they did is truly significant. It shows that yes, there are some rather strong American frigates. It also shows the Admiralty seeing that something wasn't working as intended and changing tack in a relatively short amount of time.
Showed the Admiralty realising an 18pdr frigate shouldn't engage a 24pdr Frigate solo
@@richardcowling7381 Compare & contrast with how generals fought WW1 on both the eastern and western fronts a century later.
You know the funny thing is the admiralty could have made different choices and still been super effective. Could have spammed 64 or 74 gun razees if they wanted.
@@PaulfromChicagoThere was still a need to keep the 3rd rates in European waters to blockade the French ports. By the war of 1812, Napoleon had managed to rebuilt strong naval forces while much of the Royal Navy Battlefleet was worn down by the constant blockade duty.
Yes that is why they built the RAzee strenghth of a 64 gun ship and armed with 40
USS Constitution: Surrender. HMS Java: Sorry old man, I don't think we will. USS Constitution: You've got no masts, no sails, you're on fire and your hull is full of holes. HMS Java: Alright, we'll call it a draw.
Sabaton needs to compose songs around the 1812 war.
A Swedish Metal version of the Star Spangled Banner would be... interesting.
Sabaton edition of "Coast of High Barbary" needs to happen
Yeah they're good. I do wish there was a band like them that wasn't metal though.
no, we dont need metal based 4 chord pop music
More garbage?
I love single ship actions! The gentleman’s pub brawl.
Hard pounding, gentlemen! Let's see who pounds the longest...
It's great to me that the USMC played a part in this battle. The branch that I served in played a part in keeping our oldest serving ship alive. I'm very proud of that. Having a shot of whiskey in honor of it.
Constitution as built had a single wheel helm. After this engagement Java's double wheel helm was used to replace the wheel lost in the engagement. Constitution has used a double wheel ever since.
Your use of detailed models (being modified to reflect the state of a specific ship at a particular point in time), cotton balls for smoke, and very close photography, perfectly timed with your narration, has set a new standard for illustrating historic naval battles.
The dioramas are very good except that he should create a wind arrow, including any shifts that were reported. In addition, the yards of the ships could be turned to show them as they were trimmed(or backed to slow down or even hove to if thst is known). This is a normal function of sailors trying to draw out who did what etc. Racing sailors do it, collision cases do it, ALL captains do it when reporting a critical situation. Without knowing the wind an encounter is reduced to only manuver as if under power, with little explanation of how or why. And Drach, don't get me wrong I love you research and narrations. Cheers
Publishing your scripts as articles is a great idea! But I will always listen rather than read; you have a fantastic speaking voice and I have these videos on in the background while working. You should look into being an audiobook narrator.
I agree
as a kid who grew up reading the Hornblower and Ramage books I love these stories
Sounds like a fork chasing down the last pea on the plate.
I never knew just how polite the naval battles of this conflict were so polite.
The Chesapeake vs Shannon is exemplary in this regard: The HMS Shannon: "Please fight us. It is honorable, good sir!" Also HMS Shannon: "Fire at the gun deck, kill the gun crews."
From an American, thank you for teaching us how to operate a navy. We learned from the best. Also, I am grateful for our special relationship. You are the best ally we could ever hope for.
Not gonna lie to you American, at this point, even the Chinese are listening.
Don’t forget to wipe your nose.
Thank you for all of your effort Drach. As a historical sociologist I have an immense amount of respect for the time you clearly put into the accuracy, production value and depth of your impressive and growing corpus of work.
BZ, its always nice to praise your enemy, it makes your victory sweeter and defeat more tolerable.
The last time I was this early, Joshua Humphreys was saying, "Listen, I've got an idea."
Thank you, been waiting for this. Enjoy the tour.
Stunning work with the close up model shots Drac well done.
Drach has a way of truly bringing history to life. My thanks to him.
Drach, war of 1812 - a remarkable 'cutting-out' story -- the loss of HMS Nancy, followed by the night time surprise capture of two US Navy brigs and turning the balance of power overnight in tge upper lakes....
