The Unpublished 1810 Journal of Naval Hero and Future Commodore John Shaw, With His Detailed Narrative of His and His Company’s Journey Down the Mississippi River in the Wake of the Louisiana Purchase, and Accounts of the Capture of Western Florida

Our research discloses no earlier narrative of a trip down the entire Southern Mississippi River having reached the market, and he makes mention of the geography of the river, numbered islands, small settlements, Indians, hunting, etc.

 

Note on provenance: This journal passed down through the Shaw heirs, who married into the Gregory family. We acquired it from their heirs and it has never before been offered for sale. Our research shows no record of its publication in whole or part.

 

Note on rarity: This type of early journal from a major commander, in this case a future commodore, is so rare that we found no comparable documents in the public record. Furthermore, we found no chronicles of the navigation of the Mississippi River so early having reached the market. This was among the first, if not the first, government sanctioned military trip down the River. The USS Shaw was named after him.

 

The capture of the final stronghold of the Floridians: “…I traveled down the bank to examine the state of the fort also its weakest angles in case of an attack. At 9 o’clock, I returned and found the gun vessel and troops had arrived, the gun vessel anchored in a line abreast for the purpose of covering the landing of the troops. At about 11, the… Boat landed on the Spanish side and secured the ground. The troops in the course of one hour were all on shore. At 1/2 past 1 PM the troops marched from the River bank to a rising ground. At the same time the gun vessels began to [move] toward the battery. At 3 the troops took possession of the fort. They hauled down the Floridian flag and hoisted the American. The gun vessels then [readied] their guns and fired a salute of 17 guns. At sun down they repeated the salute…”

On supplies needed for the voyage: “I also made a contract for the building of a boat to be furnished in a week of 45 feet long and 13 feet wide…” Here he gives specifications of the boat he is having built in some detail.

First hand observations of places along the Ohio River: “… Visited Shawnee Town and walked to the upper end of it to see the old Indian burying ground, now centered in a corn field cultivated by a Doctor Read. The mounds are not very large… with some trees growing around them. Shawnee Town has 30 or 40 miserable log cabins.

First hand observations of places along the Mississippi River: “…At 3 PM we made part [what does this mean?] to the bank under Fort Pickering when I called on Mr. John Trait, Indian tracker, and presented him with with two letters – The garrison is layed out on a small scale… 2 small block houses with pickets in good order. On each side the main gate on the inside stand the barricades for soldiers… Lt. Allen commands with 3 privates…”

Notes on the people he met: “…Our skiff landed on the right hand side of the river at the head of island No 83 to get some milk. Their settlement consists of 4 or 5 families – French and Americans. It was only began 2 or 3 years since. The government owns the land and the people are only squatters.”

He learns of the task at hand in Florida: “…About 9, Lt. Patterson waited on me and detailed the particulars of the duty he had to perform… Lt. Patterson also informed that Governor CC Claibourne [Louisiana Governor] had descended the river in an open boat on Tuesday morning..”

The news of the Claiborne’s address: “We continued under way the whole of the night. At 10 AM we [got to] Point Coupee, where I found from inquiry that Governor Clairborne had proceed with his barge on the evening before to Bayou Sara, where he was received by the patriots with every mark of friendship and respect. The governor proceeded to the town of St Francisville where the adopted flag of the patriots was flying. After a short address to the surrounding crowd, the flag of the patriots came down and that of the US was hoisted and the country taken possession of by the US….”

John Shaw had a remarkable career. He moved from Ireland in 1790, settling in Philadelphia. He started his naval career in 1798. His service took an Irish immigrant from Lieutenant to Commodore, saw him serve from Algiers to New Orleans, alongside Commodores Rogers, Preble and many others, and led to his command of the USS George Washington and John Adams. He saw combat in the War of 1812 and alongside other US vessels in patrolling against the slave trade.

