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1813 Broadside, Glorious Naval Victory Commodore Bainbridge Frigate Constitution

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:800.00 USD Estimated At:1,200.00 - 2,400.00 USD
1813 Broadside, Glorious Naval Victory Commodore Bainbridge Frigate Constitution
War of 1812
Rare Broadside Poem “Glorious Naval Victory - Obtained by Commodore Bainbridge, of the United States Frigate Constitution, Over His Britannic Majesty’s Frigate Java.” by James Campbell
(1813) War of 1812 Period, Rare Printed Broadside Ballad Poem titled “Glorious Naval Victory,” by James Campbell, Printed by Nathaniel Coverly, Boston: Printed and sold by Nathaniel Coverly, Jnr. Corner Theatre-Alley., Framed, Fine.
Broadside titled: “Glorious Naval Victory, Obtained By Commodore Bainbridge, Of The United States Frigate Constitution, Over His Britannic Majesty's Frigate Java. / By James Campbell, A Boatswain's Mate On Board The Constitution.” The historic Poem measures about 11” x 11” and is framed to 13” x 13”, viewed through special UV Plexiglas. The first we have seen and offered.

This ballad narrative of the Naval Battle between Constitution and Java is the second text in the Thomas collection credited to James Campbell, “boatswain’s mate on board the Constitution,” along with A New Song. Without his "boatswain's mate" title, he is also noted as the author of Written and Corrected by James Campbell. The boatswain’s whistle, possibly Campbell’s, is mentioned in Naval Victory (verse 3), calling all hands to quarters to reef the sails. In this Broadside, “Glorious Naval Victory,” Campbell tells the story of the battle himself in common phrases and expressions. The text is in four-line verses without a chorus and with a simple rhyming scheme (AABB). The author echoes the concern about Bainbridge’s background in verse 2, and calls on George Washington’s name near the end to add luster to the present war effort. This poem describes the battle on December 29, 1812, just off the coast of Brazil in verse: ”... It was two o’clock the bloody fray begun, Each hardy tar and son of mars, was active at his gun, Until their fore and mizen-mast was fairly shot away, And with redoubled courage, we gave them three huzzas...”. Some paper loss at 3 corners, left edge chip at center affecting one word of text, minor tears, and scattered tone, as shown.
After reading the message, the following Congressional Resolution was passed.

“Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of America, in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby requested to present tp Captain William Bainbridge, of the frigate Constitution, a gold medal, with suitable emblems and devices, and a silver medal, with suitable emblems and devices, to each commissioned officer of the said frigate, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of the gallantry, good conduct, and services of Captain William Bainbridge, his officers and crew, in the capture of the British frigate Java, after,a successful combat.”

“Glorious naval victory, obtained by Commodore Bainbridge, of the United States frigate Constitution, over His Britannic Majesty's frigate Java. By James Campbell, a boatswain's mate on board the Constitution,” Isaiah Thomas Broadside Ballads Project, accessed April 27, 2023, https://www.americanantiquarian.org/thomasballads/items/show/276.