Blood Spilled for Freedom: Americas Struggle for Survival 1776-1815

By GAR OLSON

Governments around the world were realizing the disproportionate advantages Great Britain were taking by imposing trade restriction on the American colonies. These restrictions were also affecting their economies in a negative way.

British have made it known they want a piece of us. Our defiance of their demands to pay portions of our profit to them had the British Royal Navy looking for us.

We will be at war with England in the near future but not until our spineless Congress arms a Navy, as per the Constitution we adopted, to be governed by and following the language of the Constitution.
Captain Thomas Williams was exercising his Economic independence but other than his efforts, free trade did not exist in the United States. Captain Williams did not recognize Great Britain as having any rights of legislation over America.

America cannot be just a service economy with an expanding government subservient to the British. We need to allow the development of new small businesses that can succeed and employ those who need to work. We can only achieve this by removing all the mountains of British rules and regulations that have been killing entrepreneurs off.
Government must allow the economy to grow; not create more Socialism.

I want to put a stop to this American. What is his name and what is his vessel?
Sir, the name of the American vessel is Tossea and the name if the ships captain is Thomas Williams.

Blood Spilled for Freedom
by Gar Olson
Historical Fiction: The factious story of Captain Thomas Williams (1776-1815) is fun, informative, emotional, and adventurous.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 5, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491861394

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© 2014 Gar Olson. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

This book is a work of historical fiction. The names of some of the characters are real and most of the incidents are based on actual accounts while others are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Published by AuthorHouse 02/03/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4918-6052-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-6139-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014902219

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and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Time line for story. (Historical Fiction)Thomas Williams (1776-1840)

Prologue to Blood Spilledfor Freedom by Gar Olson

Revolutionary War 1776-1812, brief overview

Chapter One 1805: British impressment

Chapter Two 1770: Philadelphia, New Blacksmith

Chapter Three 1776: Merchant business, birth.

Chapter Four 1773: Bullies; 1733 Molasses Act, Navigation Act, greed against America

Chapter Five 1774: Boring back ground data

Chapter Six 1776: Captain John Barry

Chapter Seven 1783: Education, Treaty of Paris

Chapter Eight 1778: Free School of the Protestant Episcopal Church

Chapter Nine 1801: Christians Infidels

Chapter Ten 1786: John Bullies, impressments

Chapter Eleven 1787: Articles of Confederation

Chapter Twelve 1789: Young Thomas Williams

Chapter Thirteen 1790: Smuggling

Chapter Fourteen 1790: Trade

Chapter Fifteen 1793: Yellow Fever in Philadelphia

Chapter Sixteen 1798: Muslim thugs, beheadings, British Greed

Chapter Seventeen 1797: XYZ Affair, Naval Act

Chapter Eighteen 1796: Alien & Sedition Acts, Tossea

Chapter Nineteen 1800: Millions for defense, Barbary War

Chapter Twenty 1801: Four British commands

Chapter Twenty-one 1802: Spain; English & French Blockades

Chapter Twenty-two 1804: Thomas Williams, Philadelphia

Chapter Twenty-three 1805: Trading, coming home few years later

Chapter Twenty-four 1805: Purchase of Tossea

Chapter Twenty-five 1805: Back to Philadelphia

Chapter Twenty-six 1805: Heading for Europe

Chapter Twenty-seven 1805: Life at Sea

Chapter Twenty-eight 1805: Back to Europe

Chapter Twenty-nine 1805: Wedding in Florence, Italy

Chapter Thirty 1805: Back to Philadelphia

Chapter Thirty-one 1805: Philadelphia, laws

Chapter Thirty-two 1805: After the battle

Chapter Thirty-three 1805: Livorno

Chapter Thirty-four 1805: Battling the English

Chapter Thirty-five 1805: Trade

Chapter Thirty-six 1805: Europe

Chapter Thirty-seven 1806: San Juan

Chapter Thirty-eight 1807: Impressment

Chapter Thirty-nine 1806: HMS Crown

Chapter Forty 1806: HMS Crown

Chapter Forty-one 1806: Florence

Chapter Forty-two 1807: Jacksonville

Chapter Forty-three 1807: Seafarer

Chapter Forty-four 1808: Return

Chapter Forty-five 1808: Europe

Chapter Forty-six 1808: Squadron

Chapter Forty-seven 1807: Embargo Act

Chapter Forty-eight 1807: Navy

Chapter Forty-nine 1810: Macon

Chapter Fifty 1810: Trouble

Chapter Fifty-one 1810: Politics

Chapter Fifty-two 1810: Europe

Chapter Fifty-three 1811: Prizes

Chapter Fifty-four 1811: Leaving Philadelphia

Chapter Fifty-five 1811: Admiralty

Chapter Fifty-six 1811: Dry Dock

Chapter Fifty-seven 1812: Chase

Chapter Fifty-eight 1812: Battle

Chapter Fifty-nine 1812: War

Chapter Sixty 1812: Trade restrictions

Chapter Sixty-one 1812: Letter of Marque

Chapter Sixty-two 1812: Muslim pirates

Chapter Sixty-three 1812: Freed Prisoners

Chapter Sixty-four 1813: Washington D.C.

