U.S. Frigate Constellation Log Book Kept By Midshipman Adam S. Kuhn, U.S. Navy
Young American Midshipman Dies en Route to the Pacific
Early U.S. Navy Diplomatic Mission to South America, South Atlantic and Pacific
Illustrated with Coastal Profiles in Brazil
A nice original logbook, kept by U.S. Navy Midshipman Adam S. Kuhn, during an early U.S. Navy voyage to South America in 1819-20. The logbook opens with an entry dated Friday, November 12th, 1819, with the Constellation leaving Hampton Roads, and ends on Sunday April 10th, 1820. At the time of the voyage the Constellation was the flagship of Commodore Charles Morris on the Brazil Station, commanded by John B. Nicolson. Aside from being a valuable first-hand record of an early U.S. Navy voyage to South America, the fact that the young man who compiled the log died during the voyage adds poignancy to the object.
Adam S. Kuhn was a grandson of Adam Simon Kuhn, a prominent Philadelphia physician and naturalist who treated members of George Washington's family and was noted by Benjamin Rush as the leading physician in Philadelphia following the death of Dr. John Jones in 1791.
Kuhn's death is announced in original newspaper clippings attached to front flyleaf of the volume: Extract of a letter from an officer on board the frigate Constellation, dated Rio de Janeiro, Sept. 25th 1820; and another from the American Daily Advertiser, May 1, 1821, which prints an extract of a letter from the commander of the U.S. Frigate Constellation [John B. Nicholson], dated October 1820, during a voyage to the Pacific:
A very painful duty has devolved on me as commander of this ship, and particularly so, as the subject of my letter was an ornament to his profession, and my friend. The late Mr. Kuhn (Adam S. Kuhn, youngest son of P[eter] Kuhn, Esq. of Philadelphia), Midshipman on board this hip, departed this life on the 24th of August last, after an illness of only four days. His complaint was Bilious. Every attention and medical assistance was afforded him, but without avail. His mind was perfect to his last moments. His amiable deportment and mild manners had gained him the esteem of all on board; his loss was therefore, the more severely felt. He had made himself master of his profession, and would, if he had have lived, been an ornament to his profession.
On Jan. 19, 1821, Kuhn describes meeting with the British battleship Superb, commanded by Sir Thomas Hardy, Commander-in-Chief of the South America Station, whose mission was to prevent the Spanish from interfering in the newly emerging republics of Mexico, Colombia and Argentina.
Notably, there are several nicely rendered pen and ink coastal profiles:
- 1st View of Lobos 5 1/2 miles distant
- 2nd View of Lobos 4 miles distant
- 1st Appearance of the Islands of Flores about 10 miles distant
- 2nd Appearance of the Islands about 7 miles distant
- Appearance of Black Point and the Sugar Loaf Mount
- Montevideo Hill 4 miles distant
The log includes a detailed account of the ship's movements, wind and weather conditions, sail reports, reefing and furling entries, and the like. In addition, Kuhn records information about the places visited.
The following are extracts from the journal:
- Nov. 12, 1819: Commenced with light breezes and pleasant weather, at 2 P.M. got underweigh and stood out the Roads; the John Adams in Company.... At 3/4 past 7 hove too and discharged Mr. Thomas the Pilot, at 1/4 past 8 Cape Henry light house...
- Nov. 15: At 1:20 P.M. mustered the crew and read the Articles of War.
- Nov. 20: At ... At dark the John Adams on the lee beam - beat to quarters and mustered the crew. At 9 made the general night signal no. 143... Midnight strong gales and squally... at 1.45 lost sight of the John Adams. At 3 burnt a false fire, at 3.45 fired the Starboard bow gun could not perceive any answer from the John Adams. At day light discovered the John Adams on the weather quarter, about 4 miles distant.
- Dec. 2: At 1 P.M. Capt. Wadsworth of the John Adams came on board. At 4.10 Capt. Wadsworth returned to the J.A.
- Dec. 7: At Meridian St. Anthony's Island (Cape de Verde) bears L. 32°.00' E distant 960 miles. St. Mary's, one of the Western Islands bears N 51° E distant 580 miles. South point of the island of Palma (one of the Canary's) S 80° 30' East distant 880 miles... At 2.05 took on altitude of the Polar Star and found the latitude to be 31° 25' North.
