Free Book: "6 Frigates... The Founding of the U.S. Navy"
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Free Book: "6 Frigates... The Founding of the U.S. Navy"
Now that I'm returning to the work force (Thank God!), I can finally giveaway this book that I finished just before the ax fell in August...
The book is:
"Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy" by Ian W. Toll
From the Amazon review (4.7 of 5 stars with over 450 reviews!):
Not confined to sea battles, Toll's history of the U.S. Navy's formative decades, from the mid-1790s to the War of 1812, rounds out affairs by anchoring the nascent navy to its financial supports. Navies are not inexpensive, and the costs of building and maintaining ships appear lightly but persistently in Toll's narrative. It centers on the first vessels purpose-built for the navy, the half-dozen frigates of which the USS Constitution (moored in Boston today) is the last survivor. Besides money, their construction involved politics; the Federalists favored the naval program (creating the Department of the Navy in 1798), while Jefferson's parsimonious Republicans were more diffident. Toll is as insightful about the essential domestic and diplomatic background as he is with his dramatizations of the naval engagements of the new navy, which produced a crop of national heroes such as Stephen Decatur. The maritime strategy and the highly developed sense of officers' honor, which influenced where particular battles occurred, emerge clearly in this fluent account. That number of 6 frigates is a paltry figure compared to the English Navy, which numbered over 600 warships worldwide at the time (if I remember right). That was also the challenge for England though, as their ships were spread out all over the map, getting enough seamen was tough to do (which brought about the history of pressed seamen) and a "mad little man in France" kept the Brits pretty busy too.
To counter all that, instead of building 36-gun frigates, the U.S. built longer 44-gun vessels -- and length equals speed in boat design. That difference in hull length, sailing speed -- and of course the higher number and poundage of the guns -- all proved to be a decisive decision by the newborn U.S. Navy.
While this book does get into the politics of the era, as noted in the above text, I found it to be a fascinating read, and there's just enough naval action to keep you reading more.
* * * Reply here, and I'll pull a name out on Sunday Night * * *
Then the winner can PM me their mailing address.
Old No7
ps: Oh, the back cover and about 15 pages of the reference list at the back were eaten by my yellow lab! But I've repaired it the best I could, and none of the actual text was lost.
Luckily, "That too, did pass..." so my lab is doing fine...
The book is:
"Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy" by Ian W. Toll
From the Amazon review (4.7 of 5 stars with over 450 reviews!):
Not confined to sea battles, Toll's history of the U.S. Navy's formative decades, from the mid-1790s to the War of 1812, rounds out affairs by anchoring the nascent navy to its financial supports. Navies are not inexpensive, and the costs of building and maintaining ships appear lightly but persistently in Toll's narrative. It centers on the first vessels purpose-built for the navy, the half-dozen frigates of which the USS Constitution (moored in Boston today) is the last survivor. Besides money, their construction involved politics; the Federalists favored the naval program (creating the Department of the Navy in 1798), while Jefferson's parsimonious Republicans were more diffident. Toll is as insightful about the essential domestic and diplomatic background as he is with his dramatizations of the naval engagements of the new navy, which produced a crop of national heroes such as Stephen Decatur. The maritime strategy and the highly developed sense of officers' honor, which influenced where particular battles occurred, emerge clearly in this fluent account. That number of 6 frigates is a paltry figure compared to the English Navy, which numbered over 600 warships worldwide at the time (if I remember right). That was also the challenge for England though, as their ships were spread out all over the map, getting enough seamen was tough to do (which brought about the history of pressed seamen) and a "mad little man in France" kept the Brits pretty busy too.
To counter all that, instead of building 36-gun frigates, the U.S. built longer 44-gun vessels -- and length equals speed in boat design. That difference in hull length, sailing speed -- and of course the higher number and poundage of the guns -- all proved to be a decisive decision by the newborn U.S. Navy.
While this book does get into the politics of the era, as noted in the above text, I found it to be a fascinating read, and there's just enough naval action to keep you reading more.