Chapter Sixty-five 1813: Prizes

Chapter Sixty-six 1813: Philadelphia

Chapter Sixty-seven 1813: Muslims

Chapter Sixty-eight 1813: Escape

Chapter Sixty-nine 1813: Black Powder

Chapter Seventy 1814: British Control

Chapter Seventy-one 1814: East Indies

Chapter Seventy-two 1814: President

Chapter Seventy-three 1814: Frustration

Chapter Seventy-four 1814: Sailing of a square-rigged ship

Chapter Seventy-five The Sails Of A Square-Rigged Ship

Chapter Seventy-six Container Capacities

Chapter Seventy-seven Terms

Chapter Seventy-eight Vessels belonging to Williams Trading Company, 1808

Chapter Seventy-nine Decks on vessels

Chapter Eighty The ship’s schedule

End Notes

To my wonderful wife, Toss

Naval books by the author are about five 18th century naval commanders, leaders that contributed to the success of establishing the constitutional government of the United States.

The five naval commanders in my collection to date are:

The title of each of the five books is to emphasize the human quality best describing their contribution to our country. These were dedicated men striving to be the best they could be. They were not perfect role models as professional’s leaders or with their private lives but never the less they were leaders. These are men that should be remembered as some of the men that made the United States an independent nation.

Other books by author:

• Assassin, Denial of Reality II

• Chronicles of a Traveling Aficionado

• Dependency, Denial of Realty

• Seas of Courage

Time line for story. (Historical Fiction)

Thomas Williams (1776-1840)

1757: June 15: Congress selects George Washington to be commander in Chief of the Continental Army.

1760: Population of the British colonies: approximately 1,610,000.

1764: The Sugar Act of 1764.

1765: The Quartering Act in 1765; The Stamp Act, signed March 22, 1765.

Was not signed by George III since he was temporarily insane. On May 29, 1765 Patrick Henry is accused of treason for denouncing The Stamp Act in the Virginia House of Burgesses, he replies: If this be treason, make the most of it.

1767: The Townshend Acts (1767), Tea Act. The Revenue Act of June 29,

1767, it expressly authorized the superior courts of the colonies to issue writs of assistance, empowering customs officers to enter "any house, warehouse, shop, cellar, or other places. The third measure was the Tea Act of July 2, 1767, aimed at the tea trade which Americans carried On illegally with foreigners.

1768: October 1, 1768: Two regiments of British troops land in Boston.

Baltimore County seat moved from Joppa to Baltimore Town. The Non-Importation Agreement.

1770: The Boston Massacre resulted from Americans opposition to the British authorities on March 5, 1770. The British killed five and wounded six in response to Bostonians thrown snowballs and rocks at them.

1773: Virginia Resolutions of 1773

The Boston Tea Party happened one night in December 1773. The News of the tea riot in Boston confirmed King George in his conviction that there should be no soft policy in dealing with his American subjects.

The die is cast, the colonies must either triumph or submit… If we Take the resolute part, they will undoubtedly be very meek.

There were over 120 taverns in Philadelphia; 21 taverns on 2nd Street.

1774: Sept. 5-Oct. 26, 1774 The First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia and issues Declaration and Resolves.

Oct. 10, 1774, Battle of Point Pleasant, Virginia (disputed as to whether it was a battle of the American Revolution or the culmination of Lord Dunmore’s War)1774. The five Intolerable Acts.

1775: British occupy Boston, April 19; Continental Army created, June 15.

More than 1/3 of the foreign trade of Great Britain was carried in American-built ships. In 1775 the Stamp Act was ruled unconstitutional.

The Horse You Came in On Saloon, known by locals simply as The Horse, at 1626 Thames Street, was established in 1775 and over the next two centuries became a Fell’s Point institution. Proclamation of rebellion Bloodshed erupted at Lexington and Concord, April 19. The Stamp Act was ruled unconstitutional.

The Second Continental Congress came together on May 10, 1775.

1776: Thomas Williams was born on April 7, 1776.

United States Declaration of Independence, July 4.

At the time the Continental Congress declared America’s independence from Britain, the Continental Navy listed 25 vessels mounting 422 guns. The British Navy, on the other hand, had 112 vessels that carried 3,714 guns.

When Benjamin Franklin was referring to the conflict with England in 1776 he would say, We fought a war that was a revolution against the British but the war for independence is yet to be fought.