On May 4, 1801, he was ordered to the command of the USS George Washington, in which he carried tribute from the United States to Algiers, bringing back many Americans who had been taken prisoners by the Dey. In 1805, he was ordered to New York to take command of the USS John Adams, sailing on 14 May for the Mediterranean, where he joined the squadron of Commodore Rodgers. And in 1806 he was ordered to the command of the vessels on the New Orleans Station, where he cooperated with the Army in foiling the conspiracy of Aaron Burr. He returned to Washington on the bomb ketch vessel Vesuvius in July 1807. Here he gained experience to be used later in his life in New Orleans. At this point, he was sent to Norfolk VA to the naval establishment there.

In 1810, President James Madison gave him back a familiar position: he was to head from Norfolk to Pittsburgh, there equip a vessel, and head south first down the Ohio River and thereby meeting the Mississippi. He was then to take the entire Southern Mississippi by boat to New Orleans and take command again of that Naval Station.

Navigation of the entire Mississippi unmolested, in US territory, was a new phenomenon. The Louisiana Purchase had only been concluded a few years earlier. And a military vessel’s mission, like that of Shaw, would historically have gone around and not right down the Mississippi. This is long before the frequent military movements on that river during the Civil War.

President Madison entered a situation with the south that was not entirely stable. The French had given Florida to the Spanish, who had a very small presence there. When Napoleon invaded Spain and gained effective control, the situation became yet more muddled, with many fearing a renewed French interest, the Spanish growing suspect, many of the locals harboring pro-US sentiments, and many others enjoying the Wild West, no-one-in-control environment the place afforded. West Florida was the epicenter of all this. This includes what is today Baton Rouge and Pensacola.

In early 1810, it all came to a head. Independence-minded West Floridians summoned a small force, seized control of a couple of forts, and convened an assembly, which adopted its own flag.

In October 1810, William CC Claiborne received orders from Madison to secure West Florida for the US, as he wanted the area annexed to the country. Claiborne arrived in Natchez on December 1. Meanwhile the forces of the Floridians got larger. In late October, Shaw was ordered to support Claiborne with a 5-gun flotilla.

On December 1, Claiborne ordered a force of 300 men to march against Point Coupee, across St. Francisville, where opposition forces were growing, forcing an adjustment up to 800 men. St. Francisville was the seat of the new assembly.

Claiborne arrived at Point Coupee on December 7 and on the 8th he saw the flag of West Florida flying. Shaw arrived that same day. Claiborne crossed the river to St. Francisville, read Madison’s statement, and swapped out the American flag for the Floridian. The short lived West Florida republic was waning.

The last move was December 10, when Shaw and Claiborne moved against Baton Rouge. Shaw’s troops covered the army troops.

The West Florida rebellion would form a template for future American action. Texans against Mexico, Americans in Hawaii, would create a domestic movement, call for help (more clearly than many of the Floridians did) and the US would come in to annex the territory. The West Florida conflict was important therefore beyond simply as a means of American acquisition of that single territory.

Manuscript, in the hand of John Shaw, on board his vessel on the Mississippi, August-December 1810, more than 100 pages of detailed notations, dated. Nearly each day, he records the temperature. All dates are 1810.

“Written by Com. John Shaw, US Navy, when he was appointed to command the Naval Forces at New Orleans.”

Diary begins August 9, 1810 on the Chesapeake from his previous posting. He sails north up the water to Annapolis, through Baltimore and via stage to Chambersburg and then Bedford and Pittsburgh.

August 18 – “This morning I took a walk in the outskirts of town and traveled along a pretty little stream of water, having on its margin many mills in operation…. The wagon which I hired took my baggage and servants in and proceeded for Bedford. Chambersburg contains about 600 houses, allow 8 persons to each house, will make the population 4800.”

