Marines before the War of 1812

Historical Perspective on the 1812 Marines

3 June 1783, Marine Lieutenant Thomas Elmwood walked off the Continental Ship Alliance, giving a final salute to an empty ship flying no colors. This signaled the end of the Continental Marines and they passed into history not to be seen again. The Alliance was then sold off for scrap. This event also marked the end of the Continental Navy.

Before Lt. Elmwood left the Alliance, he turned in the last Marine equipment left in Federal service:

• 95 muskets, 13 without bayonets 29 pistols 
• 111 cartouch Boxes 41 cutlasses 
• 1 drum & drum Sticks 1 fife 
• 1 drum Head 2 arms chest with Locks 
• 2 great coats/grey 300 flints

Expended:

• 1 musket, lost overboard 3 pistols, lost overboard 
• 4 pair of pistols lost attempting to bard the ship L'Orient in February 1782. 1 drum destroyed by Drummer, same time. 
• 1 fife, lost by Fifer at same time. 7 cutlasses lost at same time. 
• 3 locks, same time.

During the period from 1783 (when the last fighting ship of the American Revolution was sold) until 1797, our country was without a navy or Marine Corps. During the 1790's American merchant shipping began to be harassed by France and countries in the Middle East.

27 March 1794, Congress commissioned for six ships of war to be constructed in order to safeguard American shipping interests and merchant trade using the high seas. Among these six ships was USS Constitution. Along with the construction of these new ships Congress acted to reestablish the United States Navy and then the United States Marine Corps, both as we know them today. Not until the Naval Act of 1794, for the Betterment of the Service, did the United States Navy (now) appear again with the United States Marine Corps. This congressional action was the first establishment of the now United States military as opposed to the old Continental military.

• April 1796 Congress cuts the above order in half and authorizes only three ships. 
• 10 May 1797 USS United States launched (Navy official). Ship in service for 62 years. Lost at Norfolk, 1861. 
• 1 July 1797 President Adams authorizes Marines on ships. 
• 21 October 1797 USS Constitution launched (Navy official). 
• 3 April 1798 Navy Department enacted. 
• 11 July 1798 The United States Marines are officially established by an act of Congress. The pay is $1.00 per week. They had been organized however, about one year before under the Navy at sea and the Army on land. In 1798, Officers and some enlisted men had to decide whether to stay with the Marines or return to the Army. Some Officers returned. After the War of 1812, more Officers transferred to the Army. 
• November 1798 Marine Band established. One Drum Major, one Fife Major, 32 drums and fifes. 
• 9 July 1799 USS Constitution stands ready to depart Boston with new commanding officer and new Marine CO and XO.

USS Constitution, as part of its 450-man crew, had 55 United States Marines assigned. The first detachment of six marines arrived at Edmond Hart's Shipyard in Boston early in 1794. Their duties were to safeguard the government stores of supplies and the work area for the building of USS Constitution as well as other duties as necessary. When USS Constitution was launched the guard detachment became part of "ships company" and put to sea

When the War known as the War of 1812 finally became a reality, the Marine Corps or "Marine Department" was only twelve years old. Marine levels remained well below the authorized requirements set by Congress. The authorized level in 1809 was 1897. This remained so from the establishment up through the War of 1812. The listed figures for active strength (actual) during the War was:

• 30 June 1812 10 Officers, 483 enlisted men 
• 30 June 1813 12 Officers, 579 enlisted men 
• 30 June 1814 11 Officers, 579 enlisted men 
• 30 June 1815 8 Officers, 680 enlisted men

The authorized level for April of 1814 was set at 2700. Recruiting was a continued problem and authorization levels were never reached.

In 1800 the Navy Yard at Charlestown, Massachusetts was established. The first detachment of Marines arrived from other duties in the Boston area under command of a sergeant. They took up guard details and established one of the oldest Marine Barracks in the United States. The Marine presence continued at the Navy Yard until 1973 when the yard was officially closed as a military installation. The yard now comes under the United States Park Service and is part of the Boston National Historical Park and open to the public. 

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