1776: September 22: Before being executed by the British for spying, Capt. Nathan Hale says, I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.

December 19: To bolster the patriots’ morale, Thomas Paine publishes The Crisis, which begins: These are the times that try men’s souls.

July 4: Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence. Virginia Richard Henry Lee formally moved for independence on June 6. On June 11, a five-member committee—consisting of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman was named to produce a draft of a declaration.

1777: June 14: The Continental Congress authorizes a flag with 13 red and white stripes and 13 white stars on a field of blue. The passing of the first Flag Act by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. October 17, British forces under General John Burgoyne surrendered to Colonial troops in Saratoga, N.Y., in a turning point of the Revolutionary War. November 15, the Continental Congress approved the Articles of Confederation, precursor to the Constitution.

1778: France officially entered the war on June 17th, 1778, and the ships of The French Navy sent to the Western Hemisphere spent most of the year in the West Indies 1778 the French allied themselves with the American rebels.

After 1778 the British switched the focus of their efforts to the defense of the West Indies, as their sugar wealth made them much more valuable to Britain than the Thirteen Colonies.

Navy Department was created, April 30.

1780: Next, the Dutch Republic joined in 1780. The British found themselves fighting a global war on four continents, without a single ally. Maritime neutrals were Holland and the Baltic States. (Armed neutrality of 1780). U.S. population in 1780: 2,781,000.

1781: Ratified Articles of Confederation, March 1.

Lord North said, Oh God! It’s all over—upon hearing news of Maj. General Charles Cornwallis surrendering at Yorktown, Va.

1782: Stewart, Nesbitt & Co. formed, March 15. Ships of the line: French 73, Spain 54, British 94, United States zero.

1783: January 12, 1783 Treaty of Paris, Sept 3.

January 20, 1783—England signs a peace treaty with France and Spain.

February 3, 1783—Spain, Russia, Sweden and Denmark formally recognize America’s independence.

April 11, 1783—Congress officially claims an end to the Revolutionary War.

June 13, 1783—The Continental Army disbands.

September 3, 1783—The United States and Great Britain sign the Treaty of Paris officially ending the war. America is free!

1785: The Continental Navy was disbanded and the remaining ships were sold. The frigate Alliance, which had fired the last shots of the American Revolutionary War, was also the last ship in the Navy.

John Adams, minister to Great Britain from 1785 to 1788.

1787: There were 1,955 dwellings in Philadelphia.[

1789: New Jersey became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights.

1790: Baltimore Population: 13,503 people. Muslim’s attaching American’s, April 21. U.S. population: 3,929,625.

On January 2, 1790 the House went into secret session to debate the issue. On a very narrow vote of 46 to 44 they approved three resolutions:

73754.png Appropriate additional money for diplomatic expenses.

73757.png Provide a naval force.

73759.png Appoint a committee to devise a plan for the navy.

1791: December 15: The Bill of Rights is ratified, protecting individual liberties from the power of the central government. The first ten amendments to the Constitution guarantee such basic rights as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, and the right to a jury trial.

1792: First U.S. copyright issued to John Barry, June 6

1793: In February, 1793, the French Republic declared war against Great Britain. Order in Council of November 6, 1793. The leaders of the French Revolution beheaded the queen, Marie Antoinette.

1794: Naval Act passed, March 27, 1794 George Washington appointed John Barry as the ranking officer in the United States Navy and Commander in Chief of all American Naval Forces on June 4th, 1794.

1795: Secretary of State, Timothy Pickering, reported that in the year 1795 the French privateers had captured 316 American merchantmen.

1797: United States Navy formed, February 22

The first US Navy ship ever to enter service was launched from the David Stodder Shipyard, Harris Creek, in Fell’s Point on September 7, 1797. She was christened the USS Constellation and served in the US Fleet.

President’s Washington term ended, March 3, John Adams took office as President, March 4, USS United States launched, July 10, 1797: John Adams, President on March 4, 1797-1801, Federalist, dove. People & nations are forged in the fires of adversity.

The French in 1797 had captured 316 American merchant ships in an eleven month period. The United States was viewed as fair game since the Americans had not had a warship in the water since 1785.

June 7, 1797 marked a triumph for those in Congress that agreed to the Treaty of Tripoli. The treaty won the support of the Senate and signed by President Adams on June 10, 1797 and published in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Gazette on June 17th.

1798: The United States and France were in a non-declared war on the seas. The war was referred to as the Franco-American War lasting from 1798 to 1800.

July 7, 1798 Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia.

The Congress on April 30, 1798 established the Department of the Navy under the direction of Benjamin Stoddert a Maryland merchant.

The Congress passed the Retaliation Act against French citizens captured on the ocean in 1798.

The Alien and Sedition Acts give the president the power to imprison or deport foreigners believed to be dangerous to the United States and make it a crime to attack the government with false, scandalous, or malicious statements or writings.

