THE ARMED SHIP AMERICA
OR
WHEN WE SAILED FROM SALEM
THE
ARMED SHIP AMERICA
OR
WHEN WE SAILED FROM SALEM
BY
AUTHOR OF
“THE CRUISE OF THE COMET,” “THE BOYS OF
FORT SCHUYLER,” “JENNY WREN’S
BOARDING-HOUSE,” ETC.
Illustrated by
Copyright, 1900
By Dana Estes & Company
Colonial Press:
Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds & Co.
Boston, Mass., U. S. A.
“In the United States every possible encouragementshould be given to privateering in time of war with a commercialnation. We have tens of thousands of seamenthat without it would be destitute of the means of support,and useless to their country. Our national ships are toofew in number to give employment to one-twentieth partof them, or retaliate the acts of the enemy. By licensingprivate-armed vessels, the whole naval force of the nationis truly brought to bear on the foe; and while the contestlasts, that it may have the speedier termination, let everyindividual contribute his mite, in the best way he can, todistress and harass the enemy, and compel him to peace.”—Froma letter written by Thomas Jefferson, July 4, 1812.
NOTE.
A package of manuscript, the pages of which had evidentlybeen cut from an old ledger or journal, eachleaf yellowed by time and worn as if with much use, latelycame into the possession of him who, rightfully or wrongfully,claims to be the author of the yarn spun betweenthese covers. Both sides of the paper were covered withwriting in a boyish hand, and much of the subject matterrelated to private affairs such as could be of no especialinterest to the general reader. All that had reference tothe cruise of the private-armed ship America, and thedoings of the writer, Nathan Crowninshield, and his comrade,Simon Ropes, has been preserved herein. It is setdown very nearly as it was written eighty years ago, by thelad from Salem, who, at the time of preparing the manuscript,was living on Staten Island in New York Bay.That it is a true and faithful account of the eventfulcruise, we know full well, since the more important happeningshave been verified by documents to be foundin the custom-houses at Salem, Boston, and Portland,Maine.