The Chesapeake; A Biography of a Ship
Chesapeake, VA: Norfolk County Historical Society of Chesapeake, Virginia, 1968. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Wraps. Format is approximately 7 inches by 10 inches. 89, [3] pages. Illustrated cover. Illustrations. Maps. Bibliography. Notes. Some cover wear and soiling noted. Including 5 chapters: "The Frigate at Gosport", "An Addition to the Fleet", "Pirates and Petticoats", "Day of Shame", "Moment of Glory", epilogue, Of the first six ships authorized by Congress to be built for the United States Nave, the CHESAPEAKE is probably the one one whose story has not heretofore been told in full. This is the eighth in the series of publications of the Norfolk County Historical Society of Chesapeake. The author, was Chairman of the Publications Committee of the Society. Chesapeake was launched on 2 December 1799 during the undeclared Quasi-War (1798–1800). Chesapeake first put to sea on 22 May commanded by Captain Samuel Barron and marked her departure from Norfolk with a 13-gun salute. Her first assignment was to carry currency from Charleston, South Carolina, to Philadelphia. On 6 June she joined a squadron patrolling off the southern coast of the United States and in the West Indies escorting American merchant ships. Capturing the 16-gun French privateer La Jeune Creole on 1 January 1801 after a chase lasting 50 hours, she returned to Norfolk with her prize on 15 January. Chesapeake returned briefly to the West Indies in February, soon after a peace treaty was ratified with France. She returned to Norfolk and decommissioned on 26 February, subsequently being placed in reserve. More