The Flag Ship

The Flagship of a squadron is always regarded as holding the most favorable position in the fleet, both for information and convenience.  She is the Commodore's ship.  From her all orders issue.  To her all commuications are made; and she is deemed the center of all the news that reaches the station, or which is conveyed from it.

It is from the Flag Ship that all signals are made, by which all the vessels of the squadron direct their actions.  And when lying at anchor, and within signal distance, even to the loosing and the furling of the sails; sending up and sending down yards; general quarters for exercising the men at the guns; and, in fine, every evolution throughout the fleet, is directed by signals from the Flag Ship; and in the omission of signals the motions of the Flag Ship are to be followed by all the other ships of the squadron.  This, of necessity, requires a continued look-out on the part of all the vessels in the fleet; and, of consequence, there are many glasses pointed continually, by day and by night, towards the Flag Ship.

It is often the policy of the Commodore, who is the Commander-in-Chief, to preserve the strictest silence and secrecy as to any intended movement of the ships; and a signal, at any moment, may be made "to prepare for sailing", without a person, save himself, knowing the destination of the squadron -- those on board the Flag Ship being as ignorant of the Commodore's intentions as any other officers of the squadron, though the wise ones, if anywhere, are expected to be found on board the ship of the Commander-in-Chief.

Having joined the Cumberland while it was part of Commodore Read's African and Mediterranean Squadron, for what we thought was to be a routine cruise to that idyllic spot, all of the officers were loud in their expression of disappointment at the news that the Commodore's orders had changed.   The Department, with an apology, regretted the necessity of taking this good ship from him.    No doubt, Commodore Read would very much rather have his ship, it having been offered and given to him, and which had now got in readiness, with his own chosen officers on board, ready to sail.  . . . .After a delay of a day or two for the Commodore's convenience that he might disarrange his arrangements for shipboard, and comfortably leave the ship for shore, the frigate was put into readiness, forthwith to leave her moorings for Vera Cruz, Mexico to join Commodore David Conner.

. . . .We hope to gain our moorings, of Vera Cruz, before night; and the sea breeze begins to freshen, while our ship has her ample spread of canvas upon her, giving hope, that not many hours more, and we shall take our place among the ships composing the United States squadron, whose masts, it is thought, may now be seen from the foretop, raising their slight spars, almost imperceptibly, at this distance, above the little island of Sacrificios.

. . .The anchorage of the squadron is now distinctly seen; and the domes and steeples of the cathedral and churches of Vera Cruz, together with the walls of the Castle of San Juan de Ullua look up distinctly to the view.  The breeze still increases; and we are standing gallantly onward, fearless of the breakers and the shoals, as our ship is handsomely weathering them, with a beautiful action that does her credit, under her press of canvas, filled with a favoring wind.

. . . .We were now beyond the coral reefs, beautiful things always, as they lay their line of silver on the blue deep, but fearful to the eye of the mariner, when on a lee shore; and now the ship, obeying the motion of the wheel, wore handsomely away, and filled the bellying canvas, as we stood directly down to the little fleet, resting at its anchors, under the isle of Sacrificios.   But soon the sails of the fore were thrown aback, while the jack was run up to the mizzen head --  the stopper broke -- and the signal thus made said, "we wish a pilot".  A boat was soon seen, bearing the American flag at its bows; and, ere long, a pilot was on board, and the ship again filled away, and stood boldly in to the anchorage ground.  The wind continued fair and fresh, and filled the top-sails and top-gallant-sails.  The fore and main-sails had already been clewed up -- the spanker braided -- the jib stowed.  The ship bore down upon the little fleet in a gallant style, with the wind directly abaft, while we momently neared the anchored ships, not now very distant from us.

The Broad Pennant.  A Cruise in the United States Flag Ship of the Gulf Squadron, During the Mexican Difficulties Together With Sketches of the Mexican War. Rev. Fitch W. Taylor, A. M., USN.    Leavitt, Tron & Co., New York.  1848.  pp 23-24; 50-55; 142-143;

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