* * * Reply here, and I'll pull a name out on Sunday Night * * *
Then the winner can PM me their mailing address.
Old No7
ps: Oh, the back cover and about 15 pages of the reference list at the back were eaten by my yellow lab! But I've repaired it the best I could, and none of the actual text was lost.
Luckily, "That too, did pass..." so my lab is doing fine...
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"Freedom and the Second Amendment... One cannot exist without the other." © 2000 DTH
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- Advanced Levergunner
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Re: Free Book: "6 Frigates... The Founding of the U.S. Navy"
I just bought this from Amazon. Very fine reviews
Re: Free Book: "6 Frigates... The Founding of the U.S. Navy"
Please put my name in the hat. Thanks!
Have you hugged your rifle today?
Re: Free Book: "6 Frigates... The Founding of the U.S. Navy"
Toss my name in the hat too and thanks.
- Griff
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Re: Free Book: "6 Frigates... The Founding of the U.S. Navy"
Yes, I'd like my name in the hat also.
Griff,
SASS/CMSA #93
NRA Patron
GUSA #93
There is a fine line between hobby & obsession!
AND... I'm over it!!
No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
SASS/CMSA #93
NRA Patron
GUSA #93
There is a fine line between hobby & obsession!
AND... I'm over it!!
No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
Re: Free Book: "6 Frigates... The Founding of the U.S. Navy"
Hey count me in too!
Some people just need a sympathetic pat on the head.....with a hammer. Repeatedly.
Re: Free Book: "6 Frigates... The Founding of the U.S. Navy"
Include my name, too, please
Re: Free Book: "6 Frigates... The Founding of the U.S. Navy"
Add me please.
Re: Free Book: "6 Frigates... The Founding of the U.S. Navy"
You bet.....count me in.
I spent two years in the Pacific Fleet on destroyers.
I spent two years in the Pacific Fleet on destroyers.
Re: Free Book: "6 Frigates... The Founding of the U.S. Navy"
I'm interested too, please count me in. Thanks for the opportunity!
Running the ridges and rivers of Virginia's southern Appalachians
- Ysabel Kid
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Re: Free Book: "6 Frigates... The Founding of the U.S. Navy"
Awesome! Glad to hear you are working again!!!
Please throw my name in the hat as well!
Please throw my name in the hat as well!
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- Senior Levergunner
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Re: Free Book: "6 Frigates... The Founding of the U.S. Navy"
My buddy was in the navy, would make a nice christmas present. Put my name in, thanks.
Rossi 92 .357 lever , and a cz pcr 9mm
Henry .22 lever, Remington speedmaster 552 .22 lr
Marlin Glenfield .22 boltaction
gforce 12ga semi
Taylor's Tactical 1911 A1 FS in .45acp
winchester 1873 44.40
Marlin 336W .30.30
beeman sportsman rs2 dual caliber pellet rifle
henry .22 magnum pumpaction/octagon barrel
stag 5.56 m4 with reddot
Henry .22 lever, Remington speedmaster 552 .22 lr
Marlin Glenfield .22 boltaction
gforce 12ga semi
Taylor's Tactical 1911 A1 FS in .45acp
winchester 1873 44.40
Marlin 336W .30.30
beeman sportsman rs2 dual caliber pellet rifle
henry .22 magnum pumpaction/octagon barrel
stag 5.56 m4 with reddot
Re: Free Book: "6 Frigates... The Founding of the U.S. Navy"
And the winner is...
TraderVic
I will send a PM to get your address -- enjoy!
Old No7
TraderVic
I will send a PM to get your address -- enjoy!
Old No7
"Freedom and the Second Amendment... One cannot exist without the other." © 2000 DTH
Re: Free Book: "6 Frigates... The Founding of the U.S. Navy"
Thanks for the giveaway, Old No7! Very fitting that this went to a naval veteran. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Running the ridges and rivers of Virginia's southern Appalachians