The Fourth of July holiday harkens thebeerchaser back to his Naval History courses at Oregon State University.  While the following oft-quoted tale has been disproven historically for a number of reasons, it speaks well to the spirit of Navy personnel throughout  history.

It also provides an opportunity to celebrate America’s great history and why we should honor her on the 4th of July.                                                                           

The USS Constitution – known as “Old Ironsides” was a combat vessel carrying 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475.  This was sufficient to last for six months of operations at sea.  She carried no evaporators or fresh water distillers.

The following are notations from her ship log:

On 27 July, 1798, sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon-shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum.   Her mission was to destroy and harass English shipping.

79,400 Gallons On Shipping Out!

Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum.

She then headed for the Azores, arriving there on 12 November.  She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine.

64,300 Gallons of Portuguese Wine

On 18 November, she set sail for England.  In the ensuing days, she defeated five British man-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchant ships salvaging only the rum aboard each.                       

Only the Rum was salvaged……

By 26 January 1799, her powder and shot were exhausted.  Nevertheless, although unarmed, she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland.  Her landing party captured a whiskey distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of single-malt scotch on board by dawn.  

Then she headed home.   

Old Ironsides arrived in Boston on 20 February,  with no cannon-shot, no food no powder, no rum, no wine, no whiskey                   but               38,600 gallons of stagnant water.

As one Naval historian opined, there are a number of reasons this story equates to that of sailors and mermaids.  First, it would mean that each man on the ship consumed approximately 2.5 gallons of hard liquor per day during the entire cruise.  While we have heard of the “high” seas, this amount would stagger not only the imagination but the sailor.  Other examples,

1) In 1799, the United States was war with France, not England.

2) The United States Navy moved away from using Jamaican rum as part of the grog ration and moved towards more home-grown spirits such as Kentucky whisky.  Grog was about 2 or 3 parts water to one part whiskey.

Sailors’ Delight…

3) When a warship captured a merchant ship, the alcohol supply was the last thing on the captain’s mind. Instead, he was looking for goods he could sell when the cruise was over.

Regardless of the veracity of the story, our military deserves a salute this Fourth of July and thebeerchaser wishes you a Happy and Safe Fourth of July

Drink Responsibly!