Captain Aubrey and Dr Maturin were on the Java for this action. Great story. Thank you.
Yet another excellent video. USS Constitution was quite the hobby of mine 1/2 century ago even building the large 1:96 Revell model of her 2x (one being let behind in a family move).
Dude, the way you described the battle totally put me as a bird viewing the action like no one ever has! I had a movie of it going in my head as you described everything from the maneuvering to the attitudes of the officers and sailors! It reminded me of your description of the Battle Off Samar! Just great storytelling! Thank you!
Thank you for your great reports of our past history. I have always enjoyed them. When I was around 10 my Dad started building a sailboat for the family and I was helping him through the next 5 years. We read "Royce's Sailing Illustrated" to learn how to sail and built all the boat and trailer except the sails ourselves. One of the books my Dad had from his childhood was "Midshipman Davie Jones" a story of the life on the USS Constitution. I read it a few times back then and recently bought a Kindle copy to read again. Of course I have read many other books about the sea and find them interesting. Another good book published recently is "The Frigates" about the planning and building of the USS frigates and their stories. The "Midshipman Davie Jones" had some great illustrations of the ships and there equipment and the uniforms from both sides of the conflict. It's worth a look.
excellent commentary on a battle I have long wondered about
This is a great series. Keep them coming!
Needed a fun Friday 😊
Love these videos. Keep them coming.
Thank you for this very informative account of this period during the War of 1812. Really liked the challenge of Hornet and the Bonne Citoyenne. That was a rare treat. The battle with Java I knew the outcome however I didn't know how hard a fight it was. As they say, a ship is only as good as the men who sail her as we'll see in your next chapter of Frigate wars.
Great video - like always a Drachinifel level of content - and I love that u used pics of Black Seas tabletop game ships :)
Such an awesome series, thanks you.
The Shannon and the Cheasapeake.... can't wait... "Follow Me Who Can"!
That will be a quick one. Shannon's Captain was outstanding and took Chesapeake quickly.
@@mastermariner7813"we'll thump em, again and AGAIN!"
@@mastermariner7813 Bloodiest naval engagement of the war of 1812
Gotta luv a history video you immediately want to rewatch to see if you missed anything the time round.
This was awesome, thanks for sharing
Loving this series
History never gets old, ironically. Thank you for this important account of our naval history.
Thanks Drach
I'm from Boston, and have served in the navy. I've visited USS Constitution many times, and was sort of adopted by the crew in 1981 just after enlisting. I've had the privilege of seeing every inch of her, including being in the captain's cabin, and the bilge where the dead were placed during combat, which are both off limits to visitors. I often see animated imaginary duels between USS Constitution and HMS Victory. Of course, HMS Victory wins every time. HMS Victory was a first-rate ship of the line with more than 100 canon. USS Constitution was a heavy frigate which often carried around 54 canon which would also put her in the class of a fourth-rate ship of the line. USS Constitution would never attack a first-rate ship of the line alone. It would be suicide. Constitution would be ripped apart by a ship like Victory before getting close enough for her guns to bear. HMC Victory had thirty 42 pounder guns, whereas Constitution's largest guns were 32 pounders. If the USS Constitution ever encountered a first-rate ship of the line sailing alone (which would be very unlikely), she would either shadow the larger ship or break off to report the location direction and speed to an American squadron commander. This battle, shows that the slightly smaller and more lightly armed HMS Java could have won the battle if Captain Lambert was not mortally wounded. He seemed to have been the tactically superior commander compared to Captain Bainbridge. The American 44 gun frigates were very tough ships to take on, but they weren't immune to battle damage.
I loved the scale models of the ships showing positions.
Constitution is by far the coolest ship I have ever set foot on.
Difficult. She is competing with Vasa in Stockholm. And when I visited Constitution in 2016, she was in drydock and stripped of many interesting things. Massachusetts at Battleship Cove was pretty cool, too. I definitely have to visit Victory, next time I get into the UK; after that it would be settled.