1799: George Washington died, December 14

Stephen Decatur, Richard Somers, and Charles Stewart were young Men with an uncommon dedication to loyalty of their Captain and the United States Navy. Construction began on Fort McHenry, Baltimore.

Alexander Martin established Baltimore American & Daily Advertiser.

The USS Essex was a 36-gun sailing frigate and was launched on September 30, 1799 at a cost of $139,362.

1800: Baltimore, Population: 26,504 people (according to 1800 U S Census.)

United States Navy Personnel Strength in 1800 was 5,400. The 1800 census estimated the population of the United States at 3,929,214.

First Investment Bank in United States Alex Brown establishes first investment bank in United States 135 East Baltimore St. (Baltimore, Md.).

1801: Thomas Jefferson, President 1801-1805-1809, Republican, favored war against Muslim’s, pro-French. Parties were just forming. In 1801 there entered 799,304 tons of native shipping and but 138,000 foreign.

1801: The First Barbary War began (1801-1805); the United States was in need of a larger navy to defend the rights of the new nation. May 14, 1801 Tripoli declared war on United States. Jefferson’s inauguration.

The public debt was diminished from $80,000,000 to $34M, reducing the annual interest on the debt by $2M.

1802: Congress formally authorized the establishment of the United States Military Academy in 1802.

1803: The Philadelphia was captured Tripolitania pirates on October 31, 1803 after having run aground.

May 1803, war again began between France and Great Britain.

Muslim pirates Commodore Preble in 1803 was sent to punish Mediterranean pirates preying upon American commerce.

May 1803 the matter of impressment dragged on, war was seen to be inevitable.

1804: The burning of the Philadelphia on February 16, 1804. Blowing up of the Fire Ship Intrepid commanded by Capt. Somers in the Harbour of Tripoli on the Night of the 4th. Sept.1804.

1805: Treaty of Peace and Amity, signed at Tripoli June 4, 1805 (6 Rabia I, H. 1220). Original in English and Arabic. Submitted to the Senate December 11, 1805. Resolution of advice and consent April 12, ratification generally, see the notes. Proclaimed April 22, 1806.

The Royal Navy had defeated the French in the sea battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Charles Willson Peale (the patriarch of a large family of artists) founded the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia in 1805.

1806: Domestic production in 1807 was $48,699.592. Non-Importation Act Napoleon issued his Berlin decree in November.

Congress on April 23, 1806 passed a law shutting the American market.

1807: HMS Leopard and USS Chesapeake, June 22. December 22, 1807, President Jefferson on December 25, 1807 implemented the Embargo Act of 1807. The Orders in Council of November 11, 1807, therefore forbade all entrance to ports of the countries which had embraced the Continental system. Colonial produce from the United States was $59,643.558. British Orders in Council of 1807 and 1809.

1808: Act of Parliament, March 28, 1808, which fixed the duties to be paid on the foreign goods thus passing through British customhouses. Cotton was to pay nine pence a pound. Tobacco, three halfpence.

July 4, the British Government had stopped all hostilities against Spain.

August 30, Portugal was evacuated by the French.

1809: March 1, Nonintercourse Act. (Replaced by Macon’s Bill No. 2, James Madison became President 1809-1813-1817, Republican.

The Public debt in America on January 1, 1809 was $57,023,192.09 lower than when Jefferson took office in 1801. Napoleon’s economic blockade is not working. Britain’s exports reach an all-time high.

1810: Population: 46,535 people in Baltimore, making it the third largest city in America under figures from the U.S. Census.

1811: Hezekiah Niles began publishing Niles’ Register in Baltimore.

Work started on National Road. Alexander Brown & Sons opened as investment banking firm, Baltimore. The French are driven from Portugal.

1812: April 19th, The shot heard around the world. War breaks out with Great Britain, June 18, USS Constitution defeats HMS Guerrier, August 19.

Decatur commanding the USS United States captured HMS Macedonian on October 25, 1812.

On 29 December, 1812, William Bainbridge defeats the 38-gun HMS JAVA, a vessel of 1,083 tons.

French forces under Napoleon Bonaparte began their retreat from Moscow.

1814: December 24, 1814, Treaty of Ghent. French Emperor, Decree of Berlin, November 21. The battle of Bladensburg, August 24, 1814.

1815: Treaty of Ghent was ratified, February 18. On February 23, 1815, President Madison requested that Congress declare war on Algiers. His request was approved by Congress on March 2, 1815.

USS Constitution placed in ordinary, May 15

Treaty with Pasha Yusuf Qaramanli, August 15

1816: In France, the income of working people in terms of what it buys (real wages) begins a four-decade decline.

