Maritime Heritage Minnesota USS Essex Log Books 19-20 Finding Aid Adams class ship USS Essex (IX-10) was designed and constructed by premier North American shipwright Donald McKay. Her keel was laid down in 1874 and she was launched in 1876. She was a three-decked wooden screw steamer sloop-of-war with auxiliary sail (bark-rigged). She was 185 feet long, 35 feet in the beam, had a 14.25-foot draft, and was 1,375 tons. When commissioned, she carried six big guns, all muzzle loaders: one XI-inch and four IX-inch Dahlgren Naval Artillery guns, and one 60-pound Parrott Rifle The ship’s armory carried dozens of small arms including rifles, pistols, revolvers, and cutlasses. Further, she carried a six auxiliary boats including a launch, two cutters, a whale boat, one gig, and a dinghy. The combinations of guns and watercraft carried on board USS Essex could change from log book to log book. She served with the US Navy in active duty and as a training ship with the Ohio Naval Militia, the Illinois Naval Militia, and the Minnesota Naval Militia. She was intentionally burned on Minnesota Point in Lake Superior at Duluth in 1931. Her Minnesota Archaeological Site Number is 21-SL-1030 and she is a National Register of Historic Places Property. Maritime Heritage Minnesota digitized the 62 known USS Essex log books held at the National Archives in Washington, DC, and at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis in 2010. The log books consist of the daily activities on board the Essex as recorded by deck officers on duty. Those deck notes were then transcribed to be the official log of the Essex that were sent to the Navy Department in Washington, DC, where they were bound into their current book form. At the beginning of most log books, there are: a title page, two list of officers pages, a crew complement page (listing the crew by rank and job), an armaments page (list of the different large guns, boats, and small arms), and two pages of compass observations. Not all log books contain these pages and some include additional information, including a plan and section of the Essex in Log Books 8 and 9 and four pages of directions on how to fill out log pages in Log Book 21. Sometimes two transcribed versions of log pages were sent to the Navy Department and duplicate books were produced. However, sometimes the duplicate books were not bound with exactly the same pages, so some books overlap each other in date. Also, some log book pages have writing too close to its spine edge and after binding, some words and numbers were ‘lost’ in the spine if the binding remained tight over the decades. Further, it must be kept in mind that the names of ships, both American and foreign, as well as geographical locations usually expressed in different languages will have variations in spelling. With this in mind, the deck officers of the Essex, when writing the log pages, may misunderstand what the actual name of a ship or geographical marker actually is and their handwriting may present challenges or be nearly illegible. The digitization and editing of the USS Essex log books were made possible with funding provided by the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant USS ESSEX LOG BOOKS 19-20 !1 program, part of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Log Books 19-20 of the USS Essex: June 22, 1884-January 15, 1885 The National Archives houses USS Essex Log Books 19 and 20, near duplicates of each other; one begins in early June and ends in mid-January, while the other begins in mid-June and ends in mid-January. Throughout Log Books 19 and 20, comments were made on: ๏ sail adjustments with sail type and action specified ๏ banking of boiler fires in order to put the ship on stand-by for immediate use ๏ coupling and uncoupling the propellor when the ship was shifting from steam to sail and vice-versa ๏ when under steam the different watches record the average steam boiler pressure and engine revolutions ๏ lowering of smokestack and proceeded under sail and vice-versa when the Essex was underway ๏ when anchored nearly every watch described the state of the anchor cables: crossed (‘cross in hawse, stbd chain on top’ or ‘Elbow in hawse’) and often will mention ‘clearing the hawse’ (the crossed anchor cables were uncrossed) ๏ casting deep sea lead for soundings ๏ swinging the ship to test for compass deviation ๏ patent log readings ๏ water distillation using the ship’s