The USS Somers Mutiny

The USS Somers Mutiny 

James Fenimore Cooper (AI): [00:00:00] The cruise of the United States Brig, Somers, in the latter part of the year 1842, will be long remembered. The story of the tragic scenes which occurred on board of her will pass from mouth to mouth not only of the officers, but of the sailors which shall form the Navy of our country. Not only will it be remembered, it will have practical influences tending, materially, to lessen the confidence which it is indispensable should exist. 

On the part of the junior officer and the common sailor toward those high in command. A flagrant act of injustice and inhumanity, like that committed by Commander Mackenzie and his associates, cannot be done with impunity. The law may shield the perpetrators of it. Naval Courts Marshal may color the transaction as best they can, to the end that a brother officer shall not have his commission taken from him. 

The voice of public opinion will, sooner or later, utter a verdict paramount to [00:01:00] all these, and the leaven of distrust and jealousy between officers and crews will spread, till great evil come.  

Rich Napolitano: This was a portion of the response written by famed author, James Fenimore Cooper, in protest of the executions of three men. 

who were hanged for mutiny on board the USS Somers in 1842. The Somers Mutiny, today, on Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs. [00:02:00]  

Hello and welcome to Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs, tales of mishaps, misfortune, and misadventure. I'm your host, Rich Napolitano. The USS Somers was a brig built for the United States Navy at the New York Navy shipyard, and launched April 16th, 1842. She was 263 tons, 100 feet in length, 25 feet wide, with capacity for 13 officers and 80 to 120 sailors. 

She carried 10 32 pound carronades, a, carronade being a short, smooth, barreled type of cannon named after the Carron Ironworks Company, which manufactured them. The ship itself was named after Master Commandant Richard Somers, who was killed on September 4th, 1804 during the First Barbary War. Somers and a crew of volunteers were attacking off the coast of Tripoli in the fireship USS Intrepid when it exploded prematurely. 

The Somers was somewhat of an experiment, not in structure but of [00:03:00] purpose. Developed by naval reformers, she was to be run as a proper ship as part of a new, quote, apprentice program. The program took troubled children, orphans, those living in poverty, or living on the streets as a result of a prolonged economic depression. 

The Apprentice Program's goal was to, quote, take the sweepings of the street and train them while at sea. In theory, this seemed logical. It provided valuable training and a chance for a naval career as an officer, while also bolstering the Navy's manpower. In practice, it became something entirely different. 

Command of the ship was assigned to Commander Alexander Slidell Mackenzie. Mackenzie was from a powerful family in Louisiana. His brother Thomas Slidell was a Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, and another brother, John Slidell, was a United States Senator from Louisiana. His eldest sister married Commodore [00:04:00] Matthew Calberth Perry, and his youngest sister married the son of Commodore John Rogers. 

In 1838, he officially changed his last name to Mackenzie in order to meet the conditions of a sizable inheritance from his maternal uncle. Mackenzie joined the Navy in 1815 as a midshipman, promoted to lieutenant in 1825, and commander in 1841. The USS Somers was Mackenzie's first command of his career. 

Mackenzie was a prolific author as well, having published works including A Year in Spain, Life of John Paul Jones. Oliver Hazard Perry, famous American naval hero, and life of Stephen Decatur. He was also a personal friend of Washington Irving and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Mackenzie took the Somers on a successful shakedown cruise to Puerto Rico in June and July of 1842. 

In September, the Somers sailed from New York Harbor, bound for Africa, to rendezvous with USS [00:05:00] Vandalia. Mackenzie was tasked with delivering important dispatches to the Vandalia, which was patrolling for illegal slave trading vessels. The Somers had a crew of 120, and 90 of them were in their teens. 

Half of those were between the ages of 14 and 16. Mackenzie had handpicked his crew from the sailors of USS North Carolina. One of the young men on board happened to be Philip Spencer, son of the United States Secretary of War, John Spencer, serving in the cabinet of President John Tyler. John Spencer was a demanding, hot tempered, and inattentive father to Philip, the youngest of the Spencer children. 

He was coddled by his mother, and his older brothers introduced him to alcohol. Young Philip Spencer fit into the category of a troubled youth. After enrolling at Geneva College, now called Hobart College, he was described as wild and uncontrollable despite displaying signs of high [00:06:00] intelligence. Philip had a brief stint at Union College, but ran off to join the crew of a whaling ship out of Nantucket. 

