Letter from the War Office to the Governor of Massachusetts requesting cannon to outfit USS Constitution

Item

Type

Letterbook

Title

Letter from the War Office to the Governor of Massachusetts requesting cannon to outfit USS Constitution

Description

With preparations for war with France underway, Captain Nicholson, commander of USS Constitution has examined cannons and desires they be used for ship use. They are improper cannons for fortification and harbor defense anyway. By direction of President of United States John Adams, in order to arm the frigate Constitution, the War Office requests a loan of 14 or 16 cannon [eighteen pounders] from Castle Island, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. Offers to return or replace the cannon. Offers to obtain cannon from Providence Rhode Island to provide for interim defense of Boston Harbor. Assumes that state of Massachusetts has also had cannon balls cast for these cannon and asks that they also be provided. Timely response requested.

year created

1798

month created

05

day created

30

author

James McHenry

sent from location

War Department

secondary recipient

Governor of Massachusetts Increase Sumner

sent to location

Massachusetts

in collection

Letters Sent by the Secretary of the Navy to Federal Executive Agents (Letters to President, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, and Letters to (Requisitions on) Secretary of the Treasury and other Treasury Department Officials), June 1798-June 1824. (RG45)

in image

ZXA06

note

Regarding borrowing of cannon.

author note

James McHenry

recipient note

Addressed to Governor of Massachusetts.

notable person/group

James McHenry
Josiah Fox
Captain Nicholson
USS Constitution
USS Navy

notable location

War Department
Boston
Castle Island
Boston Harbor
Providence Rhode Island

notable item/thing

18 pounder cannon
fortifications

notable idea/issue

Quasi War with France
XYZ Affair

document number

1798053000555

page start

309

Item sets

Documents
Transcription Project

Document instances

In image In source Location in source
[view document] (2 pages) ZXA06 (315 pages) Collection: Letters Sent by the Secretary of the Navy to Federal Executive Agents (Letters to President, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, and Letters to (Requisitions on) Secretary of the Treasury and other Treasury Department Officials), June 1798-June 1824. (RG45) V:1, P:309

Document names

Type Name Location Notes
Author James McHenry War Department [n/a]
Recipient Governor of Massachusetts Increase Sumner Massachusetts [n/a]