The USS Constitution

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

The USS Constitution (Old Iron Sides) as a combat vessel carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations. She carried no evaporators. However, let it be noted that according to her log....

On July 4 1798, the USS Constitution set sail from Boston. She left with 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum. Her mission: To destroy and harass English shipping. Making Jamaica on 6, October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum. Then she headed for the Azores, arriving on 12 November. She Provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine. On 18 November she set sail for England.

In the ensuing days, she defeated five British men-of-war and captured 12 English merchantmen, salvaging only the rum. By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted. Unarmed, she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde. Her landing party captured a whiskey distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons by dawn. Then she headed home.

The USS Constitution arrived in Boston on February 1, 1799 with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no whiskey and 38,000 gallons of stagnant water.

(Is this a true story? Prob'ly not...but so what--it's a fun read!

Have a safe and happy celebration of 240th birthday of this great nation!

 

[Ken Cross]

Fun story but the math certainly doesn't work. That's only a gallon and a half per day of rum per man (plus the wine and whiskey.) What were the supposed to drink when the booze ran out?

 

[Brian D]

It depends. What do you do with a drunken sailor? Early in the morning.

 

[All U Get]

...... And only one head!

Which reminds me, gotta restock.

All U Get

 

[woodster]

The USS Constitution arrived in Boston on February 1, 1799 with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no whiskey and 38,000 gallons of stagnant water.

that had to be one hungover bunch of sailors after a cruise like that .......

 

[kloudie1]

Plenty room down below for more rum ! Really neat ship.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Fun story but the math certainly doesn't work. That's only a gallon and a half per day of rum per man (plus the wine and whiskey.) What were the supposed to drink when the booze ran out?

Water???

 

[Joe]

The fresh water was used to dilute the rum....which was much safer to drink that "pure" fresh water. The British called it grog. The alcohol content was lowered to lessen the chance of intoxication, but high enough to make the water somewhat safer. Another fresh water substitute was "small beer", again, essentially diluted ale.

All sailors were rationed one "tot" of rum (not grog) per day...usually at the noon meal. Drunkenness was a very serious offense, British tars could be lashed for it. Sailors were expected to consume their tot of rum at dispersal rather than save them up so they could get drunk on their "make and mend" day...aka. .day off.

Denying the rum tot issue was a favorite disciplinary tool....and perhaps more effective than the lash with the abusers.

The only time sailors drank real water was while on their watch at the scuttle butt...but even that eventually required doctoring.

The primary use of the fresh water was to fill the huge steeping vats the cook used to prepare the dried meat and peas/beans. Fresh vegetables were a delicacy that had short life....lasting only the first few days of the voyage.

So... alcohol was very important to the navy. Not only for morale, but more importantly, for health.

 

[Gunni]

Years ago my Pappy took a group down bay to the old home place in Norfolk. As the sail wore on the crew all fell ill with Montezuma's Revenge and vomiting. Aid was administered in the traditional manner, hydration with ginger ale; to no avail. The old man was the only member of the crew who did not fall ill. Investigating further he determined that they were making ice from the water in the boat's freshwater tank and adding it to their drinks, including the medicinal ginger brew.! Pappy was a beer drinker and he always used that story to remind anyone that beer is the safe and sensible drink of voyaging sailors.

 

[NotCook]

Saw this as an email from a friend the other day, and had to pass it along as well. Great post!

For our part, I have to say I found a new appreciation for rum since having relocated down here. We would have a mutiny if we dropped anchor and didn't have CRUZAN rum aboard! It is one of two items we insist on having aboard at all times. The other is our copy of our training film: Captain Ron (and a backup copy - you can't be too careful!).

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

The fresh water was used to dilute the rum....which was much safer to drink that "pure" fresh water. The British called it grog.

The CONSTITUTION crew couldn't have diluted anything very much...they consumed at least 147,000 gallons of rum (not counting what they salvaged from their conquests), 40,000 gallons of whiskey and 60,000 gallons of wine--approx 250,000 gallons total!--but only 8,000 gallons of water!

Investigating further he determined that they were making ice from the water in the boat's freshwater tank and adding it to their drinks, including the medicinal ginger brew.!

Which illustrates the need to recommission the fresh water system at least annually!

 

[Gunni]

Every tank of water gets a chlorine treatment, you never know what will find its way past the deck fill fitting, up the vent intake, or has taken up housekeeping in your water hose!

 

[Ron20324]

... and didn't have CRUZAN rum aboard! It is one of two items we insist on having aboard at all times. The other is our copy of our training film: Captain Ron (and a backup copy - you can't be too careful!).

Them Eastport Oyster Boys: "Some day my ship will come, till then I'm sailing on, My Cruzan Rum".

 

[Kermit]

It depends. What do you do with a drunken sailor? Early in the morning.

Shave his belly with a rusted razor.

 

[woodster]

Shave his belly with a rusted razor.

well that would be finer than frog's hair

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Every tank of water gets a chlorine treatment,

That doesn't do much 'cuz chlorine evaporates in 24 hours. Recommissioning the complete fresh water system at least annually using the directions I've posted here a gazillion times (and included in both versions of my book) will keep your fresh water smelling, tasting and as safe as water that comes out of faucets on land.

 

[All U Get]

May I hazard a guess that some of the spirits were used in barter for more provisions, shot and powder. Since currency may have been scarce whatever fortunes that were quickly converted to means of exchange accepted in any other country were highly valued. Maybe Woody and Kermit can give us a better idea of what it was like when they were aboard.

All U Get

 

[woodster]

Maybe Woody and Kermit can give us a better idea of what it was like when they were aboard.

we only went aboard because they said there was an old timer named AUG that was looking for people from home

 

[Head Sail]

I went aloft to furl the mainsail in a blow
And when the yard broke they say that I got killed
But I am living still!

 

[Gunni]

I was introduced to Cruzan Rum in the St. Thomas Red Hook grocery where I was paying $7 USD for a 6 pack of British ale and the guy in front of me was purchasing a bottle of Cruzan rum for $2! Expensive lesson.