“Most Awful and Most Lamentable Catastrophe - President John Tyler and the U.S.S. Princeton" Pt. 3

The Princeton was about 2 miles below Alexandria when the gun was fired.  Sykes later wrote, “The report was not so loud as at the previous discharges,” but the smoke was heavy, “the deck was completely enveloped in smoke for some moments…”  Sykes, whose attention was directed down river in order to watch the ball strike the water, said “I observed some ten or a dozen hats and various pieces of canvass floating on the water at which I was surprized – being utterly unconscious that the gun had burst.”

In fact, the gun had burst as soon as Stockton had pulled the lanyard to the trigger the gun’s lock.  The whole ship shook with the force of the great explosion, with almost everyone on board believing it to be the result of the gun blast.  As the smoke cleared the scene that revealed itself was one of carnage.  “A solemn deathlike and dreadfully awful silence prevailed at the moment neither sigh, groan or shriek being heard.”

The scene upon the deck may more easily be imagined than described . . . what words can adequately depict a scene like this?

            The “Peacemaker” had burst along its left side, shattering into flying fragments of over several thousand pounds of iron.  Stockton lay on the deck, luckily only stunned, with a big peace of metal lying on his chest.  Others were not as fortunate as Stockton, Secretary of the Navy Gilmer, Secretary of State Upshur, along with two members of the gun crew were killed instantly.  Sykes recorded the grisly state of Captain Kennon and Virgil Maxcy, who were killed instantly as well, “Kennon was mangled in the most dreadful manner his breast was completely mashed in, both legs and both arms were broken in several places and one of his feet came off in attempting to get his boot off.  Maxcy’s arm came off about halfway between his arm and wrist as a gentleman took hold of the hand to assist in laying him out…”  His other severed arm struck a lady in the head, covering her face with blood and knocking off her bonnet.  President Tyler’s servant, who had been leaning against the gun, was killed by the concussion as “neither surgeon of the Princeton could discover the slightest wound or injury about him.”  In addition, nine seaman who were around the gun had some of their limbs or bones broken (one had both legs broken).  Ms. Gardiner’s father was also among those who were killed during the accident.

Many other guests suffered serious bruises and lacerations.  Unconscious guests with open head wounds seeping dark, venous blood lay near the destroyed gun.  Senator Thomas Hart Benton, who had been seated on another gun six feet away, felt a blast to the face, and knew nothing more until he woke up a few minutes after the explosion, suffering from shock and a burst ear drum.  The woman who had been holding his arm was blown into the rigging, although amazingly, she was unhurt.  After his initial shock, Stockton brought everything under control and had the ship steaming under full-speed for Alexandria in a very short time.  Surgeons worked on the wounded while crew members laid the dead on mattresses and shrouded them with flags.  The excursion that had begun so joyfully ended with sobs, hushed commiserations, and hysterics.

Honor Saves America Pt. 1

“I heard the bullets whistle, and believe me, there is something charming in the sound.” George Washington

George Washington, commander of the Continental Army, was respected by friend and foe alike for his physical courage.  He was uncommonly, though not uniquely brave.  Washington typified the model of the “lead from the front” officer of the late 18^th century.  The habit of placing himself in front his men in battle often put Washington in real danger of being wounded or killed during battle.  However, Washington’s honor presented no other option; the sound of gunfire drew him like a magnet.  This put him in positions where he could make quick decisions and encourage his troops.  Fortunately for Washington, his courage coincided with remarkable luck.  The battle of Brandywine (Sept. 11, 1777) presented the ultimate test for his good fortune.

The battle of Brandywine was the first major engagement between the British (led by Lieutenant General Sir William Howe) and Washington’s army since the British victory at Long Island in August 1776.  That defeat had resulted in the loss of New York to the Colonial cause for the rest war.  Howe had spent the summer of 1777 attempting to draw Washington into battle, but the American commander had stubbornly refused.  In a final attempt to draw Washington into the open (for what he hoped would be the last battle of the war), Howe embarked 16,000 men at Sandy Hook, NJ, where he hoped to sail his men up the Delaware River to threaten Philadelphia.

Howe’s plans changed when he received faulty intelligence concerning obstructions in the Delaware and as a result decided to enter the Chesapeake Bay, landing at the northernmost point possible and approach Philadelphia overland.   Washington moved to intercept Howe and took up positions at Brandywine Creek, which was the last natural line of defense before the Schuylkill River and Philadelphia.

