| The second New York, a 36-gun frigate, was built by public
subscription by the citizens of New York for the United States Government;
laid down in August 1798 by Peck and Carpenter, New YOrk City; launched 24
April 1800; and commissioned in October 1800; Captain Richard V. Morris in
command. |
| One of the group of five frigates built by the States for the
Federal Government to supplement the original six provided by the Act of
17 March 1794, New York entered the Navy when the "quasi-war" with
France was being fought in the Atlantic and Caribbean where French warships
preyed on American commerce. Departing New York 22 October 1800, the ship
sailed for the Caribbean, convoying brig Amazon and her cargo to
Martinique and then sailing to St. Kitts, arriving 6 December to meet frigate
President there and receiving orders. Putting to sea the next day,
New York cruised the waters near Guadaloupe on patrol protecting U.S.
merchant ships until forced to return to St. Kitts 31 December by a bad outbreak
of fever among her crew. The frigate remained in the West Indies port, putting
the forty sickest men ashore and recruiting others to replace them until
sailing in mid-January 1801 to resume station on watchful patrol against
those French ships, both naval vessels and privateers, which had been attacking
Yankee merchant ships trading with the British West Indies. |
| With the ratification of the Pinckney Treaty with France 3 February,
she was ordered to return home 23 March and arrived at New York in late April,
remaining there until sailing to Washington in mid-May. New York was
placed in ordinary at Washington Navy Yard as part of the reserve naval force
provided for in the Peace Establishment Act of 1801. The frigate's day to
day patrolling performed an invaluable service to the nation, not only protecting
American commerce, but also helping to establish the United States Navy as
a force to be reckoned with. As part of the infant Navy, New York
had , as President John Adams told Congress of the Navy's actions, "raised
us in our own esteem; and effected to the extent of our expectations, the
objects for which it was created." |
| The frigate recommissioned 14 August 1802, Captain James BArron
in command, to meet another crises facing the young United States. The small
Moorish kingdoms on ht bArbary Coast of NOrth Africa were attacking American
ships, killing and imprisoning crewmen and stealing cargo, while demanding
high monetary tribute as their price for ending these piratieal acts. In
response to this challenge, the U.S. sent a naval squadron to the Mediterranean
in May 1801 to protect the nation's interests, and on 14 November 1802, New
York sailed from Washington Navy Yard to reinforce that squadron. Arriving
Gibraltar 6 April 1803, she met the squadron there and became its flagship
when Commodore Richard Morris, her first captain, broke his broad pennant
from the frigate's yardarm. |
| The squadron sailed 11 April for Tripoli to confront the Bashaw
with a strong show of American force. En route 25 April, a powder explosion
on board New York killed four men and damaged the ship, forcing the
squadron to put into Malta 1 to 19 May while she effected repairs. Arriving
off Tripoli on the 22and, the squadron remained there attempting negotiations
with the Bashaw. Following two brief engagements, 22 and 27 May in which
the American ships' overwhelming fire drove off attacking Tripolitan gunboats,
the talks seemed to bear fruit. On 9 June, a tentative treaty was agreed
to on the condition that the U.S. ships would immediately leave the harbor.
Commodore Morris, following these terms, sailed in New York the next
day, leaving the rest of the squadron on guard off the coast to follow later,
little realizing that the treacherous Bashaw would resume his piratieal
activities as soon and the American presence was gone. |
| Sailing to Malta 14 June. New York received the 17-gun
salute of Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson and the British Fleet at Valetta. The
frigate remained there replenishing and allowing the crew to see the sights
of the island until sailing for Gibraltar 8 July by way of Naples and Malaga
and arriving 14 September. There she met Commodore Edward Preble and his
squadron, sent to relieve Commodore Morris. On the day of her arrival, Captain
John Rodgers came aboard to relieve Commodore Morris of command of New
York and following one month in port, the warship sailed for home. Stopping
an Tunis for supplies 4 November, she returned to Washington Navy Yard 9
December 1803 and was immediately placed in ordinary. |
| There New York remained for the next eleven years. The
frigate was burned by the British in the capture of Washington, D.C. on 24
August 1814. |
Tonnage, 1,130; Length, 145'5"; Beam 38'1"; Draft 11'9"; Complement,
340; Armament, twenty-six 18-pdrs., ten 9-pdrs. |
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