The logs of the Serapis--Alliance--Ariel, under the command of John Paul Jones, 1779-1780

Chapter II: Part 2

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The editor has deemed it not uninteresting, although not immediately connected with the principal object of this publication, to refer to the dispersion of Jones' letters and public documents, and to print in the Appendix an interesting letter to Commodore Esek Hopkins,[26] also a letter from Captain James Nicholson to Commodore John Barry relating to Jones' efforts before Congress to be placed at the head of the navy, both of which are in the editor's collection of manuscripts. In the Appendix will also be found a copy of a letter of Jones, addressed to John Wendell--which as a composition may be considered as one of the most remarkable of all his epistolary effusions. The original letter is now in the possession of the Wendell family. None of these letters have ever been published.[27]

[Footnote 26: See Appendix C.]

[Footnote 27: See Appendix D.]

In concluding this preamble to the logs, it will be noted that the editor has supplemented the ship's stories by drawing largely upon the accounts of the events, barely touched upon in the remarks to be found in the numerous biographies of John Paul Jones, and upon the papers relating to his career now deposited in the Congressional Library. This has been done because it was possible that, as the biographies are out of print and rather scarce, they might not be readily available to many of the readers.

The first authentic "Life of Jones," throwing aside the numerous so-called chap-books, was that of André, published in French in Paris, 1798, translated and republished in "Niles' Register" for the year 1812. Following the discovery of Jones' letters, Sherburne produced his first edition in 1825. The manuscript of this first edition he sent also to John Murray in London, who caused it to be edited by Disraeli, later the Earl of Beaconsfield, and published the book in the same year, 1825.[28] The preface of this book, according to the editor of the "Life of Disraeli," was the earliest appearance of Disraeli as an author. Sherburne was aware of the existence of the papers in the possession of the Taylor family, and endeavored to obtain them; but his request was refused, as they were already in the hands of the author of the Edinburgh "Life of Jones," published in 1830.

[Footnote 28: The Life of Paul Jones, from original documents in the possession of John Henry Sherburne esq., Register of the Navy of the United States. London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, MDCCCXXV. Also, The Life of Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield, by William Flavelle Monypenny, New York, 1910, pp. 60-61.]

Then followed the "Life of Jones" by Robert C. Sands, from the original letters and manuscripts in the possession of Miss Jeanette Taylor--New York, 1830. Mackenzie's "Life," in 1845, and Cooper's "Life," in 1846--both based upon Sands and Sherburne--contain but few additional matters of interest. Sherburne's "Life," published in 1825, was so freely criticized that a second edition, corrected and enlarged, was published in 1851.

Several other lives of Paul Jones, simply reproductions of the foregoing, with illustrations, and in cheaper popular form, have also appeared, worthy of place only in a bibliography. Later we have the "Life" by Buell, which, although he calls it a history, is simply a pleasing, popular romance.

The history of the logs here reproduced may be thought somewhat obscure, being founded upon some conjectures, deductions, and probabilities, as well as absolute facts. The editor purchased the log-book at the sale of the library of Mr. S. L. M. Barlow, of New York, in 1889, it being item No. 2760 in the catalogue prepared by Mr. J. O. Wright. Mr. Wright states that Mr. Barlow acquired the book through Mr. Harrisse or Mr. Stevens, of London, some time previous to 1869.

The portrait facing the title-page has been selected from the numerous engraved portraits of Jones as not only the best authentic likeness taken from life, excepting perhaps the bust by Houdon, but the earliest in point of execution, having been drawn by a celebrated artist, Moreau le Jeune, in May, 1780, when Jones was in command of the _Alliance_, at L'Orient.

The portrait by Charles W. Peale, now in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, was executed seven years later, and has been reproduced many times. A comparison of the two with the Houdon bust demonstrates at once that the Moreau le Jeune portrait is by far the more faithful likeness, and of a greater personality than Peale's painting, with which we are more familiar. The great number of engraved contemporaneous so-called portraits of Jones attest the interest attached to his career in Europe. Many of them are purely imaginative, and exist in all forms of engraving from the grand folio mezzotint to the absurd caricature, and have formed the special object of pursuit by many collectors of Americana, with the result of extraordinary values for the rare ones, including the one here reproduced.

The most remarkable collection of Jones' portraits, and pictures relating to Jones' career, is that of Mr. Grenville Kane, of New York.

The picture of the engagement is a rare print, and has been selected instead of the more familiar one taken from the painting by Richard Paton.

The original painting by Paton is owned by the heirs of Lord Amherst, whose ancestral estate included Flamborough Head, off which the famous battle was fought. It has recently been offered for sale for the sum of £3000.