boilers to produce freshwater and refilling the freshwater tanks ๏ coaling of the ship ๏ weather recording: temperature, wind speed and direction, barometer readings, state of the sea ๏ recording the ship’s behavior (heavy rolling or pitching) ๏ crew conducting ship maintenance: engine maintenance/repair, general ship cleaning, bilge cleaning and checking pumps, scraping and painting - and sometimes tarring and caulking - the ship’s hull and infrastructure, repairing yards and stays, repairing sails, scrubbing masts and yards ๏ crew conducting drills: target practice with the main battery (great guns), small arms drills, fire drills, single stick drills, revolver drills, landing party drills ๏ cadet/apprentice drills ๏ receiving fresh water from shore through pumps or lighter ๏ receiving provisions and stores: food, medical supplies, clothing, engineering gear, construction ๏ Quarterly Board of Survey’s findings of condemned articles on board (food, equipment) and their fate (food was usually tossed overboard) from the inventories of the different ship’s departments (Ordnance, Engineering, Navigation, Equipment, Medical, Pay) ๏ crew promotions ๏ crew quarters inspection USS ESSEX LOG BOOKS 19-20 !2 ๏ liberty parties sent ashore ๏ crew members are discharged at their own request (DOR) ๏ lists of new crew members - recruits or transfers from other ships- taken on board during a cruise ๏ crew transfers to other ships ๏ crew reporting the expiration of their contracted naval service ๏ crew members in solitary confinement or other punishments for various infractions, AWOL crew, general and summary court martial proceedings, AWOL crew put in irons ๏ rewards offered for the return of AWOL crewmen ๏ weekly Sunday services; after the services, once a month, the Articles for Better Government of the Navy were read to the crew NOTE: The Essex deck officers who recorded the daily happenings on the ship often translated the names of non-American ships incorrectly. MHM determined the correct spellings of the ships and those corrections are reflected in the Finding Aid, not the poorly transliterated ship names. At the beginning of Log Books 19-20, in mid-June 1884, the USS Essex was anchored in Nagasaki Harbor, Japan, under Commander Alexander H. McCormick. Essex was assigned to the US Asiatic Squadron. On June 22, a crewman was transferred from iron gunboat USS Alert, and the sloop-of-war Flagship USS Enterprise exchanged signals with Essex, one of her sister ships. A mail steamer from Yokohama arrived in the harbor and Essex took on mail from the US. The next day, the Commander of the US Asiatic Squadron Rear Admiral John Lee Davis and his staff visit Essex. Sloop-of-war USS Juniata received munitions from Essex, Essex swapped crewmen with USS Enterprise, and USS Alert got underway. On June 25, Flagship USS Enterprise fired an 11-gun salute in honor of a Japanese Commodore. Two days later, Rear Admiral Davis and his staff returned to Essex and inspected the ship, followed by divisional and boat launching drills, clearing for action, gun, and fire drills. On June 29 corvette USS Trenton anchored in the harbor, while Flagship Enterprise signaled Essex with an order to follow her lead during small arms drills. The next day, Admiral Davis left USS Enterprise and boarded USS Trenton; his Admiral’s flag transferred to Trenton with him and she became the Flagship for the Asiatic Station. Several crewmen were swapped between Essex, Trenton, Juniata, and Enterprise On July 1, Commanding Officer McCormick and his first officer left the ship for survey duty on the Enterprise, and more crew transfers took place between Essex, Juniata, and Trenton. The next day, a crewman fell from the main top to futtock shrouds and was lowered to deck in an ‘insensible’ condition. On July 4, the crew dressed Essex in rainbow fashion to commemorate Independence Day. At dusk. the ship was illuminated with a rainbow of Japanese lanterns along both sides and in the gunports and gangways. Flagship USS Trenton fired salute of 21-guns and a Russian corvette and the shore battery fires salutes in response. Also, two Asian men enlisted on Essex as Landsmen, listed as being in ‘special service’. The next day, maritime signals exchanged between Essex and Trenton regarding the monthly pay were actually spelled USS ESSEX LOG BOOKS 19-20 !3 out in the log book - an uncommon occurrence. The message spelled out: “Essex: permission to spread awning Flagship: Yes Flagship: How much money necessary to pay monthly money Essex: Monthly list $2,289 on board $1,950 Flagship: Send boat with papers Essex: What papers Flagship: Send boat for papers”. On July 7, an Essex boat was sent to the Mistu Bitsu (incorrect - it is Bishi) lighter for some pork to provision the ship’s stores. On July 8, USS Trenton canceled the routine drills of the day and ordered a boat be sent from Essex to the Flagship. In less than an hour, Lieut. M. R.S. MacKenzie (probably the first officer) was placed under arrest by order of the Commander in Chief - Admiral Davis. MacKenzie’s general court martial was held on USS Enterprise from July 9-11; he was acquitted and returned to duty.* Throughout the first half of July, USS Essex noted activities in the harbor: German corvette Iltes and a Yokohama mail steamer anchored, a Japanese corvette left the port, a Russian corvette was in the harbor, and three seamen board Essex, having traveled from the Yokohama Naval Hospital. On July 12, Flagship USS Trenton left Nagasaki for Hong Kong and USS Essex followed her, passing Nagasaki Light as they departed. Along the way, Essex passed a German steamer - both ships dipped their colors, a Chinese gunboat, Ocksean, Dog Island, and Chapel Lights, and she sighted a Spanish man-of-war. Essex anchored in Amoy Harbor on July 18, taking bearings off Cornwallis and Cocher Rocks. Essex exchanged visits with the US Consul, corvette HMS Champion, and Spanish frigate Aragon to tender the usual courtesies. Essex also took on coal before leaving Amoy Harbor on July 19, passing Lamock Island, Cape of Good Hope, and Breaker Point Lights. Two days later she anchored in Hong Kong Harbor and took bearings from Victoria Peak and Killett Island. While anchored, Essex discharged six Asian crewmen "on account of the Chinese restriction act”.** and took on three crewmen who reported on board for duty after their transfer from iron gunboat USS Palos - along with 14 additional crewmen who reported for duty from Hong Kong. The American mail steamer City of New York and gunboat HMS Swift left harbor, American ship Southern Cross and three Chinese gunboats anchored in the harbor, and officers from the German gunboat Nautilus visited the ship. On July 24, Essex prepared to leave Hong Kong Harbor for Singapore. Upon raising her starboard anchor, it was found to be fouled on its own anchor cable - three turns around the stock and one fluke. Once the crew straightened the cable, Essex left the harbor, passing the Samoan Islands on the way to Singapore. Two days later, Commander McCormick ordered the ship to stop in order to take soundings because of known navigation chart inaccuracies. During the first watch of July 29, the engineer on duty slowed the engine, causing Essex to fall into a trough of seas (which were moderate). Her helm refused to answer, and the engineer thought the ship had lost her rudder. Investigations showed everything in order and the patent log was hung overboard but it was caught in some tackle and lost its propeller. A different patent log was put overboard and the readings recorded. Later on, after the first patent log received a new propellor, it was deployed and pulled out again; the results of the two different logs were compared for accuracy. The next day, Essex passed a large British steamer and during the last watch of the day, the head of the fore topmast staysail carried away during a USS ESSEX LOG BOOKS 19-20 !4 moderate gale. Crewmen hauled down the sail and stowed it, and all hands were called to shorten the sail. On July 31, Commander McCormick found it impractical to make headway in the strong monsoon and strong current they were fighting; he ordered a change of course back to Hong Kong for safety. On August 1, the crew replaced the fore-topsail and three days later, Essex passed Lamma Island. On August 5, she passed Green Island Light and headed toward Stonecutters Island, where she anchored. As a precaution, Commander McCormick ordered the port side sheet anchor be taken out of the hold and a chain be attached. Sheet anchors were only used in emergencies, as an extra anchor; apparently the Commander was expecting dangers weather. The next day, a liberty party was sent ashore and on the following day, the crew was busy cleaning the ship inside and out. For the remainder of August, the fore and main topsails and foresail