He goes on to describe the remainder of the coach ride to Bedford, the terrible conditions, the contents of his stage, etc…

August 22 – “The thermometer stood in our room at 68 degrees, although we had a fire in our room most of the night. At 8, we were summoned to breakfast. The hill was topped by the faint reflection of the sun breaking through the clouds. At 10, Mr. Peter and myself rode out to the Springs… We dined at 1/2 past 1 then took a walk and drank the water…”

August 25 – Traveling over the central PA mountains: “These mountains, although high, had not so many stones on the roads as we could have expected, although many of the hills were very so steep that the horses had often to stop and rest. From the time we left the mountains until we got to Somerset the roads were extremely stony…”

August 27 – “…Next we crossed the Chesnutt Ridge which was extremely bad and stony and by 7 o’clock in the evening we arrived at Greensburg. We stopped for the night…. We invariably found tolerable good living, but the rooms’ beds… were filthy. Bad and disagreeable. The bugs in their beds were enough to disgust any person….” The next morning he complained further of the bugs and the drunk and noisy men.

Arrived in Pittsburgh

August 29 – “Pittsburgh is situated at the junction of two large rivers surrounded by high hills. The climate is considered very healthy. Commerce here appear to be considerable and much business done by the merchants. Number of manufactures is carried on here. 2 or 3 glass houses, white lead factory, cotton factory, nail factory,… flour mill…”

He specifies the boat he is having built for the journey.

August 30 – “… During the day I rambled over many parts of the town. At 2 o’clock I dined… with the officers of the 6th regiment. I also made a contract for the building of a boat to be furnished in a week of 45 feet long and 13 feet wide…” Here gives specifications of the boat he is having built in some detail.

He is entertained in Pittsburgh and environs by “Mr. Smith”, “Mr. Nevil”, and General and Mrs. Morgan, with whom he attends parties and other locales.

Sept 6 – “This morning after breakfast, I visited the boat I was building to descend the river and found her almost ready to launch. I also visited the glass house, cotton factory and ship years [what does this mean]. We spent the evening at Mr. Baldwins.

Sept 10 – “With [PA] Chief Justice Tillman and Judge Yeates and others we proceeded to Mr. Smith’s for dinner. Everything was sumptuous and our wine was remarkably good and cooled by ice.”

Sept 11 – After visiting the ship again: “…From thence ascended the hill to the Coal Mine. The men employed to work the coal conducted us by the light of a candle to where they work, perhaps 50 yards from the entrance…”

Sept 13 – “…After breakfast Judge Tillman, Mr. Biddle left their lodging bound for Philadelphia. Mr. Gibson and Mr. Dickerson proceeded also on their journey for Canada…”

He apparently continues to recruit, bringing on for a 2-year term James Orr as a gunman.

Sept 15 – “…Mr. Spencer informed me that some of my servants intended to run….”

Sept 19 – After collecting supplies for the boat: “…All hands slept on board in order to have an early start…”

What follows is a small part of the often descriptive entries in the diary, which misses no days. He often notes the distance traveled, weather, wind, water conditions, and animals hunted and spotted.

Sept 20 – “…At 7 AM the boat was cast off, when we began to descend the river. By 9, we were off Brundts Island, 3 miles from Pittsburgh. The whole of the day it rained as we descended we passed several island ands as well several had rapids. At 1/2 past 6, we got alongside the bank (Loggstown right bank) in order to make some alterations in our oars whch was too heavy to work. A large fire was made on shore for our men to dry their clothes…”

Arrived at Wheeling, where they acquired more goods. Then to Marietta WV.

Sept 27 – “At day light this morning… I went to market and purchased 42 of fresh beef with some other fun articles for our consumption on board. After breakfast we took a circle of the town (to the old Indian fortifications) also the monument as raised… to the memory of the old Indians….”

He remarks on the accuracy of his equipment and visits an island with old ruins and a hemp plantation. He continues past the confluence of the Ohio river and the Kenhawa, past Point Pleasant, and past Galliopolis. He describes passing the French Grant and walking through the settlement. Continues to Cincinnati.

