Essex (CVA 9) - Naval Cruise Book

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1111 .S.S. The first Essex, which historical research indicates was named for Essex County, Massachusetts, was built by private subscription on the credit of the United States under the terms of the Act of june 30, 1798. Her lseel was laid at Salem, Mass. on April 13th, 1799 and she was launched on September 30th of the same year, being completed at a cost of 8139,362. Her principal characteristics were: burden, 850 tons, length, 141 feetg breadth, 37 feetg depth of hold. 12 feet, 3 inches. Her original battery consisted of 26 long 12-pdrs. and 10 long 6's, but during the war of 1812 she carried 40 32-pdr. carronades and 6 long 12's. Her complement was 274 olhcers and men. Dn December 17, 1799 she was presented to the United States and accepted by Captain Edward Preble. U.S.N. The Essex sailed from Newport for Batavia on January 6, 18W under the command of Captain Edward Preble, U.S.N. in company with the Congress. The purpose of the voyage was to escort a convoy of Ameri- can merchant ships to the United States, the United States then being engaged in a naval war with France. The Congress was dismasted six days out in a heavy storm and the Essex was obliged to continue alone. She was the first United States man-of-war to double the Cape of Good Hope, which she did on August 27th, 1800, repassing the Cape liomeward bound with her convoy. The second cruise of the Essex was made under the command of Captain Williaiii Bainbridge, in the squad- ron of Commodore Richard Dale which was the first squadron sent by the United States to the Mediterrane- an, convoying American merchantmen and bloclcading the Tripolitan ships until June 17, 1802, when she WAS sent home for repairs. She was sent baclc to the Medi- terranean under command of Captain James Barron in 1804 and attached to the Mediterranean Squadron, first under Commodore Samuel Barron and later under Com- modore Rodgers. She remained on this duty until the spring of 1806 after the conclusion of peace, and parti- cipated in the capture of the town of Derne, April 27, 1805. Under command of Captain David Porter, U.S.N. on July 3. 1812, she sailed from New York carrying a Hag inscribed with the words i'Free Trade and Sailor's Rights. She cruised first to the southward and in a short time captured several British merchantmen and a transport bearing troops to Halifax. On August 13 she was attacked by the British armed ship Alert which, after an action of 8 minutes, surrendered in a sinking condition. This was the first British war vessel cap- tured in the coniict. On December 11, the British government packet Nocton was captured with 550,000 in specie on board. Having heard that the British government had sent S. K '35 .,, 1,

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,.,i..T- iii-. -E igvlx an 'NWN K e -.-' jifi Q ff 37 , ill WWNM! ez, X if At a meeting in this town, on Tuesday evening last, of those gentlemen who have subscribed to build a ship for the service of the United States, it was voted unanimously to build a frigate of 32 guns, and to loan the same to the government, and William Gray, Jr., John Norris and Jacob Ashton, Esqs., Capt Benjamin Hodges and Capt. Ichabod Nichols, were chosen a committee to carry the vote into immediate eHect. -Notice in the Salem Gazette, October, 1798. 9

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,, 11111111 FEHHY-H1111 out vessels under Capt. james Hillyer with orders to take the Essex, Captain Porter sailed to the Marquesas Islands to refit, and on his way captured other British vessels. He anchored in the Bay of Nukahivah where the Essex was the first to carry the American flag, and it was named Massachusetts Bay. He assisted in sub- duing the hostile natives and on November 19, 1813, took possession of the island in the name of the United States. On March 28, 1814, off Valparaiso, Chile, the Essex was captured after an engagement of eight hours while attempting to escape a blockade by the British ships Phoebe and Cherub. The U.S.S. Essex, second of that name, was a ferry boat called the New Era, built by Page and Bacon, St. Louis, Mo. in 1856. She was purchased from Wiggins Ferry Co., St. Louis, Mo. September 20, 1861, and con- verted into an ironclad center wheel steamer of 614 tons. The Essex served in the Flotilla in Vifestern Waters which later became the Mississippi Squadron. 1862-1865, under Flag Officer A. H. Foote, Commodore C. H. Davis and Rear Admiral D. D. Porter, U.S.N. While under the command of Commander XVilliam D. Porter, engaged the Confederate gunboats near Lucas Bend, Mississippi River, January 11, 1862, and participated in the capture of Fort Henry, Tennessee, February 6th. Passed the batteries at Vicksburg and attacked the C.S. Ram Arkansas on July 22, cooperated with the army in repelling the Confederate attack on Baton Rouge, La., August 5th, Again on August 6th attacked the Arkansas which was driven ashore and destroyed by her officers and crew. Under Commander C. H. Caldwell the Essex engaged in the bombardment of Port Hudson, La. May 8 to June 26, 1863. Under Commander Robert Townsend , ,Q YE.. STEAMEH EAHHIEH she engaged the battery at White Hall Point, La. in relief of the U.S.S. Monongahela, july 9 and 10, 1863, and took an active part in the Red River expedition March 12 to April 18, 1864. She was sold at public auction at Mound City, Ill. November 29, 1865. The U.S.S. Essex, third of that name, was a woo-den screw steamer, built at East Boston, Mass. by Donald McKay and the U. S. Government. She was of 615 tons, length 185 feet, beam 35 feet, 3 inches. She was placed in commision at the Navy Yard, Boston, Mass. October 3, 1876, Commander Winfield Scott Schley commanding, and assigned to the North Atlantic Squad- ron. In 1877 she cruised to Liberia and West Coast of Africa. In 1878-1879 she was attached to the South Atlantic Squadron. Ordered to the Asiatic Station on january 1, 1883. In October, 1886, visited Ponapi, East Caroline Group, to investigate reported massacre of Spaniards and afford protection to American mission- aries. Used as an apprentice training ship until placed out of commission at the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N. H., April, 1898. Recalled to duty on the Ninth Naval District, 1917-1926, and was loaned to the State of Minnesota, August 20, 1927, for use of the Naval Re- serve. She was striken from the Navy List on October 27, 1930, and sold December 23, 1930. The present Essex, the fourth ship to bear that name, was authorized by an Act of Congress dated 14' June, 1940, and was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Va. Her keel was laid on April 28, 1941 and she was launched at 2:46 p.m. July 31, 1942. I-Ier sponsor at launching was Mrs. Artemus L. Gates, of Locust Valley, Long Island, N. Y., the wife of the assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air.