In concluding this introduction to the logs, it has been the editor's purpose to avoid repeating the incidents of Jones' life related in his numerous biographies or quoting literally from his voluminous correspondence, but he has referred to them only in so far as they seemed to be connected in some measure with the log stories. The letters given in the Appendix have been copied from the originals and have never before been printed, while the extracts from Fanning's narrative are taken from a book of which very few copies are in existence.

A reprint of this narrative has been contemplated by the executive committee as one of the future publications of the Society, it being the only known autobiography of a man and officer who served under Jones in European waters.

It remains for the editor to express his acknowledgments to Mr. Robert W. Neeser, the secretary of the Society, for his very able assistance in the preparation of this volume for the press, in correcting and revising the proof-sheets, and in verifying the references.

To Mr. Herbert Putnam, Librarian of the Congressional Library, and his able assistants Mr. Gaillard Hunt and Mr. J. C. Fitzpatrick, the editor's thanks are due for their interest and assistance, as well as to Mr. Charles W. Stewart, the Librarian of the Navy Department.

The absence of Rear-admiral Goodrich, at whose instance the Naval History Society was organized, this publication undertaken, and whose coöperation was expected, has contributed to the delay in the publication, for which the editor begs the indulgence of the members of the Society.

_By John Harris, Sweetings Alley, Cornhill._

"_To the Merchants trading to Russia, this Print representing the gallant Defence of Capt.n Pearson in his Majesty's Ship Serapis, and the Countess of Scarborough Arm'd Ship Capt.n Piercy, against Paul Jones's Squadron, whereby a valuable Fleet from the Baltic were prevented from falling into the hands of the Enemy, is with the greatest respect Inscribed by their Humble Servant._

_John Harris._"]

THE LOGS OF THE SERAPIS--ALLIANCE--ARIEL

(List of Officers and Men of the Continental Ship, Bon Homme Richard)

(July the 26th, 1779)

A List of Officers and Men, belonging to the American Continental Ship of War (Ariel) Commanded by the Honble John Paul Jones Esqr[29]

[Footnote 29: This inscription in Beaumont Groube's handwriting occurs on this page. It is repeated again on p. 20. Groube evidently saw that there was not room here for the list, the following pages being already filled in.]

A List of The Men Names that has Desarted from The Bone Homme Richard, Lorient July. 19th. 1779

A List of Officers, & Men, belonging to the American Continental Ship of War, Ariel, Commanded, by the Honble, John Paul Jones