His father tracked him down and told him if he wanted a life at sea, he would do it properly. as an officer. Secretary John Spencer used his influence and a threat of disinheritance to have Philip, age 18, join the Navy as a midshipman, and Philip was assigned to the USS North Carolina. Philip soon showed his wild side, twice striking a senior officer while drunk. 

He was then reassigned to USS John Adams, where he got into a drunken row with a Royal Navy officer in Rio de Janeiro. Philip Spencer submitted his resignation from the Navy, not wanting to go through the embarrassment of a court martial. Again, his powerful father intervened, and Philip's resignation was not accepted, nor was he court martialed. 

Instead, he was reassigned again to the apprentice program on the USS Somers. Philip joined the Somers on August [00:07:00] 20, 1842, just prior to the voyage to Africa. At first, Commander Mackenzie welcomed the son of such a prominent member of the U. S. government. However, Mackenzie was soon informed of Philip Spencer's prior conduct. 

Mackenzie later said, I subsequently heard that he had quite recently been dismissed with disgrace from the Brazilian squadron and compelled to resign for drunkenness and scandalous conduct. This fact made me very desirous for his removal from the vessel, who were to mess with and be associated with him. 

I have no respect for a base son of an honored father. On the contrary, I consider that he, who by misconduct sullies the luster of an honorable name, is more culpable than the unfriended individual whose disgrace falls only on himself. I wish, however, to have nothing to do with baseness in any shape. The Navy is not the place for it. 

On these accounts, I readily sought the first opportunity of getting rid of Mr. Spencer. Spencer, for his part, did not wish to be on the Somers [00:08:00] either, and wished to be transferred to USS Grampus. Mackenzie had First Lieutenant Gert Gensevort convince Spencer to make the transfer application, which Mackenzie approved. 

The commander of the Grampus, however, did not, and requested midshipman Henry Rogers instead. Mackenzie did not agree, and thus Spencer remained on the Somers. And neither Spencer, nor Mackenzie, were happy about it. The officers on board USS Somers included those with close ties to the captain. Mackenzie himself explained, Two of them were connected with me by blood. 

and two by alliance, and the four entrusted to Maya's special care. Mackenzie warned his officers, including the other midshipmen, not to associate with Spencer. Without any other camaraderie, Spencer sought friendship with the younger apprentices, most of them still boys. In particular, Spencer became close with Boson's mate Samuel Cromwell, and seaman Elisha Small. 

They [00:09:00] reveled in his sophomoric behavior and language, and Spencer disparaged and mocked the captain, calling him such things as a humbug and an ass. Spencer bribed the wardroom steward to steal cigars and alcohol, and doled out these and other gifts to the apprentices, gaining further favor among the younger crew. 

Spencer was rumored to have had sexual relations with at least one of the apprentices, an act not entirely uncommon on naval ships of the time. The Somers made stops at Madeira, Portugal, Tenerife, Spain, and the Cape Verde Islands, but did not find the Vandalia. Finally, after stopping at Monrovia, Liberia on November 10th, Mackenzie learned that the Vandalia had already departed back to America. 

Hoping to catch the Vandalia at the port of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, Mackenzie headed west, back across the Atlantic. After their stop in Madeira, Mackenzie and the senior officers were mindful of the lack of spirit being exhibited by the crew. According to their statements, [00:10:00] the boys appeared to be disheartened, sullen, inattentive to their duties, and prone to being insubordinate. 

Orders had to be repeated several times before action was taken, and the apprentices often grumbled or complained or mocked the officers. On one occasion, while hauling down the jib, Samuel Cromwell was heard by Lieutenant Gansevoort to say, God damn the jib and lacing and the damned fool that invented it. 

Gansevoort himself told Cromwell previously that Commander Mackenzie had invented the lacing. On another occasion, Philip Spencer was slow to respond and disrespectful to Gansevoort when ordered to inspect the rigging. Mackenzie was an ardent believer in order and obedience, and used the punishment of flogging liberally. 