Among Howe’s officers was Captain Patrick Ferguson.  Ferguson had a brilliant reputation as an officer and inventor.  After becoming interested in musketry, he invented a weapon far superior to the standard Land Pattern (“Brown Bess”) musket.  His weapon was breech loading and weighed a mere 7.5 pounds (compared to the Brown Bess’s 14 pounds).  He demonstrated his rifle’s capabilities to the senior officers in England by firing at a rate of 4 rounds per minute at a target 300 yards away.  He increased the rate of fire to six rounds a minute at a target 100 yards off.  He so impressed his Majesty, King George III, that he was sent to North America with orders to Lord Howe to establish a “Sharp Shooters Corps” to be commanded by Ferguson. Ferguson and his “corps” (consisting of 100 men) were an experimental formation to be tested using the new rifles for one campaign and then returned to their original regiments. They were serving alongside the Queen’s Rangers during the battle of Brandywine. 

Capt. Patrick Ferguson

“Most Awful and Most Lamentable Catastrophe - President John Tyler and the U.S.S. Princeton" Pt. 2

The Princeton conducted her sea-trial on October 17 in which she engaged in a speed contest with the British steamer SS Great Western, beating the fastest recorded ship at the time easily.  The Princeton sailed for New York on January 1, 1844, where she received her two main guns, named Peacemaker and Oregon.

             In order to demonstrate the power of their new vessel, the Navy sent the Princeton to Washington D.C. in late January 1844, with the ship arriving on February 13.  The ship was extremely popular among the populace of the capital, with Stockton (now commander of the Princeton) giving three trial trips with passengers throughout the month.  Reporters who were invited to take part were glowing in their reviews.  A correspondent for the Ohio Statesmen wrote, “…it is impossible to tell you the half that we saw and heard and enjoyed in this excursion…” 

 The display was not without its critics however, with former president John Quincy Adams among the most ardent.  He accused Stockton of using the ship, “to fire their souls with a patriotic ardor for a naval war.”  Adams felt that the name of the guns “Oregon” and “Peacemaker” reflected the desire of some to settle the dispute in the Pacific Northwest with Britain in a less than peaceful fashion.

 

U.S.S. Princeton

            Despite Adam’s objections, the Washington elite were thrilled by the visit and lobbied Stockton to hold a ball on board his vessel.  Stockton refused, but as a compromise agreed to a final excursion on the Princeton, with entertainment on board.  The number of invitations sent out exceeded 400 with half of them being sent to ladies.  Among the luminaries invited was social icon Dolly Madison.  Not everyone was completely caught up in the festive nature of the event.  According to Congressman George Sykes, Capt. Stockton was concerned about having so many luminaries on board and had a feeling that something might go wrong.  Stockton wrote to his wife the night before the event, “Tomorrow – Tomorrow – Oh that tomorrow were past and I could say All is well.”

The Princeton at this time made a most beautiful appearance…

            Whatever trepidations Stockton might have had, they were not reflected among the revelers as there was a festive atmosphere on the morning of February 28.  Sykes would later write, “The day was mild and serene without a cloud – the company were all dressed in their very best and every one seemed pleased and happy.”  The quests were transported from the Washington wharf by steamboat to the Princeton, which was moored six miles downstream.  All the guests were onboard by noon and the fateful cruise got underway shortly after.

            For some two hours or more the quests were entertained by the repeated firing of the “Peacemaker,” and the other guns of the ship’s battery, afterward which they went below decks and were treated to a massive feast which was highlighted by generous amounts of champagne (Tyler’s favorite libation).  Amid the festive and alcohol fueled atmosphere, President Tyler began a series of toasts to the Navy, Stockton, and the Princeton and then guests broke into spontaneous song.  The atmosphere on the nation’s greatest warship was equal to any ball held in the capital at that time, with every guest enjoying the voyage to the utmost.

 The Princeton had come about for her return journey and at approximately four o’clock was passing Mount Vernon again when an officer whispered in Stockton’s ear that one of the guests wanted the gun fired again.  At first Stockton refused, but when he heard the request was from Secretary Gilmer, he consented.  Over one hundred of the guests made their way back on deck where Captain Stockton prepared to pull the gun’s lanyard himself.  President Tyler was making his way toward the deck, when his son-in-law William Waller began singing a “old-fashioned national song”, and turning to Congressman Sykes stated, “ When I was a young man that was one of the most popular songs in Virginia – and as I have not heard it for 20 years or more I prefer returning to the cabin and listening to it instead of seeing the gun fired again.”  It might be added that Tyler was also involved in an exchange with the beautiful Julia Gardiner* and one can understand his desire to remain in her company.  These momentary diversions may have very easily saved his life.

---

* The widower Tyler was courting Miss Gardiner, a captivating beauty known as “Belle of Long Island.”  Gardiner was half Tyler’s age which resulted in much tongue-wagging among the Washington elite.