October 14 – “…PM passed Port William which stands on the mouth of the Kentucky River. It appears to have some neat brick buildings and decent inhabitants.”

October 16 –“…During the fair part of the day a heavy fog had prevailed, that the shore on either side could only by intervals be discovered. At 4AM a man from the shore hailed us and mentioned we were 35 miles from the Falls of Ohio. We were also employed in making a large coop for our Turkeys…”

Here he portages the contents of his vessel and hires someone to get his boat over the falls and there are many details relating to how that was accomplished and the rapids and islands that prevented easy navigation before and after.

Oct 20 – “…At 2 this morning we made fast to the bank. On acct of the difficulty of passing Flint Island. At day light again cast off and proceeded. At 10AM we were off the Head of the Island which we kept close on board (on the left hand) towards the lower end. There was a flat boat on there. The hands told me they were on 2 days. We kept between them and the island and doubled the lower end very close and pulled in for the left shore between a sand bar and it. After the passing the sand bar we pulled down for our other, which we doubled and pulled in for the middle of the channel. Shortly after pulled to the left again and got clear of the sand bar…”

Oct 27 – “At 4 o’clock this morning we stuck on a sand bar in company with another flat boat. It took us an hour to get off and then proceeded down stream as usual… It began to blow up a southern breeze – which was opposite to our wishes…. With all our industry and perseverance, we cannot gain ahead more distance – in 24 hours – than 24 miles.”

They continued to fight the elements, catching turkeys, deer, pheasants, and partridges.

Nov 2 – “…At 11 we were nearly at the lower end of Island No 76… At midday went on there and shot our turkey and a pheasant with my rifle. At 1/2 past 4 PM we had the town of Henderson….”

They pass the mouth of the Wabash River and arrive at Old Shawnee Town.

Nov 5 – “… Visited Shawnee Town and walked to the upper end of it to see the old Indian burying ground, now centered in a corn field cultivated by a Doctor Read. The mounds are not very large… with some trees growing around them. Shawnee Town has 30 or 40 miserable log cabins. Commerce chiefly salt which they get from the Salinei river….”

Nov 6 – “… At an early hour this morning we cast off and proceeded passing the saline river and Battery Rock. At sundown we were nearly up with the Cave in the Rock. We visited the rock we passed having lighted up 4 candles. At 9PM we were off the upper end Merrican Island and entered the chute and passed through it with little or no accidence….”

Nov 9 – “At an early hour we passed the Tennessee River and Island. At 1 PM we hauled to the bank under Fort Massac where we landed…[They gave] Three boxes and a case of hospital stores… to the care of Lt. Price, Commander of the Garrison. The Garrison is pleasantly situated but the land above and below is not good. Therefore they have… no society.” He discusses the state of the battery of the troops at Garrison 32. “The pickets are nearly all gone to decay.”

They arrive at the Mississippi River. He refers to many location names, sometimes by recognized names today and other times by settlements or island numbers.

Nov 11 – “We continued underway all night. At 10 minutes past 11 AM we entered the noble stream the Mississippi whose muddy water tinged the clear stream we had just left and where we had floated for 57 days…”

Passed New Madrid and Little Prairie, Chickasaw Bluffs.

Nov 20 – “…At 3 PM we made part to the bank under Fort Pickering when I called on Mr. John Trait, Indian tracker, and presented him with with two letters – The garrison is layed out on a small scale… 2 small block houses with pickets in good order. On each side the main gate on the inside stand the barricades for soldiers… Lt. Allen commands with 3 privates…”

Nov 21 – “…Shortly after we made port an Indian came along side with some venison for sale. Some large v. hams, and two spare ribs… were purchased from him for one dollar. The Indian spoke English and from his observation was well able to take care of himself….”

At Big Prairie a boat had lost control and Shaw’s men were enlisted to help secure it. They never found the boat but a detailed description is here.