- Dec. 23: Commenced with light air and hasey weather, at 0.30 PM Capt. Wadsworth came onboard at 2 P.M. discovered a sail bearing South, made all sail in chase before the wind. At 4 P.M. sent the John Adam's boat on board of her, she proved to be the French Sloop Golden Ore from the coast of Africa ten days out, bound to Guadelupe with a cargo of rice, ivory, and oil - she was commanded by Capt. Silvestre Juan Francisco...
- Jan. 4, 1820: Robert Johnson (seaman) died.
- Jan. 9: At 7 made all sale in chase... boarded the Portuguese brig Hallelujah: 25 days from Rio Grande, bound to St. Salvador, cargo jerked beef, hides & tallow, saw Cape Frio nine days ago...
- Jan. 13: Captain Wadsworth came on board at 1 made all sail in chase... at 3.30 the strange sail hove too, at 3.40 spoke her she proved to be a Portuguese Hermaphrodite Brig from Rio Grande bound to Rio Janeiro, ten days out, cargo beef, hydes, &c
- Jan. 16: Commenced with fresh breese and clear... discovered a brig bearing West, standing to the northend and westward. At 1 P.M. took in the Royals & Royal Staysail, & flying jib at 1.30 took in Top gallant Sails for the John Adams to come up at 2 split the Jib, hauled it down to repair and hoisted the Fore Top mast... Midnight fresh breese and clear...
- Jan. 18: ... Passed innumerable quantities of sea birds, shoals of fish and large school of Whales at 6 soundings black and white sands (very fine) - at 7 took two reefs in the Topsails, at 7.25 mustered the crew at quarters, the John Adams bearing N.N.E. one mile distant, at 8 soundings mud and sand - Midnight fresh breeses & hazy weather... At 9 discovered the Land bearing W.N.W. about 8 miles distant, it being very hazy could not ascertain the exact situation of it. ...
- Jan. 19: ... At five minutes past one discovered the island of Lobos bearing W/2 S about 7 miles distant, at 1.30 took a sketch of the Island of Lobos [2 pen & ink profiles]... John Adams anchored, being S.E./ S about 2 1/2 miles distant.... discovered the Islands of Flores rising out of the water like two small rocks... discovered the large Sail to be a line of battle Ships; at 9.30 beat to quarters and got ready for action, the John Adams on the lee beam distant about 1/4 of a mile. At 10 hoisted our colours, the line of battle ship and a frigate built Sloop of War also hoisted their Colours, the former a red broad pendant; they did not come within speaking distance but kept on their course without taking any further notice of us. They were English and no doubt the line of battle ship is the Superb commanded by Commodore Hardie [Thomas Hardy], at 10.10 they hauled down their colours, when we filled away and tacked to the Westward - at 10.30 made Signal no. 933 - The Land to the Westward of Lobos Island is very high and no doubt may be seen at the distance of 40 or 50 miles in slear weather at the time we got underweigh the Easternmost point (called on the chart Black point bore W. 66o E and a very conspicous mountain called the Sugar Loaf (from the resemblance of which I presume it takes its name)... At 11.30 took the underneath Sketch of Flores [2 pen & ink profiles] On the first appearance of Flores they appear to be three distant Islands as represented in the first sketch, but on a nearer approach they appear to be all in one as represented in the second view the S.W. point us the highest and has a fortification and a few houses erected on the Top, it may be seen in clear weather about 11 miles ....
- Jan. 20: Commenced with fresh and squally breezes, from the Northard and Westward - Beating up for Montevideo, at 5.30 P.M. came to anchor in 7 fathom water muddy and sticky bottom, at 9 discovered the Ship to drag and veered away 30 fathoms of cable... we anchored Montevideo bore N.W. by W/W highest port of Flores... John Adams at anchor.
- Jan. 21: .... at 4 passed an English Line of Battle Ship at anchor about 8 miles below Montevideo. At 5 a schooner in the harbour made a Signal answering to the Nonsuch's numberd which was answered on board of this Ship. At 6 discovered the nonsuch standing out the harbour, the wind light; set all the Steering Sails, at 8 Spoke the Nonsuch and ordered her boat alongside... At ten exchanged a salute of 19 guns with the Portuguese Frigate Thetis and at 11.30 exchanged a salute of 21 guns with the Town.... Commander Morris and Captain Nicholson went on shore to Montevideo...