were sent ashore for repairs and returned late in the month, the crew painted the berth deck, and more liberty was granted. Also, three Asian crewmen were discharged on own request, AWOL crewman returned aboard brought a $10 reward for the local police, and AWOL crewmen who are absent for five days were declared deserters. On August 20, a heavy squall went through the anchorage; all hands were called to furl awnings, they sent down the topgallant masts, and battened down the ship. The Pacific Mail Steamship Company (based in New York) vessel the City of Tokio left Hong Kong while the mail steamer City of Peking - also owned by Pacific Mail) and another from the US anchored in the harbor. Essex exchanged signals with USS Palos when she came in from Canton. On August 30, Essex once again left Hong Kong Harbor for Singapore. On September 3, 1884, Essex passed Cecir-de-mer Island off the coast of Vietnam and the next day, the ship’s fore topmast staysail stay was carried away; it was repaired. On September 6, the crew spotted Pulo Aur and Hersburg Islands, and then sighed Singapore Light. As the ship moved toward Singapore, she passed several east-bound sailing vessels. Essex took anchor in Singapore Harbor, taking bearings taken off Peak Island and Fort Canning Light. The next day, Essex discharged ash into a lighter that had pulled alongside the ship. An officer called on the US Consul and the Consul reciprocated the visit. On September 8, the American bark Victor left harbor and for two days the crew prepared to go to sea. On September 10, Essex steamed out of Singapore Harbor bound for Batavia (Jakarta), Java; she passed two Dutch gunboats and stood through Rhio Straits. Along the way, Essex noted several islands and lighthouses, she dipped her colors with passing American ship. She anchored in the Strait of Banka for the night and on September 12, Essex passed several islands. The next day, she passed Thousand Islands and South Watcher Island, anchoring in Batavia Harbor, Java (Jakarta, Indonesia). From September 13-15, Commander McCormick and his officers visited and received visitors from the Dutch iron hulled-turret ram Flagship Konig der Nederlanden and Dutch ironclad turret ram guardship Prins Hendrik der Nederlanden.*** he also sent a boarding officer to American ships in port. A Dutch steamer left Batavia while the Flagship was dressed;**** Essex followed suit. Three loads of coal were loaded onto Essex from harbor lighters. At one point, she sent out her steam cutter to retrieve a lighter that had USS ESSEX LOG BOOKS 19-20 !5 came adrift from shore; the crew secured the boat to the stern to await a claimant. A Dutch steamer left the harbor and Essex steamed out of Batavia heading through the Sunda Strait for Mozambique, East Africa. On September 16, the crew practiced with the main guns and small arms, and the next day, the main topgallant yard was carried away due to a defect in the wood. On September 18-19, the main topsail sheets, fore topgallant sail, and topgallant yard for were repaired. Remarkably, on September 22, 1884, the Essex passed through large patches of floating pumice stone from the Krakatoa volcanic eruption of late August 1883. The crew were exercised in divisions with single sticks, great guns, small arms, and revolvers. On September 27, Essex lost her starboard topmast stunsail boom over board; the ship hoved to and recovered it. In early October 1884, USS Essex was traveling westward toward Mozambique. The crew was adjusting sails depending on wind direction and force, and performed maintenance and ship cleaning. During the night and overnight watches on October 4 and 5, the crew noted a total lunar eclipse. Over the next few days, instructors practiced the apprentice boys in skills and chores and on October 8, Essex exchanged signals with a shore signal station. She anchored in Mozambique Harbor and took bearings off the San Sebastian Flagstaff and the north end of a pier. For most of October, Essex remained in port and conducted maintenance and drills. The crew scrubbed the masts, yards, and sent down the main topgallant yard and re-hoisted it later in same watch after it was repaired. At one point, drills were suspended on account of the heat. Captain Crocker of the American barque Sarah Hobart came on board Essex to give testimony concerning the seizure of property by Portuguese authorities. Also, Commander McCormick sent three Essex