 He, like many officers of the time, believed flogging was a great motivator and a necessary tool to maintain discipline. Mackenzie ordered floggings for minor infractions, such as not moving fast enough, for being unclean or [00:11:00] messy, swearing, And often for, quote, filthiness, a term Mackenzie used for masturbation. 

Mackenzie was prone to giving long lectures about discipline, honor, cleanliness, and religion as a form of education for the young apprentices. With a ship crowded full of young teenage apprentices, discipline and motivation was quite likely lacking, and Spencer's brash and rebellious attitude provided more fuel for this. 

These sailors, for the most part, were from unstable and troubled backgrounds, and lacked the support of family, if they even had any family. Emotional and social development of teenagers can be delicate, and the physical demands of serving on board a naval ship are tremendous. No doubt, tensions were high. 
  

On the night of November 25th, Philip Spencer approached J. W. Wales, the purser's steward. Spencer urged Wales to go up into the booms as he had something important to tell him. [00:12:00] Spencer asked Wales, Do you fear death? Do you fear a dead man? Are you afraid to kill a man? Spencer then insisted that Wales take an oath of secrecy. 

Wales later testified, I took the oath as he directed. And he went on to tell me that he was leagued with about 20 members of the ship's crew to murder all the officers, take command of the brig, and commence pirating. Spencer said he had the plans and stations of the men in his neckerchief. I felt the back of the neckerchief and it made a noise as though there was a paper inside. 

The plan would begin when Spencer had the mid watch. Several of the mutineers would start fighting with each other on the forecastle, and Spencer would intervene and call the officer of the deck, midshipman Henry Rogers. Rogers would then be seized and thrown overboard. The mutineers would guard the hatches to prevent anyone else from coming up. 

Spencer, who had access to the arms chest, would distribute arms to the [00:13:00] mutineers and murder the captain and the other officers. The stern guns could be swung around and be used to fire upon any opposition. Spencer claimed none of the officers were armed, except for Lieutenant Gansevoort, who only had a sword. 

The plan was to take control of the ship and head for the Isle of Pines to engage in piracy, where Spencer claimed to have connections. Any crew who did not wish to join him would be thrown overboard. Wales engaged in the conversation and prompted him for more details. feigning his willingness to participate. 

Wales reported this information to Purser H. M. Heiskill the following morning, who then reported it to Lieutenant Gansevoort, who in turn took this information to Commander Mackenzie. The commander initially dismissed the story, believing discipline on his ship was excellent. However, he was also cautious, having an unfavorable opinion of Spencer from the start, and so ordered Gansevoort to watch him closely. 

Gansevoort subsequently [00:14:00] learned from other crew members that Spencer had nightly meetings with Samuel Cromwell and Elisha Small. Both of these men were experienced mariners, having served on board slave ships previously, and would be valuable to Spencer, who had very little experience. Spencer was also observed studying charts of the West Indies and asking questions about the Isle of Pines. 

This island, now part of Cuba called the Isle of Youth, was known as a haven for pirates. Spencer also asked questions about using a chronometer, a very important navigation tool for calculating longitude. Spencer was even observed joyfully sketching a pirate ship, complete with a black pirate flag. That same evening, Mackenzie ordered all crew to muster on deck. 

He paced, ominously, down the line of men, stopping in front of Philip Spencer. He turned to Spencer and shouted, I learned that you aspire to the command of the Somers. With a smirk on his face, Spencer [00:15:00] denied doing so. Did you not tell Mr. Wales, sir, that you had a project to kill the captain, the officers, and a considerable portion of the crew of this vessel, and convert her into a pirate ship? 

Spencer then admitted doing so. But claimed it was merely a joke, and nothing more. Mackenzie told him that such jokes are forbidden, and may cost him his life. The captain demanded Spencer remove his neckerchief, and search for the evidence described by Wales. However, it was empty. He went on to explain, almost brag, that he had attempted a mutiny on board the last two vessels on which he sailed, and that he had somewhat of an obsession with piracy. 

The tension was palpable. The men on deck stood motionless, hanging on every word. Mutiny is the most serious of crimes on board a naval ship, and everyone knew the ramifications. Mackenzie barked again. You must be aware, Mr. Spencer, that you could only have [00:16:00] compassed your designs by passing over my dead body, and after that, the bodies of all the officers. 