- Jan 22: ... the Portguese frigate fired a Royal Salute in commemoration of taking Montevideo, which was followed by the Forts and small government vessels lying in the harbour. at 11 A.M. an English corvette anchored in the harbour and two small Portuguese men of war...
- Jan. 23: ... Commodore Morris left the ship & shifted his Penent on board the John Adams for the purpose of going to Buenos Ayres, Mr. Henley also left the ship on a sick ticket, & took passage in the John Adams ... At sunrise hoister all the Cutters out & sent them on shore for water, also sent the Sailing Master with a crew, to fit out the American Brig Almeida hired for the purpose of watering the Ship ...
- Jan. 24: ... Lieutenant Tippett took charge of the Brig Alameida, with the following officers and men: Midshipmen: Adam S. Kuhn, Charles W. Lowndes, Edward R. Pinckney; Ordinar Seamen: John Riley, Thos. Foreman, Thos. Brown, John Shutte, John Ward, John Lane; First Seamen: John Williams, Levi Coburn, Thomas Barrett, John Johnson, Thos. Badger, Wm. Haley, John Young, George Wells, John Montgomery, Thos. Watson.
- Jan. 27: .... Spoke the American Schooner Valorius, commanded by Lieutenant Stallings who informed us that the John Adams had been ashore on the tail of the Outer Banks...
- March 4: .... at 6 A.M. whilst letting the reefs out of the Main Topsail the year broke off, by which Edward Butterfield was thrown precipitately overboard... picked him up at 6:30.
- March 11: ....spoke the French Ship Le Brilliant, 44 days from Havre de Grace bound to Buenos Ayres.
- March 25: ... discovered the Island Ferdinand Noronha bearing N. by E. ....
- April 3: ... from St. Johns (N.B.) bound to Demerara, 25 days out ...
- April 6: ... at 5:30 A.M. discovered the Island St. Lucia - on the larboard bow, and Martinico and the starboard bow, ... at 9 passed the town of Port Royal & discovered two French frigates in the harbour, also passed an American Brig... hoisted out the boats. Exchanged salute with the French Frigate Cleopatra, ran out a kedge to the W.N.W. to steady the Ship ...
- April 8: Midnight baffling winds & squally at daylight discovered the north end of Guadalope bearing N.E. ... At 8 discovered the Islands of Montserrat bearing N.E. by E. At 9.25 discovered the Island Rodondo: bearing N.N.E. b E. & the Islands of Nevis - North. Meridian fresh breeses & pleasant weather, the South point of Nevis bore N.E. by E. The South Point of St. Kitts N.N. E. ...
- April 9: Commenced with fresh breeses... At 6 the Islands St. Eustatia, St. Bartholomews, St. Martins, and Labo in sight... At daylight discovered land on both sides... At 11.30 came to anchor off the town of St. Thomas in 14 fathoms water exchanged a salute of 21 guns with the town Battery: - The French Frigate la Gloire which we left at Hampton Roads was preparing to get underweigh when we anchored, sent a boat on board of her & was informed of the loss of their Capt. 3 days out from the Roads.
- April 12: ... fresh winds from the N.E. The West end of St. Thomas bears E.S.E. the West end of the Island Culebra S.W. 3/4 S. Sail Rock S. E.
Brazil Station of U.S. Navy in 1819-20
Kuhn's journal encapsulates important aspects of the Brazil Station, a key section of the nascent U.S. Navy established in 1819 to protect American commercial interests in South America and to foster diplomatic relations with the newly independent republics emerging from Spanish colonial rule. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry was initially appointed to command the squadron, tasked with negotiating treaties and ensuring safe passage for U.S. merchants threatened by privateers in the region. Following Perry’s untimely death from yellow fever, Commodore Charles Morris assumed command, sailing aboard the USS Constellation accompanied by the USS John Adams. Continuing Perry’s diplomatic mission, Morris visited Montevideo and Buenos Aires to solidify peaceful relations and protect American maritime trade. The voyage marked one of the early instances of U.S. naval diplomacy in the Southern Hemisphere, with both vessels safely returning to Hampton Roads in April 1820.