lieutenants to hold survey on the American barque Sicilian and another officer was sent ashore for mail; none was found for Essex. The crew dressed Essex with the Portuguese flag at the main in honor of the Queen of Portugal’s birthday. Throughout the month, Commander McCormick and his officers received and reciprocated visits with the Governor of the Province and his Aid de Camp, Captain of the Port, German and English Consuls, and with officers of the Portuguese, French, and British ships in port. Castle Mail Packet Company (out of Cape Town, South Africa) coastal Steamer Florence left Mozambique and headed south, a Portuguese gunboat, French brig, and an English mail steamer left harbor, and the steamer Oriental anchored in the port. On October 24, the crew made preparations for sea and the next day, Essex left Mozambique for Cape Town, South Africa. She passed St. Georges Island Light and a Norwegian barkentine. On October 26, Essex experienced rough seas to the point where Commander McCormick ordered the ship to slow down to ease her. For the next four days, the crew conducted maintenance, cleaning, and drills, and on October 20 the ship passed a small steamer heading north. In early November 1884, regular ship duties continued for the crew. On November 2, Essex passed a brigantine heading south and over the next two days, several lighthouses until Green Point Light was encountered. The ship hove to and waited at Green Point while the Captain of the Port boarded Essex; she then anchored in Cape Town Harbor, South Africa. On November 5, Essex up-anchored and entered the basin, USS ESSEX LOG BOOKS 19-20 !6 mooring at the dock. While moored, Essex was coaled and provisions were stowed on board the ship, and Lieut. M. R. S. MacKenzie was detached from the ship on the order of the Navy Department. On November 8, the ship’s catamaran was discovered to have been lowered overnight and disappeared. As the ship remained in Cape Town, a large group of crewmen were punished for drunkenness and rewards were offered for the apprehension of 24 crewmen at $2 a head; the local police collected a tidy sum for the return of many of the men. Commander McCormick received a visit from the Commanding Officer of HIGMS (His Imperial German Majesty’s Ship) man-of-war Moewe*****. Also, he left Essex to visit CO left the ship to pay an official visit to the Governor of Cape Colony and the US Consul. The log noted that a large Australian steamer and Moewe left the dock and went to sea, and an English mail steamer and another large steamer entered the harbor and docked. Early on November 10, Essex left her dock and anchored in the outer harbor. The next morning, Essex left Cape Town Harbor bound for New York. While heading northward, the ship passed Robbin's Light, and the helm would repeatedly swinging the ship checking for compass deviation. The crew conducted general ship maintenance and cleaning. On November 20, the crew sighted St. Helena Island and anchored off the coast. Commander McCormick sent an officer to visit the American Consul and he made official visits, while the ship received a visit from the Governor's Aide de Camp. In the early morning of November 22, Essex left St. Helena, heading northward. For the rest of November, the crew painted the ship inside and out, and conducted target practice and drills. On December 1, 1884, the USS Essex crew were put through fire, gun, and landing drills. Over the next 11 days, the crew sighted a barque headed east. a brigantine headed south, a barque headed southwest, a small barque headed west, and another barque on her starboard side; Essex hoisted her colors. On December 15, Essex spoke with English barque David of St. Johns, New Brunswick, and gave her the current longitude. David had hove to, waiting for Essex, thinking the ship was on fire due to seeing smoke, but not the smokestack. On December 18, Essex passed lighthouses in the Virgin Island and the next day, anchored in St. Thomas Harbor. The ship received a visit from the American Consul, she exchanged signals with gunboat USS Yantic, and her Commanding Officer made an official visit to Essex. On December 20, official visits continued and the next day, Essex departed St. Thomas Harbor, passing a schooner that was headed southeast. On December 22, the engineer topped the engine to repair a valve on the condenser and a barque was sighed heading west. On December 24 and 25, the Essex