1817: USS Franklin to the Mediterranean, November 17. James Monroe, President 1817-1821-1825, anti-Federalists.

1818: For the Ottoman Empire, Egyptians are taking control of the Arabian Peninsula.

1820: Stephen Decatur killed in duel, March 20.

1821: USS Franklin installed first library, July. First Roman Catholic Cathedral in the United States.

1822: The Ottoman Turks respond to rebellion on the island of Chios by slaughtering five-sixths of the islands 120,000 inhabitants.

1823: Samuel Southard, Sec. of the Navy, September 16.

1824: Britain and the U.S. negotiate a treaty establishing procedures for suppressing the slave trade, but the U.S. Senate undercuts the treaty’s powers and the British refuse to sign.

1825: Acquittal of Commodore Stewart, December 10. Louis XVIII has died and is succeeded by his reactionary brother, Charles X.

1827: First Naval Hospital started, April 2.

1829: John Branch Sec. of the Navy, March 9.

1830: First passenger train in United States. Appointed: Board of Navy Commissioners, August.

1832: Andrew Jackson 2nd term as President, March 4.

1833: 1835: 1836: Command of the USS Natchez, July

Made plans for New York Navy Yard, September 27.

1838: Command of Philadelphia Navy Yard (to 1841)

1840: Thomas Williams dies, March 21.

Prologue to Blood Spilled

for Freedom

by Gar Olson

(Captain Thomas Williams, 1776-1840, historical fiction)

America was named after Amerigo Vespucci, a naval astronomer of Florence.

G o d bless our fore fathers that gave us the Constitution, but America, what happened?

Politics in 1800 was the dissimilarity between Federalists (Adams) and Republicans (Jefferson). The general feeling among the American populist was that things should be left as the status quo. The question was, what is the status quo? The status quo was certainly not giving into the British or the French control.

The pirates in North Africa were also being resourceful in picking up on the fact the British were no longer the protectors of the Colonies. The new United States was naked and the weather was becoming chiller for Americans conducting trade across the ocean.

Perhaps the general feeling was that of indecision as to what to do to protect American trade. Doing nothing was not the answer but surprisingly many thought it was. The United States needed to stand up and announce its independence with pride and forcefulness. This was not a time for the United States to be timid with those poking them with sticks.

It was not an easy thing for Americans to stand up and be accountable, just look at the past history leading to Revolutionary war. The men supporting independence were knowingly targeted as being treasonous to the British crown. The commitment to freedom had its price that perhaps few people, other than those currently defending our country, today would be willing to pay.

The framers of the Constitution were aware the people of the new United States must defend themselves against aggressors besides being able to declare themselves as believers in natural rights that came only from God not from an English King or any other dictator. The citizens of the United States were living their dream but they had no means in place to effectively demonstrate their determination to their antagonists; how to take that stick away from those poking them.

George Washington, first annual address to Congress, Jan. 8, 1790

If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known, that we are at all times ready for War.

American merchants were called fat ducks by the Barbary States. In 1794 the Dey of Algiers was well aware the United States had no sea power (defenses) to protect its merchantmen and their vessels. The Algerian thugs had plundered eleven American merchant ships and held one hundred nineteen of their survivors for ransom, abusing them as they would slaves.

The Algerians then captured the Maria of Boston, & Dauphine of Philadelphia, in 1785. The total crew of twenty-one men were held for ten years in slave conditions, only eleven survived the ordeal; the Muslims were brutal thugs and enjoyed in the torture of Christians.

The leaders of the new Constitutional government, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson were being ridiculed for not being able to affect the captured sailor’s release from the Algerians. The Muslims wanted money and lots of it before they would even consider the release of Americans in their control.

The delegates from the various states had heated discussions at Carpenter Hall in Philadelphia as to a solution for appeasing the merchants increasing demands for protection on the open seas.

The conscientious solution of the Congress was to send an entourage to North Africa to meet with the Dey of Algiers. The governing body was in agreement that they certainly could reason with him that plundering American merchant ships was not the thing to do.

The three diplomats, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson and their entourage traveled to Algiers. They had previously notified Richard O’Brien the American Consul in Algiers of their pending trip to visit the Dey.

The Americans sailed in to the Algerian harbour with high hopes of successful negotiations to liberate the American citizens, and receive assurances American merchant ship would be allowed to sail the Mediterranean in peace. The three diplomats had visions of returning to America as heroes.

The three diplomats and their entourage took their small shore boat to the harbour docks where they were met by the United States consul, Mr. Richard O’Brien and a group of armed janizaries, with their curved scimitars in their belts. The men formed a procession and walked to the palace in silence. When they reached the palace the American visitors were instructed, in French, to wait until the Dey would receive them.