Nov 24 – “…Concluded to return to Big Prairie or Lt. Franes for the purpose of employing the Indian to shoot his hogs then in the woods and purchasing sale to cure them and when completed to proceed to New Orleans with his pork, horses and oxen.

That same day they found the wreckage and it was abandoned, filled with water. They took from it “2 or 3 dozen fouls, 4 large hogs, and 11 small ones.” These were divided up among the boats present. Shaw also took a saddle, blankets, small chest, a hat, among other things.

November 28 – “…At 20 mins after 9 AM we passed the mouth of the Arkansas River…. Indians on board then they stopped about 1/2 an hour and then left us. By 3 PM we got down to Cypress Bend, where stood a ___ on the upper end and a small cabin on the lower end. Quantities of Cypress logs are cut yearly at this place and raged to N. Orleans….”

Nov 29 – “…At PM our skiff landed on the right hand side of the river at the head of island No 83 to get some milk. Their settlement consists of 4 or 5 families – French and Americans. It was only began 2 or 3 years since. The government owns the land and the people are only squatters. In Upper Louisiana.”

Dec 5 – “…About 9, Lt. Patterson waited on me and detailed the particulars of the duty he had to perform… Lt. Patterson also informed that Governor CC Claibourne had descended the river in an open boat on Tuesday morning..”

Here much detail about the location and actions of vessels.

Dec 7 – “…At 5 AM this morning we were up with Fort Adams. Shortly after the whole division… came up. At 7 I went on shore to inquire whether Gov. Claiborne had moved on, being informed that he had. Immediately returned on board, cast off and continued under way, the whole day and night…” He left behind many vessels in his haste.

Dec 8 – “We continued under way the whole of the night. At 10 AM we [got to] Point Coupee, where I found from inquiry that Governor Clairborn had proceed with his barge on the evening before to Bayou Sara, where he was received by the patriots with every mark of friendship and respect. The governor proceeded to the town of St Francisville where the adopted flag of the patriots was flying. After a short address to the surrounding crowd, the flag of the patriots came down and that of the US was hoisted and the country taken possession of by the US….”

Dec 9 – “During the night we lay on the Point Coupee shore. At 1/2 past 8 AM I left my boat and proceeded about 2 miles up the coast to see the governor who expressed a great desire that the troops would arrive at 1 PM…At 1/2 past 2… proceeded downwards in company with my boat. At 3 the wind came ahead, the gun vessel anchored.”

Dec 10 – “…I traveled down the bank to examine the state of the Fort also its weakest angles in case of an attack. At 9 o’clock, I returned and found the gun vessel and troops had arrived, the gun vessel anchored in a line abreast for the purpose of covering the landing of the troops. At about 11, the… Boat landed on the Spanish side and secured the ground. The troops in the course of one hour were all on shore. At 1/2 past 1 PM the troops marched from the River bank to a rising ground. At the same time the gun vessels began to [move] toward the battery. At 3 the troops took possession of the fort. They hauled down the Floridian flag and hoisted the American. The gun vessels then [readied] their guns and fired a salute of 17 guns. At sun down they repeated the salute…”

Dec 11 – “This morning the gun vessel was employed in getting on shore the military stores and baggage belonging to the troops after which they loosed all sails to dry. At meridian (midday) I visited the fort and found the troops in the most perfect order… At 4 PM issued order to Lt. Alexis to depart for N.O. [New Orleans] with 4 sail of gun vessels… Lt. Patterson had orders to return to Baton Rouge for the purpose of entering men for service….”

Dec 12 – “…At 10 we passed Bayoun Manchae….”

Dec 13 – “…About 4 AM we passed the last island…At 11 we were off Arnold’s plantation…. At 1 PM made fast to the bank 1 mile below Mr. Baragnes plantation…”

Dec 14 – “…. Cast off and proceeded downwards, downwards, downwards passing many beautiful plantations and orange groves as we passed along. At Meridian we were nearly up with Bona Cara Church…”

The journal of a historic and memorable trip, just discovered and not previously known to exist.