You have given yourself, sir, a great deal to do. It will be necessary to confine you. Arrest Mr. Spencer and put him in double irons. Lieutenant Gansevoort relieved Philip Spencer of his sword. Mackenzie ordered that Spencer be executed immediately if he speaks or makes any attempt to communicate with the crew. 

If indeed it was a joke, it was no longer a laughing matter. Spencer's locker was searched, and two papers were found, written using the Greek alphabet. These documents, referred to as the Greek papers, were translated by midshipman Henry Rogers. They were found to contain a list of confirmed and possible conspirators, as well as their duties and responsibilities. 

A damning portion of one of the papers reads, Remainder of the doubtful will probably join when the thing is [00:17:00] done. If not, they must be forced. If any not marked down wish to join after the thing is done, we will pick out the best and dispose of the rest. Tension among the crew was high, as well as suspicion and fear among the officers. 

That evening, armed officers kept watch and made sure all the crew remained in their quarters. The following morning, November 27th, the ship encountered a rough storm, which damaged the top sail of the mainmast. Henry Rogers ordered a group of men, many of the listed conspirators, to repair it. They quickly ran across toward the quarterdeck, prompting Lt. Gansevoort to believe the mutiny had begun. He pulled out his pistol and ordered the gang to stop in their tracks, threatening to blow out the brains of the first man that put his foot on the quarterdeck. Rogers intervened and explained he had given the men orders. Gansevoort, exasperated, said, No such sudden movements can be made on board the ship [00:18:00] without the risk of being shot. 

With fear and suspicion rising, Mackenzie decided to also arrest Samuel Cromwell and Elisha Small. They were both known friends and associates of Spencer's, and were interrogated. Small admitted to frequently meeting with Spencer, and Cromwell was rumored to have damaged the top sail intentionally as a distraction to free Spencer. 

Both men were put in chains on the quarterdeck. But, the officers still remained on edge. The young crew continued to grumble, and became increasingly insubordinate. Nervous armed officers walked the decks, ready to pull out their pistols at the slightest hint of mutiny. On November 28th, steward Henry Waltham attempted to steal brandy for Philip Spencer, but he was caught, and flogged with 12 lashes. 

The next day, Waltham urged an apprentice to steal the brandy. And was given another 12 lashes. Still the same day, sailmaker's mate Charles A. [00:19:00] Wilson and apprentice Alexander McKee attempted to break into the weapons locker. Two other men failed to show up for their midnight watch. All four of the men were placed in irons, bringing the number of arrested men to seven. 

Mackenzie did not have the resources to continue to arrest more men, nor could the ship operate properly if he was forced to do so. The commander had had enough, and he believed his ship was in real peril. On November 30th, Mackenzie addressed a letter to his seven senior officers, asking for their opinion regarding the prisoners. 

Mackenzie and the officers met in the wardroom to discuss the situation and interrogate witnesses. On December 1st, Lt. Gansevoort addressed a letter to Mackenzie on behalf of the senior officers. He communicated their opinion, that under the circumstances and for the safety of the ship, it would be impossible to carry the prisoners to the United States. 

The officers recommended all three prisoners to be put to [00:20:00] death. Mackenzie announced his final decision, declaring the prisoners to be guilty of a full and determined intention to commit mutiny on board of this vessel of a most atrocious nature. Mackenzie and his officers believed there were more men in league with the three mutineers. 

and wanted to send a clear message that insubordination and mutiny will not be tolerated. Philip Spencer, Samuel Cromwell, and Elisha Small were sentenced to death by hanging. Wasting no time, at 1. 45 that afternoon, the crew were mustered on the deck and the three mutineers were brought forth. Small was placed forward, with Spencer and Cromwell aft of the gangway. 

Mackenzie, in full dress uniform, allowed them to speak their last words, and then were blindfolded, and nooses placed around their necks. The commander, suspecting the three doomed men still had supporters, stationed officers strategically around the ship, and ordered them to execute any hangman who would let go of his [00:21:00] rope, or refuse to perform his duty. 

Lt. Gansevoort gave the command, and each group of three sailors pulled their ropes across the deck. The men shot up toward the yard arms, with their feet kicking. The ropes were tied off, and the bodies were left hanging. A silent pawl fell over the ship. Many could not believe their eyes. Mackenzie spoke a few words, and called for three cheers to the flag and their ship. 

