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The USS Columbus II is important in the history of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard because:
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Washington, Thursday, April 27, 1820Norfolk, April 24.The Columbus 74, got under way on Saturday last, in Hampton Roads, and dropped down to Lynhaven Bay, where she anchored, and from whence she will sail in a day or two for the Mediterranean. We avail ourselves of this opportunity to declare the high gratification we experienced from a visit to this noble ship on Saturday last, with a numerous and respectable company, in Captain Gerguson's Steam Boar, the Virginia. If we were struck with admiration at a distant view of her, as she glided majestically over the almost unruffled surface of our waters to her anchorage in Lynhaven, with her vast clouds of canvas bending to the breeze, our feelings were still more powerfully awakened, on going on board, at beholding the interior wonders of this vast floating castle, with its cannon bristling on all sides and at every point, "like quills upon the fretful porcupine." We profess not to be judges of what is beautiful in naval architecture, but it does not require any nicety of judgment to pronounce favorably of the construction of the Columbus in point of strength and symmetrical proportion. All our most experienced nautical citizens who have visited her concur in the declaration, that they never saw a finer or more formidable ship of her class in any part of the world.
During the time she had remained in our waters, parties of the inhabitants of our borough, ladies as well as gentlemen, have frequently made excursions to her in one or other of the steam boats, and have always been received on board and treated with the most marked attention by the officers, who, far from being wearied with the frequency of these visits, rather seemed to redouble their assiduity to entertain and gratify their visitors. So favorable, indeed, has been the impression which this courteous deportment, on all occasions, has made on the minds of our citizens, that, however long they may be absent from their native land, they will always be remembered in Norfolk with sentiments of affection and esteem.—Herald
POULSON'S AMERICAN DAILY ADVERTISER
Philadelphia, Thursday, August 2, 1821.The following character and description of the United States ship Columbus, is given in the Boston Intelligencer and Evening Gazette of last Saturday.
The Columbus, commanded by Com. Bainbridge, which vessel arrived at this port from Gibraltar, in company with the U. S. brig Spark, Capt. Elton, on Sunday last, is perhaps the largest ship of the line that ever sailed in the European seas, under the American flag. She is about 2,400 tons burthen, according to the usual measurement, and carries 64 guns on her gun deck, and 36 carronades on her quarter deck and forecastle.—Her complement of men is 800. She draws 26 feet of water and measures 250 feet of altitude from the surface of the water to the highest point of her main top gallant royal mast truck. Commodore Bainbridge was relieved in the command of the Mediterranean squadron, by Commodore Jones, at Gibraltar, who went out in the United States’ ship Constitution for that purpose. Com. Bainbridge immediately set sail for the United States with the Columbus and Spark. On coming upon the coast on Friday last, the Columbus met with a school of Mackarel, which followed the ship all day; in the course of which period they caught the unparalleled number, according to an estimate, of 12,000 of that fish. There were near 600 lines used, and the people pulled in the fish as fast as they could throw their bait into the water. One of the Lieutenants counted 600 Mackarel which he caught with his own hands. The Columbus has brought out many rare plants, birds and animals—of the latter, two cattle of the celebrated white Tuscan breed are the most conspicuous.
STATUE OF WASHINGTON Some persons have expressed a strong desire that the Statue of Washington, by Canova, the Italian Sculptor, now on board the Columbus, may be opened for the inspection of the curious, previous to it trans-shipment to North Carolina, under the authority of which state it was executed. Such a wish, though not unnatural, considering the patriotic feelings and almost devotional love of the people here for the memory of Washington, could not be gratified, without great hazard and inconvenience. The Statue consists of two parts—the pedestal and the figure—and to be seen to advantage must be viewed as it will appear when erected. The figure weighs about 8000 lbs. and the pedestal as much more. The Statue, therefore, is very large in its dimensions, and has been carefully packed by those persons in Italy whose profession it is to perform such labour. It might perhaps, be ultimately safe to open the case or cases and view the work of M. Canova; but it certainly would be a hazardous attempt, even if we could obtain the consent of the Governor of North Carolina, which it would be unreasonable to expect.
We have seen an elegant engraving of this Statue, brought out by an officer of the Columbus, said to be a very excellent resemblance of the marble. If this be true, we have no doubt the work will gratify the public for its classical elegance and masterly execution; but it will not convey to posterity a just idea of the likeness or costume of our Washington. It is the more extraordinary that Canova should have failed in the likeness, as perhaps no distinguished character of modern times, has ever been more faithfully represented, both in painting and sculpture, than Washington. His portraits by Stuart, and his bust by Hudon, the French artist, are illustrations of each other, and are finished likenesses of the original head. It could not have been difficult for Canova to have obtained copies of both. This likeness, it is said was taken from a portrait of Gen. Washington, in possession of the American Consul at Leghorn.