The men had been shown into a vestibule that was barren of all furniture that would be suitable to sit in or on. The hall was rich in decorations and opulence that was certainly in contrast to the deteriorated appearance of the buildings they saw entering the harbour. The men were told they would have to wait until the Dey had finished his morning supper. The American consul, Mr. Richard O’Brien warned them that the Dey did not believe that Christians were equal in stature to Muslims. The group could not believe this was true since they had come to talk about peace and future trade arrangements.

After one and one-half hours of becoming extremely uncomfortable, Franklin had gout, and the others had to pee; a door opened. The apparent leader of the janizaries appeared and ushered them into the chamber hall of the Dey.

Franklin being the eldest of the representative group approached the Dey with greetings of friendship in his best French.

Your Highness we have traveled many days to bring you greeting from the United States. We thank you for seeing us and hopefully hearing our appeal for release of our citizens and establishing safe trade in the Mediterranean.

The idealistic reasoning hoped for, as to a solution to the Muslim attitude towards Americans, was met with astonishment. The Dey of Algiers was not interested in the requests and opinions of Christians.

The Dey was doing his best to show contempt towards Franklin and it did not go unnoticed by all those in the room. The armed Muslim janizaries stood in back of the Dey looking as they we ready to pull out their scimitars and slit the throats of the entire visiting group.

The Dey jumped off his couch much like a dog seeing a squirrel and instantly coming into an attack mode.

Much to the surprise of the three wise diplomats they were call Christian Dogs; the Dey made it plain to them they weren’t welcome. The Dey made it brusquely known that if the Christian Dogs wanted their American prisoners back they had to pay him ransom for each one returned.

Dogs of a Christian, down on your knees! shrieked the Dey, to the much astonished men.

Richard O’Brien leaned over to Franklin and whispered in his ear. The Dey always acts this way, just smile and continue.

The Dey again, in French, Dog of a Christian, down on your knees! shrieked the Dey, pointing his finger towards to floor.

Your Highness we are not your servants but concerned men from a foreign country wishing to mend any troubles that may exist between us.

You pay me money, jizya, and that makes you my servants and you will do as I wish, the Dey was now jumping up in each of the men’s faces.

The Dey drew his scimitar and began waving it around in a much amateurish way.

Franklin said, I am afraid we have come in vein, gentlemen. Franklin then addressed the Dey: All we request is the immediate release of the Americans you are holding in captivity.

You will pay me for those men, they are mine now.

They are Americans you have imprisoned illegally and we want them back!

You pay me three thousand dollars for each man I hold, dead or alive, and until you pay me ransom for them they remain here.

Franklin turned to the other men, Gentlemen we need to exit with haste and that means we must not vacillate another minute!

The men abruptly left the palace chambers and went immediately to their waiting boat at the dock to take them back to the ship.

They bid their farewell to Richard O’Brien and asked him to advise them of any change in the Dey’s position.

Once aboard the ship the Americans immediately set sail out of the well-fortified harbor, fearful for their lives.

Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were men who worried, not about themselves but how people could cope with being independent; living by the natural laws of God and not by man’s impudent calculations and whims. Man needed to create just laws by which government would abide by and be ruled by to protect all the citizens of the United States.

Ben, I am totally frustrated with what to do with our policy in North Africa. Jefferson commented.

Thomas, if you are elected President, it is going to be your problem to deal with, grimiest Franklin at the thought of Jefferson becoming president.

I won’t mix words, war is the only solution. My mind is absolutely suspended between indignation and impotence.

Don’t act with haste my friend. We need to evaluate more closely the cost to our fragile economy, Franklin was not wanting to encourage his friend.

Perhaps, Ben, but what money we do have is being thrown away. Money is not what going to solve our problem, gunpowder and shot is what they will understand.

What I find difficult to believe that the Constitution of the United States is being trashed. We are allowing a few to disband the American dream guaranteed under the new Constitution; and let’s not forget about the blood spilled by millions of Americans that fought for the freedom we are casually dismissing. Will we fight for our freedom again? Perhaps we will and more blood will be spilled, give it some thought Tom.

Gentlemen, please remember we have yet to fight for our independence. Yes, we may believe that we won the conflict with the English in our successful struggle for independence, but in truth we didn’t. Our fight with England has continued all these years with the major battle yet to be fought, Ben was staring at his friends.

Freedom is the base of the American society, not Muslim rule. A world ruled by Muslim control is not an America goal. Most Muslims in America are not American, they may claim to be, but I don’t believe they are, John Adams chimed in as he heard his friend’s conversation heat up.

Please remember our government evolved under the adversity of offending King George (III) and thus risking harsh retaliation on to each of us that were involved if we failed. I like to think we were men with insight, believing freedom would prevailed, not those who had self-interest only at hand.

Don’t ever forget that we have a government of laws within the guidelines of the Constitution. Let us also be realistic in knowing we have a select conspiracy of elitists who have conspired to over throw the Constitution and create a Socialistic fascism form of government that will place those in charge above the rules and regulations developed by them.