@@Kref3I need to visit Victory as well. Seeing Vasa would be real nice, but Victory trumps it on my to-do list. (can you actually step _on_ Vasa?) Also another neat thing in Mass. that a lot of people overlook are all the shipwrecks on Cape Cod. Some of them are close enough to shore where you can easily swim out to them... when they are exposed that is and you never know when that will be. Still, pretty neat thing to do if you ever get the chance. addendum: The Viking Ship Museum would be nice to visit as well, though no walking on those. addendum 2: I live 2 hours from Battleship Cove. Really, a lot of nice museum ships in this general area. Ranging from Constitution (yes yes, ship of state) and Salem to New Jersey and Olympia.
@@Kref3 btw, I really regret not going to see Constitution when she was in drydock. That is not something anyone will see too often.
Twice a year the Navy tows the Constitution out to Castle Island, where it exchanges a salute with the cannons in the old fort before returning to it’s dock. They do this to turn the ship so that it doesn’t always have the same side against the dock. About a dozen years ago I entered the free lottery for tix to be on the ship the next time it took its turn around Boston Harbor, and my name was picked! I was able to take my ten year old son with me to tour the ship, and stand on it’s deck as it led a small parade of ships around the harbor, and exchanged its salute. Truly one of the greatest experiences of my life.
@@Chesirecat111 That really is pretty awesome. I'm somewhat jealous.
I grew up in Charlestown Massachusetts. Home of the USS Constitution and the Bunkerhill Monument. Many summers taking the tours onboard " old ironsides"
Me usually: ah yes. What a wonderful and unbiased account of this event. So professionally well done and spoken. Quite nice to see it laid out so clearly. Me during this series: WHOOOOOO!!!! 3-0 baby! USA USA 🦅🦅🦅🦅🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸undefeated champs. That’s what you get Britain! Don’t mess with the U.S. (I will be incredibly sad in the following episodes I think)
You can't win 'em all, old boy.
Yeah I'd skip the next one, old boy.
The USA lost the war.
@@JohnCampbell-rn8rz no one won the war and from a strategic perspective no one lose. The US goals of the war was to stop impressment of US sailors and to take part of Canada. The impressment stoped but Canada was not taken. The British goals were to keep Canada and stop American expansion west. As I said Canada stayed British but the US definitely expanded west.
@@jasonirwin4631 Why do I have to keep repeating this quote? "The acquisition of Canada this year, as far as the neighborhood of Quebec, will be a mere matter of marching; & will give us experience for the attack of Halifax the next, & the final expulsion of England from the American continent.” Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 4 August 1812, a month after the U.S. declared war on Britain. Do you see any mention of the indignities being visited on American shipping by the Royal Navy? Any vessel from any country trying to run the blockade and trade with France was stopped by the RN, and if deserters were found on any of those ships, the RN retrieved them. The War Hawks wanted British North America and the reason Jefferson called it a "mere matter of marching" was because, in their usual ignorance of anything outside of the U.S., the War Hawks thought the Canadian colonists would flock to the American banner, eager to shed the oppression of crazy King George. Oops, nope. The U.S. declared war to conquer BNA while the Brits were busy with Napoleon. The U.S. failed in that objective. The U.S. lost. The Treaty of Ghent was diplomacy to save face.
Always a pleasure to get more of the best in navel history. The scripts are a great idea.
There’s a fantastic portrayal of this action in “Fortune of War” by Patrick Obrian!
Regards. Audio among cleanest. Very appreciative of CC...
Great video. I've been aboard Constitution many times, she's a beautiful ship.
Thank you Drach.
The Constitution may very well be the most armored sailing Frigate to ever have been constructed. It's hull was as thick as the hull of a 1st rate Ship of the Line, which owed to Constitutions' immense weight for its type and size.
Yes it was built with very dense timber
Building ships out of live oak timbers has that effect
Contemporary people did not think of ships as carrying armor. Constitution's hull was not thick enough to stop 18-pdr shot fired with a service charge anyhow. But it did make her very durable.
@@MinSredMash She had timber with a Specific Gravity 0.88 Janka Hardness of2680lb/ft English oak was a lot softer
@@jacktattis And American toilet paper was softer than Soviet toilet paper. That doesn't mean Soviet toilet paper was bulletproof.
