will find him an arrogant, self-centered bully, mounting a "forl orn hope" to preserve a southern o ligarchic class system based on the sweat and blood of the enslaved . C alonius's skillful storytelling evokes the antebellum south's efforts to counter the stra tegies of the northern abolitionist movement. Prominent in this offensive were the "fire-eaters," public and priva te figures who used oratory and legislative maneuve rin g to preserve plantation soci ery and the human bondage upon which it was built. But C harles Lam ar was a man of actio n. As ea rly as 1857, he was conspiring to revive the slave trade by actually sailing to Africa and returning with kidnapped m en, women, and children to be auctioned off into slave ry. Lamar commissioned Wanderer, a luxury yacht flying the N ew York Yacht Club burgee. Secretly, her interior was adaptable to the requirements of carryin g a human cargo, setting "487 [humans] as if they were spoo ns in the available space, allowing 12 inches of width, 18 inches in height and less than 5 feet in length per person." The boo k is at once a sea yarn and witn ess to this nation's descent into civil division and finally war. It is political and courtroom theater. There are on stage inept, colluding, and dedicated members of
is based on just a few successes m anaged by whaleboats aro und Boston H arbor. H e duly gives credi t to John Paul Jones for his no tabl e success w ith Bon Ho mme Richard off G reat Britain but correctly points out P ETE R SORENSEN Old Mys tic, Co nnecticut that this was one of th e only victories won by the Ameri cans. It is true that the ConIf By Sea: The Forging of the American tinental Congress had little idea of what Navy, From The Revolution to the W'tzr of to do wi th a navy, no r did they have ex1812 by George C. D aughan (Basic Books, perienced captains and crews to m an their New York, 2008, 536pp, illus, notes, biblio, ships. It is from thi s fact that Dr. D aughan index, ISBN 978-0-465 01 607-5; $30h c) derives his opini on regarding small boat opThere have been any number of books eratio ns. H e grud gingly acknowledges the written about the early days of the Ameri- successes (and fa ilures) of the early fri gates can Navy. Likely the most comp rehensive on the Barbary Coast but seem s inclin ed to and viable is Ian Toil's Six Frigates (2006). agree with Jefferson's decision to put most Dr. D aughan's effort, which documents of them in ordinary after that conflict had eve nts and decisio ns surroundin g the peri- been decided. It is in te resting to no te that od from 1775 to 18 12, relays fac tual com- none of the now experienced naval o ffi cers ments colored by his personal opini ons. He of the time agreed with the policy, and later maintains that what later becam e known events proved them correct. as "Jeffersonian Policy" with regard to the If By Sea is a satisfactory record of the navy was correct, even tho ugh current early struggles of the US Navy and the nahistorians as well as Jefferso n's co ntempo- tion, giving an accurate accounting of even ts, raries have deemed it to be fl awed . While political feelings, and fin ancial concerns of it is true that the Revolutio nary navy was the period . One must filter out the author's mismanaged and remarkably unsuccessful , opinio ns-o r suffer a skewed history of the D aughan's premise that the fl edgling Unit- fo unding of the navy. As a reference, with ed States sho uld have used no ships and the forego ing caveat, it is quite satisfactory. W ILLIAM H . WH ITE only boats suitable fo r harb o r defense, ala Rumson , New Jersey Jefferson's policy in the early 19 th century, civil sociery, government, and military. Ultimately, however, The Wanderer recounts the tragedy of 487 souls, cargo aboard "The Last American Slave Ship."
Celebrate our maritime heritage this holiday season with NMHS greeting cards Based on the painting "New York, East River Arrival c. 1884" by celebrated marine artist John Stobart, thi s new greeting card captures the romance of a bygone era- and helps support the work of NMHS. Greeting reads "Wishing you fair winds for the holidays and calm seas for the New Year." Also available as blank note cards.
CDl - On a s umm e r eve nin g in 188 4 , th e ta ll Dow n Eas te r Eclipse has ju st d oc ke d in So uth Stree t after e nc o unte rin g a ra in squ a ll o n th e wa y . Th e crew is puttin g th e s hip to be d w hil e sa il s dry o ut ove rh ea d . Beyo nd he r a rc hin g bow o f New Eng la nd oa k li es a n iro n Br it is h full-ri gge r.
Box of 10: $14.95 , or $ 13.46 for NMHS members. Add $4 s/h for one box and $2 for each additional box. Please indicate your choice of holiday or blank cards. Additional cards are available in limited quantities on om web site www.seahistory.org.
To order, call 1-800-221-NMHS (6647), ext. 0, e-mail nmhs@seahistory.org, or visit our web site at www.seahistory.org. Allow 2 to 3 weeks for delivery. SEA HISTORY 124, AUTUMN 2008
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