Immediately following the execution, the bosun piped the call to dinner. Later that evening, the bodies were brought down. Cromwell and Small were sewed up into their hammocks, and Spencer was placed in a simple coffin. Mackenzie gave a short funeral service, and the men were buried at sea. The mutiny on board the USS Somers is the only mutiny of a United States naval vessel resulting in executions. 
  

The Somers arrived in St. Thomas on [00:22:00] December 5th and then proceeded to New York on December 15th, where Mackenzie anchored in the harbor. He sent a report ahead to Washington, D. C. regarding the mutiny and executions and requested an official inquiry. Twelve men still suspected of being involved in the mutiny were placed on board the USS North Carolina and then placed in confinement in Brooklyn. 

A Naval Court of Inquiry was ordered by the Secretary of the Navy, Abel P. Upshur, and commenced on December 28th, on board the USS North Carolina. The four member commission was presided over by Captain Charles Stewart. Commander Mackenzie submitted a narrative report to the commission, which was read in full. 

Mackenzie emphasized Philip Spencer's conduct while on board the USS Somers, specifically his laughing and joking with the enlisted men, and otherwise sullen and brooding temperament, rarely associating with other officers. He described the gradual lack of discipline following the departure from Africa and the increasing [00:23:00] insubordination. 

He went on to say Spencer was servile when speaking to him in person. But Spencer insulted him and mocked him privately, even stating a desire to roll the captain overboard. Of course, the discovery of the Greek papers with the list of conspirators helped his case. The testimony of James Wales and his secret conversation with Spencer up in the rigging was especially powerful. 

He described the scenario in which Spencer planned to take over the ship and murder the officers. Wales did not take it as a joke, stating, I found that he was very serious and very much in earnest in what he said. At one point, Wales explained, Elisha Small approached below during the conversation and was involved in the planning. 

Other witnesses were all men loyal to Mackenzie, including Lt. Gansevoort. Mackenzie himself did not testify and only submitted his narrative, and therefore was not subject to cross examination. [00:24:00] The inquiry was completed on January 19, 1843. After just one day, Captain Charles Stewart issued the inquiry's decision. 

Commander Mackenzie, under these circumstances, was not bound to risk the safety of his vessel. and jeopardize the lives of his crew in order to secure to the guilty the forms of a trial, in that the immediate execution of the prisoners was demanded by duty and justified by necessity. The court is further of the opinion that throughout all of these painful occurrences, so well calculated to disturb the judgment and try the energy of the bravest and most experienced officer, the conduct of Commander Mackenzie and his officers was prudent, calm, and firm. 

And he and they honorably performed their duty to the service and their country. Following the naval inquiry, Mackenzie asked for a naval court martial, fearing he might be tried in a civilian court. This was granted, and Mackenzie was charged with three counts of murder, two counts of [00:25:00] oppression, illegal punishment, and conduct unbecoming a naval officer. 

Mackenzie testified, I admit that Acting Midshipman Philip Spencer, Boson's mate Samuel Cromwell, and Seaman Elisha Small were put to death by my order as under existing circumstances this act was demanded by duty and justified by necessity. I plead not guilty to the charges. The trial lasted from January 28th to March 31st 1843, and Mackenzie was found not guilty on all charges. 

While the Navy was happy with the verdict and supported Mackenzie's actions, the general public held a different view. The floggings and executions came across as especially brutal and archaic. Secretary John Spencer was appalled at the verdict, saying of his son, though perhaps he was a wayward lad, was his favorite child. 

Philip was full of genius, not unamiable in [00:26:00] disposition, fond of study, and addicted to curious speculation. He was shy, reserved, and given to solitary musing. A writer named T. N. Parmelee investigated the entire incident and scrutinized both the naval inquiry and the court martial. He later wrote, The cowardly and tyrannical exercise of authority, the illegal and atrocious hanging of the three victims, was slurred over by the government through the influence of Commander Mackenzie's powerful connections. 