=========================================================================================================================
_No._ | _Mens Names_ | _Qualy._ |_No._| _Mens Names_ | _Qualy._ |_No._| _Mens Names_ | _Seamen_
--------+---------------------+-----------+-----+---------------------+--------------+-----+-------------------+------------
| Richd. Dale | Lieut. | 0 | Jno Bourbank | Masr Arms | 0' | Willm. Lee | do
| | | | | | | |
| Henry Lunt | do. | | Edwd. Garrett | Bon Mate | '0 | Danl. Willott | do
| | | | | | | |
| Saml. Stacey | Mastr. | 0 | Martin Shaw | do. | '0 | Jno Wilson | do
| | | | | | | |
| Mattw. Maize | Purser | 0 | Wm. Roberts | Coopr. | '0 | Jno Mosey | do
| | | | | | | |
| Amos Windship | Surgn. | 0 | Jno Gates | Gunrs Mate | 0' | Gerlano Bairdo | do
| | | | | | | |
| John Frankford | Mrs Mte. | | Preservd Syssell | Gunr Mate | 0' | Antonio Sponza | do
| | | | | | | |
| | | Dd. | Josh. Walker | Gunrs. Yeon. | -- | Pier Locby | do run Augt. 5
| | | | | | | |
| Thos. Potter | Mid | | | | 1 | Andw. Markhouse | do Hoste.
| | | | | | | |
| Beaut Groube | Mid | 0 | Jno Woulton | Qr Masr. | '0 | Pedro Ambregue | do
| | | | | | | |
| Natl. Fanning | Mid | 0 | Valente. Strong | do | 0' | Antonio Mazzingay | do.
| | | | | | | |
| Joseph Hitchborn | Mid | 0' | Elizh. Johnston | Qr Gunr. | 0' | Augustino Martino | do
| | | | | | | |
| Artr. Robinson | Mid | 0 | Jno Down | do | '0 | Bernardo Jo Vera | do
| | | | | | | |
run | Jonathn. Lander | Mid | 0' | Wm. Clarke[1] | do | 1 | Thos. Golligan |
| | | | | | | |
| Khervillon | Dischd. | 0' | Thos. Austin | do | 1 | Richd Stephens |
| | | | | | | |
| John Peacock | Surge Mat | 1 | Thos. Knight | Carpr | -- | Jno Duboy | run August 10
| | | | | | | |
run | John Daily | do | 1 | Jno Handerham | do | --' | Harry Tommy | run Sep 14
| | | | | | | |
| Abisha Perkins[1] | do | 1 | Wm. Priest | do. | 0' | Louis Groa |
| | | | | | | |
run | John Chester | Carpr. | 1 | Edwd. Cooney | Sean. | 0' | Jno Obrey |
| | | | | | | |
| Jno. Wheeler | Gunr | 1 | Wm. Pool. | Sean. | 0 | Josh. Antoine |
| | | | | | | |
run | Danl. Russell | Stewd | '0 | Banj: Stubbs | do. | | |
| | | | | | | |
0 | Jno Gunnison | Carprs. | 1 | Lawe. Furlong | do. | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | Mate | '0 | Jno Browne | do. | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | '0 | Andrew Ryan | do. | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
================================================================================================================
_No._ | _Mens Names_ | _Quality_ |_No._| _Mens Names_ | _Qualy._ |_No._| _Boys_
--------+---------------------+-----------+-----+---------------------+--------------+-----+--------------------
'0 | Aaron Goodwin | Ory. Sean.| '0 | John Thompson | Landn. | '0 | Saml. Getchell
| | | | | | |
1 | Geo. Johnston | do. | 1 | Wm. Mc.Cullock | do. | '0 | Jno. Wier
| | | | | | |
1 | Saml. Matthews | do. | 1 | Chas. Riley | do | '0 | Jno Dupee
| | | | | | |
'0 | Danl. Swain | do. | '0 | Jno Warren | do | '0 | Saml. Gray
| | | | | | |
1 | Jno Rudderford | do | '0 | Isaih Jordan | do. | 1 | James Chester Run
| | | | | | |
'0 | Peter Nuddle | do | | Nichs. Caldwell | do | 1 | James Mahany Run
| | | | | | |
0' | Richd. Wilson | do. | '0 | Lewis Pastillo | do | '0 | John Duffy
| | | | | | |
0 | Jno Hatton | do | 0' | Alexr. Mayson | do. | 0' | John Hackett
| | | | | | |
'0 | Jno Ungey | do | 1 | Vinun Marc | do | 0 | Elizh. Middleton
| | | | | | |
0-1/2' | Lewis Lennard. | do. | '0 | Pier Villerett | do. | 0 | Wm. Ears
| | | | | | |
'0 | Dominique Portuguese| do | 0 | --Gulliam Langlois | | | Chas. Glover--Capt Clerk
| | | | | | |
'0 | Joseph Morea. | do | 0 | --Noehauless | do. | | Jno Gilbin
| | | | | | |
'0 | Lewis Marlin | do. | | | |1/2 0| Tusan Lucas
| | | | | | |
0' | Jacob Henry | do | | | |1/2 0| Jno Mai
| | | | | | |
| Francoi Bullon | do | | | | | =Josh. Cushon=
| | | | | | |
1+ | Jno Thomas | do | 0 | Jas. Makenzy | Cripples | 1/2 | { Sam: Hammon
| | | | | | 0| {
0 | Amos Wait | do. | 0 | Jno Jordan | do | 1/2 | { Aaron Burges
| | | | | | |
1/2'0 | John Marlin+ | do Run | 0 | Joseph Brussen | do | | =Louis Cushon=
| | | | | | |
'0 | Joanna Cushero | do. | | | |1/2 0| Jacque Blorga
| | | | | | |
0 | Jean Romaine | do. | | | | | Joseph Courdavieta
| | | | | | |
| Andrew | | | | | | =Tixtheren=
| | | | | | |
Oct. 7 | =Edward= Roach | | | | |1/2 0| Titzerre
| | | | | | |
| Michal Mc. Graw | | 0 | Abrm. Martell. | Servt. | 0 | Robert Cudriaux
| | | | | | |
Oct. 18| Robert Tommas | | | Antoine Jeremy | do | 0 | Claud Le Maitre
| | | | | | |
| | | | Chas. Priley | do. | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | Chas. Steward. | do | |

