A Hanging Offense: The Strange Affair of the Warship Somers

In 1842, eighteen year old Philip Spencer had every opportunity for a promising naval career. He is the son of the Secretary of War, but chafes at authority and discipline at every turn. Thanks to his father's influence, the navy assigns him to the USS Somers as a midshipman under Capt. Mackenzie. Since the U.S. had yet to establish its famous naval academy, Spencer is part of a newly-implemented training exercise. The Somers crew are mostly teenage greenhands and the plan was to sail to West Africa and back. But the navy is not the jolly, adventurous life that Spencer expected it to be. Morale dips ever lower until finally, only 13 days away from New York harbor, Spencer and two cohorts are hung for mutiny.

This one was a quick read, show more but it left me with a lot of questions. For one thing, mutiny is incredibly rare because proper organization and order is necessary to keep everyone alive. That being said, Spencer wasn't especially charismatic. I doubt that Spencer would've remained "in charge" for very long, if the mutiny had been successful. We learn little to nothing at all about Spencer's cohorts, or the other officers for that matter, besides what was possibly said in conspiracy or overheard. What could they gain from mutiny and murder? Melton sympathizes with Mackenzie throughout the book, painting Spencer as a conniving villain. But during the inevitable court-martial, Mackenzie appears untrustworthy. Melton briefly compares the situation to the infamous mutiny on the Bounty and capital punishment as a deterrent, but only in broad generalizations that doesn't get to the heart of the matter. There are over a hundred men on board, and a personal quarrel between an officer and his captain does not trigger a mutiny. Although less than satisfying, it is a dramatic, intriguing, and dreadful episode in the early days of the US navy. show less

A very readable history of the only mutiny on a U.S. Naval vassal the U.S. Brigg of War Somers in 1842, that resulted in the three ring leaders being hanged. The result of which led to the founding of the U.S. Naval Academy.

On the surface you would say O. K. discipline in those days were harsh and these things happened in those days.. But it ends up that these three young men were hanged without a court Marshall or the benefit of legal council of any kind.

Add to the mix that the mastermind of the mutiny was a young acting Midshipman named Phillip Spencer whose father was John Canfield Spencer was Pres. John Tyler's secretary of war, and had arranged the boy's commission with the help of Capt. Oliver "Hazzard Perry.You now have the show more setting for high drama and what sounds like a Hollywood script.

The book is written in a very low keyed tone. Every chapter is more of an essay on the main people involved and each part of the event as it unfolds. Overall it gives a good account of the facts as known and the condition both political and physical of the U.S. Navy and the Country ain 1842.

The story is a who's who of America and American Maritime History. James Fenmore Cooper, Richard Henry Dana Jr., and almost every member of the Perry family. William H. Seward who would be Pres. Lincoln's Sec. of State in the Civil War.

The Lt. aboard the Somers was Melville's cousin and may have been the source for Melville's book Billy Budd. There are some very striking similarities between Capt. Mackenzie and Captain Vere. The last exchange between Capt. Mackenzie and Seaman Smalls is touching ;
Capt. Meckenzie - "Small" ..."what have I done to you that you won't bid me goodbye?"
..... "I did not know that you would bid a poor bugger like me goodbye Sir,"
.... Now Meckenzie it was who asked forgiveness of Small. He told the seaman that he had to go through with the execution; both the honor of the flag and the safety of the crew demanded it. "Yes, Sir and I honor you for it," replied Small. "God Bless that Flag!"

Billy Budd years later says ""God bless Captain Vere!" show less