The question respecting the costume of the figure, we suppose, will excite much warmth of controversy. According to the theory of the modern Italian school all statuary should be in the antique taste. Canova has represented Washington seated, his body erect, with a table resting on his knee, and a style in his hand, composing, as may be supposed, the farewell address to his fellow citizens.—The Sword lays neglected at his feet. His arms and legs are bare, and he has some loose drapery thrown over him, in Grecian folds. The statue is noble and dignified—but it is neither Washington, nor the figure of a modern personage.
There is a great deal to be said in favour of a costume which is never out of fashion, and the beauty of which will last forever.—To attain to such an unsophisticated resemblance of an individual, as to secure present popularity and future renown, is a work difficult of execution. This, Canova has attempted, and the present popularity of the work, we suspect, will not be surpassed by its future renown.
Chantry, the English Sculptor, is engaged on the Statue of Washington, for the inhabitants of this State; but we understand he thinks it necessary to clothe his figures in the motley and changing fashions of the age in which the subject flourished.
To this style of drapery we have a very decided objection. There is an air of the grotesque in old fashioned pictures, arising from the oddity of ancient fashion and dresses.—And in some respects, the strangeness of the costume becomes absolutely ridiculous.—No drapery, we apprehend, is faster approaching to this point of the ludicrous than the old continental military uniform. It is amusing to be told that we must adhere to the triangular bat because it is true to nature. All modern personages must, of course, be covered—but there is no necessity for covering them grotesquely. During some period of a long life, every individual will, probably, have worn a becoming dress, a dress distinguished by no extravagance of local fashion—but indicating both elegance and good taste. Such a costume should be selected for Washington—and in such a costume, whether it be the plain robe, or a military cloak, would his figure be transmitted to posterity, to the admiration of all beholders.
In 1815, North Carolina decided to erect a statue to commemorate George Washington. President Jefferson recommended a Roman influence, and the Canova statue was a prime example of Neoclassicism, a style that harkened back to the ancient days of Greece and Rome. Transported to Raleigh, North Carolina, the orginial statue was on display for only ten years after USS Columbus transported it from Italy. In 1831, the Capitol caught fire and the statue was consumed in the blaze. A reproduction now sits in the Capitol Rotunda. (Marcus W. Robbins)
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Remains of the frigates Delaware and Columbus, in the Elizabeth River, off Gosport Navy Yard,
Virginia, destroyed by the rebels when they evacuated Norfolk. - from a sketch
by our special artist, Mr. J. H. Schell.* * *
USS Columbus ~ Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, courtesy of Naval History & Heritage Command
(SL: t. 2,480; l. 191'10"; b. 53'6"; dr. 26'6"; cpl. 780; a. 68 32-pdr., 24 42-pdr. car.)
The second Columbus, rated a 74-gun ship-of-the-line, was launched 1 March 1819 by Washington Navy Yard and commissioned 7 September 1819, Master Commandant J. H. Elton in command.
Clearing Norfolk, Va., 28 April 1820 Columbus served as flagship for Commodore W. Bainbridge in the Mediterranean until returning to Boston 23 July 1821. Serving as a receiving ship after 1833, she remained at Boston in ordinary until sailing to the Mediterranean,29 August 1842, as flagship for Commodore C. W. Morgan. On 24 February 1843, she sailed from Genoa, Italy, and reached Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 29 July to become flagship of the Brazil Squadron, Commodore D. Turner. She returned to New York 27 May 1844 for repairs.
After embarking Commodore J. Biddle, Commander East Indies Squadron, she sailed 4 June 1845, for Canton, China, where on 31 December, Commodore Biddle exchanged ratified copies of the first American commercial treaty with China. Columbus remained there until April 1846 when she sailed for Japan to attempt opening Japan to American commerce. She raised Tokyo Bay 19 July in company with Vincennes but achieved no success. Recalled at the outbreak of the Mexican War Columbus reached Valparaiso, Chile, in December and arrived off Monterey, Calif., 2 March 1847. Too large to be useful in the California operations the ship sailed from San Francisco 25 July for Norfolk, arriving 3 March 1848.
At Norfolk Navy Yard, Columbus lay in ordinary until 20 April 1861 when she was sunk by withdrawing Union forces to prevent her falling into Confederate hands.
Courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command