I believe a majority of Americans are in favor of freedom, the individual right to exist under the protection of the Constitution of the United States, Franklin smiled at his friends.

Where has the train derailed? ask Adams.

Perhaps we need to look at those who are driving the train. They are the men who are wondering how we can sustain this vast new idealistic Republic.

Think about it, we (the) founders are all business minded, self-made, entrepreneurs with a common desire to be free of oppression, and the English control relating to religion and human rights, Jefferson commented.

What was considered oppression? Taxation and restrictive regulations comes to mind as two of the most oppressive methods that can stifle the freedom of individuals to make the private sector work.

What are we going to do about the Muslim situation of pirate terrorism? If we continue to give into the demands of these Muslim thugs they are going to bankrupt us. We need to consider military solutions but we are not prepared to fight. To consider wagering an aggression in North Africa seems to have no realism today, Jefferson was looking into the eye of his friends.

Even in the early formation of government in 1774, defense of the Nation was considered to be the primary function the constitutional government; contrast that to the current feeling in the Congress that national defense is a waste. A waste is something you discard because it no longer has a use. Defense is not something to discard but to embellish on to stay alive, Ben was somewhat agitated thinking of his colleagues in opposition.

Those who desire a Socialistic fascism government want national defense to be diminished. But we are a new republic with challenges that must be dealt with, realizing the future we must build will depend on our being ready to fight.

The urgency in government today is to protect the Constitution not the sensitive feelings of the few.

Revolutionary War

1776-1812, brief overview

We must show the world we are prepared to make war in order to preserve peace.

H ow did the social, military, and political landscape of the United States evolve from those humble and sometimes violent times of the 18 th century?

Perhaps men were guided by their own moral and dedication to service attempting to create perfection formulated from their individual minds.

The naval leaders in the Revolutionary War and the war of 1812 were instrumental in the successful development of the United States.

The naval captains in both wars were Americans heroes, men of extraordinary bravery, honorable men defining the spirit of determined loyalty to the new nation.

The evolving of the United States was difficult, bloody, struggle ending in 1815. The efforts of the men in these evolving years were important to the expanding of free trade that led to the economic growth of the country. America was young and energetic, an up and coming power in the world.

We must commence with the formulation of the minds of children of the 18th century. Children were delivered into the world under the most elementary conditions usually in the dwelling of the mother. Sanitation and knowledge of medical skills was almost non-existent. The survival of a new born depended on the development of a healthy baby in the mother’s womb and the quality of the genes inherited by the baby.

Families were important to a growing society with girls seeking matrimony as early as fourteen. The family was the back bone of a community, mothers and fathers were an entity revered for growth and stabilization of the colonies. Admittedly navel personal were not the best fathers considering their long periods of absentee at sea.

New born lucky enough to enter the world in households with servants and slaves to assist in their care and raising of the child might have a chance for a better life.

The education of the child, generally was only as good as the knowledge of the mother and her ability to impart that knowledge to her children. Women were baby making machines. Most women welcomed pregnancy since they did not have a menstrual cycle to deal with.

Two wars had to happen before the United States was truly an independent nation in a world of strife and greed.

The first war, the Revolutionary War commencing in 1776 was fought for independence from Great Britain.

The second war, The War of 1812 was fought for freedom from control of Great Britain.

May 10, 1776 the second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia. The most important issue before the Congress was to declare America’s independence from Britain.

The Continental Navy was growing, listing twenty-five vessels mounting 422 guns, the British Navy, on the other hand, had 112 vessels that carried 3,714 guns. French deployed a navy of about 100 ships against the British in the American Revolution, the Spanish 77, and the Dutch forty-two. The British continued to hold a dominate present in the Atlantic Ocean. The British were forcefully taking advantage of that strength against all those who might have men and cargo they could confiscate for their benefit.

The winds of descent were rising when in 1762 the British Parliament voted to station 10,000 British troops in the colonies, and the colonies were directed by the British to support the troops.

The people were becoming concerned over the British goal of complete dominion over the colonies. This was the beginning of individuals like John Adams who felt that a violent collision was brewing.

In 1775 the British Parliament imposed a Stamp duty on all legal documents, wills, deeds, mortgages, licenses, newspapers, pamphlets, ships’ clearance and business papers.

The colonists were either on the side of the British (Tories) or in rebellion.

The British said they had lost in the last two years of the war five hundred and fifteen vessels. The British claimed they had captured one hundred and eighty-six vessels.

The British also claimed they had lost three thousand and eighty-seven merchantmen and eighty-nine privateers. She also claimed they had taken from her enemies during the war thirteen hundred and fifty-one merchantmen and two hundred and sixteen privateers.