But the most vocal and persistent opponent of Mackenzie was James Fenimore Cooper, the famed author of The Last of the Mohicans and The Deerslayer. Cooper was a former Navy man himself, and his feud with Mackenzie went back to 1813. Cooper wrote an historical account of the Battle of Lake Erie. Mackenzie wrote a critical review of Cooper's work, disagreeing with him about the role of Lieutenant Jesse Elliott. 

This sparked a rebuttal from Cooper and a lifelong feud between the two men. [00:27:00] Cooper wrote a lengthy and scathing review of Mackenzie's court martial, entitled, Cruise of the Somers, Illustrative of the Despotism of the Quarterdeck and of the Unmanly Conduct of Commander Mackenzie. In it, he questions the truthfulness of the witness statements and cites Mackenzie's predetermined dislike of Philip Spencer after learning of his prior conduct. 

He found the entire trial to be biased, having only questioned witnesses who were beneficial to Mackenzie. Parmelee also agreed, writing, The trial of Commander Mackenzie by court martial was nothing but a solemn farce. Cooper thoroughly read the logbooks of the USS Somers and asks, quite understandably, if such insubordination had been occurring, such as the threatening of officers, why was none of it recorded in the logs? 

He also questioned the reliability of the Greek papers, which were of key importance during the trial. The papers do not [00:28:00] include the name of Samuel Cromwell, who was certainly in league with Spencer. It also includes the name E. Andrews, and nobody by that name was on board the Somers. Cromwell was such a close ally that perhaps there was no need to include his name. E. Andrews could have simply been a mistake. Much can be speculated as to why such an omission, and addition, were made. Alexander Slidell Mackenzie was cleared of all wrongdoing, but the entire affair was quite sensational at the time, and he suffered in the court of public opinion, as Cooper continued to rail against the injustice. 

Mackenzie continued with his naval career, but died suddenly of a heart attack in 1848, at age 45. Lieutenant Gert Gansevoort served for another 25 years in the Navy, earning the rank of captain in 1862 and commanding the ironclad Roanoke during the American Civil War. He retired in 1867 and was promoted to Commodore [00:29:00] on the retired list. 

Gansevoort died in 1868 at age 56. However, while on his deathbed, Gansevoort confided to his cousin, author of Moby Dick, Herman Melville, that He told Melville that the officers could not reach a unanimous decision regarding the prisoners. But Commander Mackenzie convinced them, saying, There would be no security for the lives of the officers if an example was not set for the rest of the crew. 

 Melville went on to write the novel, Billy Budd, which included some similar themes and incidents from the Somers mutiny. Following the court martial of Mackenzie, command of the USS Somers was given to Lieutenant John West and assigned to the Holmes Squadron to patrol the West Indies and East Coast of the United States. 

In 1846, at the outbreak of the Mexican American The Somers was sent to Veracruz, Mexico under the command of Lieutenant Raphael Semmes. [00:30:00] On December 8, 1846, the Somers capsized in a squall while pursuing a blockade runner off Veracruz. 36 of her 80 crew were lost. Raphael Semmes survived the wreck and went on to be a celebrated and notorious commander of the Confederate commerce raider, CSS Alabama, during the American Civil War. 

You can hear more about Raphael Semmes in episode 58 of Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs. Kidnapped at Sea, David Henry White. The United States Naval Academy was formed October 10, 1845. Thanks to the efforts of Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft, the formation of the Naval Academy was partially as a result of the disastrous outcome of the Experimental Apprentice Program of the U. S. S. Somers. The U. S. Naval Academy is now a highly competitive and prestigious school. Designed to train and prepare naval officers. That is going to do it for the Somers [00:31:00] Mutiny. Thank you so much for listening. Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is written, edited, and produced by me, Rich Napolitano. Original theme music is by Sean Siegfried, and you can follow him at seansiegfried. com. In some exciting news, Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is now available on YouTube. All episodes now have full length videos with photos and maps and other information, so please find Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs on YouTube, And click to subscribe. For ad free listening, please consider supporting the podcast at patreon.com/shipwreckspod or by subscribing to Into History at intohistory. com slash shipwreckspod. If you'd like to make a donation of any amount, please do so at buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod. All episodes, images, and sources can be found at shipwrecksandseadogs. com, where you can also find some pretty cool merchandise. 

Get yourself a shirt. Help support the show at the same time. Please join me again next time, but until then, [00:32:00] don't forget to wear your life jackets.