In the last post I mentioned the CSS Alabama capturing the brig Golden Rule off Haiti on January 26, 1863, today, 150 years ago. Semmes noted in his log: "This vessel had on board masts, spars, and a complete set of rigging for the U.S. brig Bainbridge, lately obliged to cut away her masts in a gale at Aspinwall [Panama]." He later added: "I had tied up for awhile longer, one of the enemy's gun-brigs, for want of an outfit. It must have been some months before the Bainbridge put to sea." And, it was.
Well, I had never heard of this ship, so good old Wiki to the rescue.
It was named for William Bainbridge, a U.S. Naval officer in the Barbary War and the War of 1812 and who assumed command of the USS Constitution after Isaac Hull (who had defeated the HMS Guerriere. He defeated the HMS Java in combat.
The first American destroyer, the USS Bainbridge (DD-1) was also named after him in 1902.
I'll have to write about him in my War of 1812 blog.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
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