Part 3 of 7 - Ibiblio

94 ATLANTIC THEATER
representative of those issued to marine officers zn charge of
detachments or ''guards'' as they were sometimes called, on board shIps
of the U. S. Navy.
1. Richard Peters, ed., Public Statutes at Large (Boston, 1861), I: '2) 25. 594 96.
JANUARY- AUGUST 1812 95
Health & Happiness attend you, & believe me to be very Respect·
fully Your obI. Servt.
Lieul. Alfred Grayson, of Marines.
Franklin Wharton
L,EUTENANT COLONEL COMMANDANT FRANKLIN WHARTON, U. S. M. C. ,
TO SECOND L,EUTENANT ALFRED GRAYSON, U.S.M.C.
H. Q. of the Marine Corps.
Washington, April 8th 1812
Sirl
You will as soon as possible repair to Norfolk Virginia- and from
thence proceed on board the Frigate Congress, commanded by Capt
John Smith & report yourself to him, or in his Absence, the command·
ing officer, as prepared to receive the Guard of Marines attached to said
Frigate' - the Command being received, with all the Clothing, Arms, &
Accoutrements belonging to it, you must particularly attend to the
preservation of Desipline among the Men, to ensure a Military Con·
duct from them; as I presume no duty will be exacted which could be
unpleasant to you as the Officer of the Guard, or which would
counteraCt it.
You are too well acquainted with the application of the Clothing to
the Soldier, to make necessary any remarks in regard to issues of it,
by me, & in the pay Department I expect you equally in·
formend- from the different Staff officers you will however receive
Instructions, or regulation of their offices, to which you must attend
to prevent Embarrasment to yourself or them. I must here request
you to Keep me informed of the state of your command, whenever
your return to port will permit it.
On receiving the Clothing, & such Returns as will ascertain the
Accounts of the Men, as to the articles due, & shortly to become due
to them, & a calculation made how far you can by that in store relieve
their wants, you will report to me what you may consider as
immediately essential for their Comfort (Fatigues excepted) that I
may take proper steps to meet your requisition, whenever made on
the Q. Master.
Copy. DNA , RG127 , CMC, Letters Sent.
I. Congreu, a 36-gun frigate, was authorized a marine detachment compri~d of one lieu ­
(('nanl. twO strgeants. two corporals. one drummer, one fifer. and forty privatcs. The 44 ·gun
frigates carried an additionallieuu:~nanl . ~rgeanl . corporal. and (en more privates S~ Callan &
Ru~l1 . Laws . of the Navy . pp . 88 90.
Nautz'lus on Embargo Patrol
President Madison's embaTf!,o went into effect 011 4 April 1812 but
was limited to a pen'od of 90 days. I A ccording to its terms, no ships
belonging to citizens of the United States were to be allowed clearance
for allY foreigll port unless departing in ballast. Naval and revenue ojficers
were to enforce this law, and stiff penalties of up to a $20,000
fine were to be inflicted on scofflaws.
There were several reasons for the passage of this legislation. Since
war was considered to be i1nminent, an embargo would give most
American slufts then at sea a reasonable period to retum from their
trading voyages before risking capture by hostile warships. Secondly, it
was assumed that if war were declared, it would not take place until
the expiration of the embargo, and every minute of that time would be
needed for war preparations. Thirdly, congressmen opposed to the war
supported the measure as a delaying tactic allowing the British more
tz',ne to consider concessions. Finally, as many 1nerchanls and seamen
were engaged in shipping grain to British armies in Spain, it was hoped
that this measure would sever trade with a potential enemy.'
Secretary of the Navy Hamilton shouldered the major burden of en·
forcing the embargo law at sea. He ordered his senior officers to
dispatch patrols to seize illegal shIpping all along the coast. Com·
modore John Rodgers, at New York, ordered Lieutenant William
Crane, commander of the brig Nautilus, 14 guns, to patrol the
entrance to Boston Bay and occasionally cruise northward along the
Maine coast.