Fun Incorrect Sea Stories About Old Ironsides from the Days Before the US Navy's Ban on Alcohol aboard Ships-- the USS Constitution's 126,230 Gallon Bender of 1798

( woops! this is an old story and it's about as true as romantic yarns about relationships between sailors and mermaids.  but as the saying goes: the difference between a fable and sea story is simple: one begins"Once upon a time" the other leads with: "No Shit,"--jmf!

 

The U. S. S. Constitution (Old Ironsides), 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 at sea. She carried no evaporators (i.e. fresh water distillers).

However, let it be noted that according to her ship's log, "On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of 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 there 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 and scuttled 12 English merchant ships, salvaging only the rum aboard each.

By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless, although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Her landing party captured a whisky distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch aboard by dawn. Then she headed home.

The U. S. S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February 1799, with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no whisky, and 38,600 gallons of water.

In case you’re wondering: that’s 126,230 gallons of distilled spirits and 64,300 gallons of wine.

Makes you wonder if the Constitution’s ship’s company was in the mood for strong drink when she birthed in Boston. This also serves to define the phrase “drunk as a sailor”

Thanks to fellow retired technology journalist and one time Lt. USNR  Jim Brinton for this factoid. -- Jim Forbes on 09/04/2009.

Comments

[Mark Cahill]

Okay, roughly 7 months at sea. 265 gallons for every man aboard, works out to 37 gallons per man per month...or about 1.2 gallons per man, per day. That's not a naval ship, it's a floating frat party! yeahit was the old navy!

jim

[Mike Weisman]

Nice story, but NOT true. See the following:
Constitution put to sea on 22 July 1798, commanded by Captain Samuel Nicholson, the first of many illustrious commanding officers. Following her trial runs in August, she was readied for action in the Quasi-War with France and ordered to patrol for French armed ships between Cape Henry and Florida. One year later she became flagship on the Santo Domingo station, making several captures including the 24-gun privateer Niger, the Spender, and the letter-of marque Sandwich. At war's end, Constitution returned to the Charleston Navy Yard where she was placed in ordinary.

Source: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,

thanks, but the info i used came from the COnstitution's logs. thanks for reading and commenting. jim Forbes

[Mike Weisman]

Jim,

sorry, but this is a fabrication that has been floating around the net for years. I challenge you to find it in the logs. The US was NOT at war with Britain in 1798, but was engaged in the Quasi War with France.

See the following:

1798-1801: She cruised in the West Indies, during the "Quasi-War" with France, protecting U.S. merchant shipping from French privateers. USS CONSTITUTION was not engaged in battle with any warship, but captures/recaptures several privateers and victims of privateers.

Source:
www.history.navy.mil/ussconstitution/index.html -

thanks mike, I'll annotate the post this evening, at at Demo right now.--jim

[Lee Coller]

Actually its 1.81 gallons of spirits per day per man. The numbers in the above account don't add up.

[ben]

Back then it was much safer to drink an alcoholic beverage than stale, infected water.