-
- John
Rodgers
- American
Naval Hero at War 1812
- He
and his associates helped lay the foundation of
- the
modern United States Navy
-
- Two
Letters
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- John Rodgers(1772-1838). Commodore Rogers helped capture French frigate
L'INSURGENTE 9 February 1799, and took command of her as prize
master. He was promoted to Captain 5 March 1799, and 3 months
later took command of MARYLAND. In March 1801, he transported
the ratified French-American Peace Treaty to France.
- Placed in command of JOHN ADAMS the
following year, he sailed for the
 Mediterranean
to attack Barbary forts and gunboats at Tripoli. His brilliant
record fighting the corsairs won him appointment as Commodore
of the Mediterranean Squadron in May 1805.
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- A year later he returned to the United
States to take command of the New York Flotilla. After the Embargo
Act was passed at the close of 1807, Rodgers commanded operations
along the Atlantic Coast, enforcing its provisions.
- In the spring of 1811, upon word that
a British ship was impressing American seaman off Sandy Hook,
NJ, Commodore Rodgers, in PRESIDENT, was ordered to investigate.
On 16 May, he defeated British corvette LITTLE BELT in a spirited
engagement, which foreshadowed his brilliant success in the forthcoming
war with England.
- On the sixth day of the War of 1812, still
in PRESIDENT, Rodgers drove off British frigate BELVIDERA, and
chased her for 8 hours before she escaped.
 During
the remainder of the war, he captured 23 prizes and, on land,
rendered valuable service defending Baltimore during the attack
on Fort Henry.
- Following the war, Rodgers headed the
Board of Navy Commissioners until retiring in May 1837. Commodore
Rodgers died in Philadelphia 1 August 1838.
- This offering consists of 2 autograph
letters signed and written as Head of the Board of Navy Commissioners
one of which is illustrated. The letter reads in part --"The
comissioners enclose the copy of a letter from Comissioner Warrington,
I request you to state to the Board the reasons which induced
the alterations in the cannodade beds of the John Adams."
April, 8,1834. The letter is in excellent condition. there
are 2 punch holes at the left margin.
- The John Adams referred to in this letter
was built originally much earlier then it was lenghtened and
refitted and fought in the War if 1812.
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- The other Rogers letters is somewhat longer,
it iss also in eccellent condition and it deals with repairs
at an asylum (?hospital). It is a very nice letter dated May
6, 1835.
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- Rogers and his colleagues despite orders
to the contrary took to the sea to engage the enemy aggressively
and were very important in achieving final victory. Many historians
credit them with laying the foundation of the modern U.S. Navy.
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- Price (2 letters) :$450.00
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