Very nicely done. Thanks
you mentioned posting the script as an article, might I suggest adding closed captions/subtitles as well? you already have the script after all, and it could really help any viewers who are hard of hearing as KZhead's automated captions are terrible. loved the video!
COOL!!! i hadn't known constitution went through such a battle
Excellent and informative narrative
I served on the crew of the US Brig Niagara in its first summer of sailing under its first captain.Handling sail at 90 feet above the deck was always interesting. Our motto was, "One hand for the ship, one hand for yourself". We also had a "Shi[p's Company" of cannoneers who handled the heavy, short range carronades for firing demonstrations. Bar Shot (looks like a free weight dumbbell) would spin and cut rigging in close quarters combat.
Fascinating story. It is amazing how long the British crew held on.
nice touch using the Black Seas models as a visual aid
I’d love to hear you explain the battle of Put In Bay with Commodore Perry on Lake Erie!
Thanks Drach.
I like the vid that go back a few hundered years alongside with the "modern" vids. Like it!
Can't wait for the video where the frigates USS Hornet and USS Essex fight their british counterparts HMS Shokaku and HMS Zuikaku.
I love this video series, age of sail fighting is always interesting to hear about. I was wondering, will you ever do a video on the Penobscot Expedition of 1779, the worst American naval defeat that occurred in the War of Independence. Colonial forces lost a total of 44 ships, and the British lost 0. Pretty interesting story of blunders, might make a good series like the War of 1812 engagements.
The age of sail was such a brutal yet awesome time :)
The Constitution was unusually stoutly-built for a frigate, which is a major part of why she is the oldest warship still afloat. Her guns were nothing special, and her masts were as vulnerable as anyone else's, but the hull could take a beating few frigates could hope to withstand. I've read accounts from the men sent to harvest the Live Oak for her hull, complaining endlessly about how difficult and damaging to their saw blades that timber was. Truly the ironclad of her day.
The masts were stronger than most - Eastern White Pine. Much, much stronger. The extremely tall/straight trees were the 'Envy' of the British Navy when she had to leave U.S. shores. The tallest Eastern White Pine were the tallest on earth and were marked with a Kings 'Arrow'. The Colonists revolted over this before Tea even. Cannonballs would bounce off her masts too or they would hold where others would fail (as in this case). White Pine made the early U.S. Navy what it was. And of course White Oak/Live Oak - which the hull was made of. "White Pine the Tree that Made A Nation" by Andrew Vietze is an excellent book.
Excellent account and those beautifully painted models. What would be called a near run thing. Looking forward to the story of the "Unassuming ship" vs the "Yankee Doodle Dandy". Curious to see if you mention the Lime and your view on its presence.
@ 3:30 Navigation error: Sailing WSW from Boston would eventually put the ships off St. Louis, Missouri.
Thanks!
Captain/Commodore Bainbridge was my great, great, great grandfather's first cousin and, of course, the source of much family pride. I think it worth mention that the Java's wheel was removed and subsequently installed upon the Constitution, where it remained indefinitely.
"Old Ironsides" -The Americans had better Wood. White Oak, Live Oak, Cedar, etc.They had better masts (see this battle) often a whole single trunk of ancient Eastern White Pine. "White Pine the Tree that Made A Nation" by Andrew Vietze is an excellent book. Wood was why England started the Colonies in the first place. They otherwise had to rely on the Baltic States/Russia who were allies, but the wood wasn't as good or tall and the trade route tough. After leaving the siege of Boston one of The British Navy's last moves was to fire bomb Falmouth (ME) whose Harbor was full of massive spars of White Pine for masts. Huge Forests were an advantage to the early American Navy.
Incredible.
I wonder if the closing in mentioned at 14:50 was about Javas attempts to get into a raking position rather than just pure distance
I’d like to find a print of that painting you used for the thumbnail. I’ll get hunting when I get back to my pc. He’s a rather famous naval painter. Wonderfully detailed and accurate.