crew sighted a large English steamer headed northeast and passed a small barque headed northwest. Between December 26 and 28, the crew replaced the torn main trysail, the ship passed several pieces of floating timber and a barque heading northwest. Nearing New York, the crew began casting lead for soundings and spoke with New York Pilot Boat No. 17. Essex anchored off Sandy Hook, with bearings taken off Sandy Hook Light and the ‘end of point’. Fog moved in and while the ship waited for the weather to clear, the crew was ringing the fog bell. The crew also continued painting the outside of the ship. On December 30, Essex raised anchor and stood up New York Bay. The Health Officer came onboard and Essex anchored, exchanging signals with USS ESSEX LOG BOOKS 19-20 !7 US Receiving Ship Vermont. Essex then moored 300 yards from Vermont at the New York Navy Yard. Commander McCormick left his ship for official visits and the next day, McCormick and his officers went ashore to receive the new Commandant of the Yard. On January 2, 1885, the Board of Inspection with Commodore De Kraft, came on board Essex and commenced a general inspection of the ship, and she exchanged signals with Vermont. Over the next 10 days, the Essex crew set to taking the ship out of commission. Her ammunition was unloaded and then she was moved to the Ordnance Wharf with assistance from the Navy Yard tug. Once there, the crew hoisted out the ship’s battery, and then the Navy tug moved Essex to the Northwest end of the Yard. Her spars and rigging were put on the dock, stores were taken out and sent ashore, the ship was ship was stripped, the coal taken out of the hoppers and put on shore, ; and remaining provisions were transported to Naval storehouses. Essex’s boats were hauled out and the boiler fires were hauled - extinguished. Three crewmen were dishonorably discharged, five crewmen were transferred to the Navy Hospital, two crewmen were confined for trying to leave the Navy Yard and men were transferred to US Receiving Ship Vermont. The Pay Master paid the ship’s apprentices and gave them 30 days leave. Upon their return, they were to report to frigate USS Minnesota. The rest of the ship’s company were paid, and they were given 10 days leave. Upon their return, they were to report to the USRS Vermont for examination for discharge. On the morning of January 15, the Captain of the Yard inspected USS Essex and the vessel was put out of commission with the customary ceremonies. *MHM has not been able to ascertain why Lieut. MacKenzie underwent a court martial. **The Chinese Restriction Act, as an addendum of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, was a law that applied to Chinese immigrants to the US, not those who served on naval vessels in a foreign country and therefore did not apply to USS Essex. ***The Dutch ships are called the Leipsic and Prince Frederic II in the log book. However, there are no Dutch ships with those names and the Flagship in September 1884 was HNLMS Konig der Nederlanden and the guardship on duty was HNLMS Prins Hendrik der Nederlanden. Further, the German ship Leipzig was assigned to the German East Asia Squadron in 1884 but was sent back to Germany that year. In September 1884, she was off the coast of Cameroon, not at Batavia. ****The log book states the Dutch Flagship and Essex dressed in honor of the birthday of ‘Princess Henrique of the Netherlands’. However, there was no princess of that name; MHM suggests the Essex crew and the Dutch crews had a communication problem. *****Moewe participated in an aggressive German act, beginning in August 1884, against the Africans of the Gold Coast who had a treaty with Great Britain. Tags: American Ships: mail steamer City of Peking, mail steamer City of Tokio, sloop-of-war Flagship USS Enterprise, sloop-of-war USS Essex, sloop-of-war USS Juniata, frigate USS Minnesota, iron gunboat USS Palos, barque Sarah Hobart, barque Sicilian, ship Southern Cross, corvette Flagship USS Trenton, USRS Vermont British Ships: corvette HMS Champion, gunboat HMS Swift USS ESSEX LOG BOOKS 19-20 !8 Dutch Ships: iron hulled-turret ram Flagship HNLMS Konig der Nederlanden, ironclad turret ram guardship HNLMS Prins Hendrik der Nederlanden German Ships: gunboat Iltes, man-of-war Moewe, gunboat Nautilus South African Ship: coastal steamer Florence Unknown Country: steamer Oriental USS Essex Florence HMS Champion USS ESSEX LOG BOOKS 19-20 !9