Remarks on Friday 24th, Sepr. 1779

The first part of this 24 Hours light Breese of Wind and clear Weather At 2 P.M. sent away the Pilot Boat with the 2d. Lieutenant and a number of Marines Arm'd; after a Brigg to the Windward lying too under her Fore Topsail At 3 P.M. saw a Fleet to the leeward among them appear'd to be two Ship's of War made a Signal for the Alliance to give Chase at 1/2 past 3 P.M. fir'd a Gun at the Boat for =the Boat= her to return to us; she Bore away for us & at Do. we made Sail gave Chase to the two Ships that were to the leeward of us that appeard to be =Arm'd= Ships of War; The Pallas and Brigg Vengeance gave Chase likewise at 5 P.M. The Fleet stood in for the Land & the two =Arm'd= Ships of War hove too ready for engaging of us we Bore away for to meet them & got the Ship ready for engaging (all Hands being at their Quarters) at 6 P.M. spoke the Pallas and Ordered her to Keep astern of us; at 1/2 past 6 P.M. hoisted a Signal for the rest of the Squadron to form a line at Do. =hailed the largest Ship= One of the Ships hailed us; Answers of no great Consequence return'd. =The= The Capt. of the Ship; that appeard to be the largest said tell me Instantly from whence You came and who You be or i'll fire a Broad side into You; finding her to be an Enemy discharg'd a Broadside into her which She return'd after exchanging three or four Broadsides came to Yard Arm, & Yard Arm, in which posture both ships lay the rest of the engagement; lash'd the Enemies Ship to Ours; after we had engag'd about an Hour the Alliance came up and rak'd us twice; kill'd and wounded a Number of our Men; The engagement was so hot that both Ships got on fire several times; which was put out with as much expedition as possible by the Men belonging to each Ship; all this time the engagement was exceeding warm. Both ships keeping up a heavy fire with Cannon and small Arms; just before the engagement ended saw the Alliance coming down upon us hailed her and Orderd her to Board the Enemy immediately but she return'd no answer; shot ahead of us and raked Both Ships; the Enemy then crying for Quarters Capt. Jones said, haul your Colours down then; which was granted immediately & our People took possession of her; She afterwards fir'd three Guns & wounded several of Our Men while they were Boarding of her; She struck to us at 1/2 past 10 P.M. at Do. cast the Ship off from us, and as soon as we got Clear of her; her Main Mast fell over her Side; She prov'd to be the Serapis of 46 Guns the latter part of the Night all employed in putting out the fire in different parts of the Ship and in Pomping she having not less than =two= three foot of Water in her Hold; The Carpenters employed in stoping the leeks with the assistance of the Carpenters from the Other Ships; The leek still gaining on us; we were supply'd with Men from the other Ships; who assisted in heaving the Lower Deck Guns overboard & the Dead Men &c---

25th. The first part of this 24 Hours Moderate Breeses & Clear Weather. The leak still increasing got assistance from the other Ships of Officers & Men some of whom assisted in Pomping The leak still gaining on us Notwithstanding all the Pomps were at work. The Carpenters crying out that it was impossible to stop the leak At 2 P.M. Capt. Jones with the Capt. & Lieutenant of the Prize; quitted the Ship & left Orders to keep the Pomps agoing & the Carpenters at Work; at 7 He return'd and found the leak increasing in Consequence of which He Order'd the wounded to be Carried on Board the different Vessels & things that was most Necessary to be taken out of the Ship; Boats from the rest of the Squadron were employed for that purpose. At 1/2 past 7 P.M. the Capt. left the Ship with several more of the Officers =&= repar'd on Board of the Prize; At 10 P.M. the Capt. sent for the Master of the Ship; & Orders for the Officers then on Board that did not belong to her, to repair on Board their respective Ships with their Men, they immediately quitted the Pomps and Obeyed Orders; Boats were employed the latter part of the Night in Carrying the Men & things that were most Necessary from the Ship to the different Vessels in the Squadron; At 4 A.M. quitted the Pomps the Water then being almost up to the lower Deck; At 10 Do. every Man left the Ship At 1/2 Past 10 A.M. there was a Boat sent from the Commodore The Serapis to go on Board the Bon homme Richard But before the Boat got along side She Sunk which was about 11 A.M. latter Part Fresh Breeses and a large Sea----

NOTE:--This account, in the handwriting of Lieutenant
Henry Lunt, was originally written in the Serapis'
log, from which it was torn, and now is in the John
Paul Jones Papers, Peter Force Collection, Vol. VI.,
No. 29. These pages, in facsimile, have now been
inserted in their proper place in the original logs.

Some Remarkable Occurrences that happened on the 23d day of September 1779--relative to the Bon Homme Richard, and the Serapis.--Commanded by Richard Pearson Esqr

At 1/2 Past 1 being off Scarborough, discovered the Serapis, and a Number of Vessels under her Convoy--

The Bon Homme Richard at 1/2 Past 7. P M. came up with and Engaged her, at 8 P M. Laid the Serapis along side and lashed the Bon Homme Richard to her,

At 1/2 Past 12 at Night the Serapis' Colours, were Halled down and some of the Bon Homme Richards Officers & Men boarded her,

A Journall Kept on Board the Serapis, an English Ship of War, of 44 Guns taken the 23rd. of September, (by the Bon Homme Richd.,) now Commanded by the Honble. John Paul Jones

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The logs of the Serapis--Alliance--Ariel, under the command of John Paul Jones, 1779-1780Chapter II: Part 2

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