I love videos on the age of sail❤
In March of 1942 the Constitution was pressed into service patrolling off Boston harbor on U Boat watch. On the foggy morning of March 26 it encountered an unidentified ship a mere 120 yards on the starboard beam and opened fire after said ship failed to identify itself. The ship fled from the engagement and was eventually revealed to be the HMS Blenheim a newly commissioned corvette. The after action report stated that the Blenheims main mast had been shot away.
1942, eh?
@@marschma It may have been 1943.
Constitution was Admiral Ingersoll's flagship.
Is there a source for this? I'd like to read more. I've also heard the frigate Constellation (the 1854 one currently in Baltimore's Inner Harbor) was also activated during WWII for some sort of picket duty or as a communications relay or something. God that would've sucked to lose Constitution to a U-boat torpedo.
@@RCAvhstape There is no source because it didn’t happen.
You really ought to do a couple videos about Aubrey-Maturin. You could start by HMS Surprise (the real part of its story) and continue with the fictional part. Another video idea would be to gauge how accurate POB portrayed the historical engagements. Watching this video makes me think he didn't do justice to Lambert, but judging from what I found out about Shannon vs Chesapeake he was quite accurate there.
The channel History Buffs has a video discussing the movie. But yeah, a video breaking down the novels themselves would be interesting.
Happy New year 2024 joko widodo !!!!
I'd be interested about Drachinifel's opinion about the movie "The Caine Mutiny" with the great Humphrey Bogart. It's totally off-topic here, but nevertheless.
crazy this came into my feed, i am currently reading fortunes of war by patrick obrein
God, a ton of the early history of the US navy involves Bainbridge repeatedly getting shafted by bad luck, I always loved that he finally got his chance for redemption here. He got an actual, IRL character arc!
Great video
I do love how chivalrous and polite these captains were to each other. A bygone era I fear.
I don't know about that. There are accounts of Nazi SS soldiers politely interacting with enemy commanders. I suspect chivalry between officers is, to at least some extent, and depending on the officers, just an enduring fact of war.
It’s hard to be chivalrous in an era where engagements happen well out of sight range of the enemy. The electronic eyes that govern these sort of battles tend to cleanse them of their human element.
@@AdmiralYeti8042 Interesting point. Thanks.
We need an age of sail combat game akin to the naval/marine battles in Holdfast: Nations At War
They sailed west southwest and arrived at the Cape Verde Islands? That is some sailing.
My paternal Grandfather worked on the Constitution during its restoration in 1906-07 in Boston harbor. He was a laborer and a machinist. He brought a sea chest with a small block and tackle, a few feet of rope, some large iron nails and a marlin spike home with him to Philadelphia. I saw them in my aunt Rose's attic in Wildwood NJ in the mid-1960's. She left them to a nephew on her husband's side of the family when she passed around 1980.
I have a relative who died fighting on Java. He was a powder monkey 14 years old, died from splinters.
The book The Six Frigates by Ian W. Toll is a terrific history of the Constitution and her sisters. If I may venture to say, it is as eloquent and scholarly as Drach.
great video
Well done. Thank you from California. Would be so nice to treat you to a beer or two.
Well, Lambert prevented *most* of ship from falling into enemy hands. The helm apparently fell into American hands, but was promptly replaced with one that was of the actual size needed for Constitution and has since been lost to history.
I have, of course, come across descriptions of this famous action in books, but never in this sort of detail. I didn't realize how close-run of a thing it was, and how even of a match it was in the beginning. A lot of accounts I've read dwelt on the American's superior weight of guns and heavier timbers and sides, as though that alone decided the eventual outcome. It is interesting that the Java in real life had passengers on board - in fiction, Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin were on board, and ended up as prisoners in Boston. They also ended up as passengers on HMS Shannon, during her battle with USS Chesapeake. That's one of the prerogatives you have when writing fiction - putting your characters in the middle of famous historical events.
As a young boy, I had a painting of the USS Constitution next to my bed!
No mention of the survivors of La Flèche?
YESSSSSS was looking down the comments for my Aubrey-Maturin crew!
With due respect to Patrick O'Brian? Good morning!
no photo of Javas wheel? but still very well done thank you