Commodore John Barry fought and prevailed in the last naval battle of the Revolutionary War as Captain aboard the frigate USS Alliance in 1783.

Great Britain was dedicated to its exploiting colonies in the Americas. Britain was greedy, hungry for new found wealth for funding the extravagant cost of having a present all over the world. The colonies to Britain was its future source of wealth.

The American colonist were loyal to two fronts, those loyal to Britain and those desiring freedom from the suppression of the oppressive English rule.

George III narcissistic arrogance made him feel he could dictate with impunity and bypass taking council from others. The King felt his military and naval strength was all that was necessary to contain the revolutionaries in America and enforce¹ whatever revenue programs suited the British needs.

The Victorian author, George Trevelyan, said,

Never to acknowledge the independence of the Americans, and to punish their contumacy by the indefinite prolongation of a war which promised to be eternal. The King wanted to keep the rebels harassed, anxious, and poor, until the day when, by a natural and inevitable process, discontent and disappointment were converted into penitence and remorse.

George III suffered from the genetic disease porphyria, which had also tormented Mary Queen of Scots, who passed it on to her son, King James I of England.

We now know that there are at least eight types of porphyria, and that the clinical manifestation of each type is not the same. A common feature of all porphyrias is the accumulation in the body of porphyrins or porphyrin precursors. These are normal body chemicals, but they do not normally accumulate. Each type of porphyria is determined by deficiency of a different enzyme. These enzyme deficiencies are usually inherited. Symptoms of the disease can include (but are not limited to) photosensitivity, strong abdominal pain, port wine-colored urine, muscle weakness or paralysis in the arms and legs, and behavioral changes including anxiety, irritability, and confusion. The interruption of nerve impulses to the brain can cause the development of psychiatric symptoms such as depression or delirium.

The colonist were looked on as misbehaving children by those in Great Britain. The English looked down their noses at those living in the new colonies as second class citizens. The English could not believe anyone of sophistication could possibly exist in the colonies.

It had to be remembered that communications between England and the colonies was a matter of how fast a crossing the Atlantic could be made in sailing ships. Many time the ships carrying the communications might not complete the voyage. More than 2,000 vessels per year were lost at sea. Travel on the ocean was dangerous business.

The British demanded Americans use only English-built ships, belonging to English subjects for the transporting commerce over the ocean. This was somewhat short sighted since the wood from constructing the majority of English vessels came from America. Actually many east coast cities were constructing vessels.

Offences laid at George’s feet were:

He has abdicated Government here. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

George was aware of the limited wealth in the treasury of Great Britain’s. He was savvy in handing Parliament the right of income from the Crown Estates. George realized he needed a steading income to support his lavish household and agreed to a Civil List annuity.

These were mostly repealed in the face of American protests, with the exception of the tax on tea.

In 1773 colonists threw chests of tea overboard in Boston harbour in a protest known as the ‘Boston tea party’.

In 1789 France was shaken by revolution and King Louis XVI guillotined in 1793. Britain was once more at war with France. Attempted revolution by Catholics and French troops in Ireland was crushed and eventually union with Ireland was passed in 1801. By 1803 Napoleon Bonaparte was assembling a fleet for the invasion of England, but the French fleet was defeated by Admiral Horatio Nelson at the Battle Trafalgar in 1805. Napoleon defeated the Russians at Austerlitz but was forced to withdraw from Moscow by the Russian winter. The battles continued with the Peninsular War in which the British fought to drive the French from Spain. Napoleon was eventually defeated by British and German forces at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

George III died at Windsor Castle on 29 January 1820, after a reign of almost 60 years—the third longest in British history, and was succeeded by his son George IV. George IV was a hopeless case.

Chapter One

1805: British impressment

Politics stops at the water’s edge, as an old saying goes.

H e ave To, the portly man in a tattered British captain’s uniform was hollering in his megaphone from his English war frigate at the men on the American merchant schooner.

Heave to or I will blow you out of the water, the overstuffed buffoon continued yelling.

Captain Thomas Williams was sizing up the situation. Here is a British frigate with thirty-three guns demanding he drop his sails on his much smaller unarmed cargo vessel so the British could steal his men and cargo.

Suddenly the roar of the British gun sent a ball harmlessly across the bow of his vessel.

Are you deaf, heave to? The British captain was not use to having inferior Americans ignore him.

Tom said something to his helms men and then ordered the sails furled, slowing their forward motion.

The British captain sent his first lieutenant and four sailors over to the schooner.

Who is in charge here? the young British lieutenant demanded once he was on board.

I am, Tom stood his ground. Who am I addressing?

"I am First Lieutenant James Darsey from the HMS Savior and I want to see a list of the men on this sorry looking vessel."

By what authority do you think you can order me to do anything? Tom was irritated at the British using might to boss him