The Saber and Scroll
the United States and France published in the 1930s . In general , Palmer ’ s work is both entertaining and exceptionally informative , providing valuable insight into a rarely discussed conflict in early US history .
It is relatively common knowledge that the US Navy was established in 1794 in response to depredations committed against US shipping by the Barbary States . Construction of six frigates was authorized with the stipulation that work would halt if a peace treaty were concluded with Algiers . Such a treaty was ratified in 1796 , but after strong encouragement from President George Washington , Congress authorized completion of the three frigates in the most advanced state . Lesser well known is that subsequent legislation in 1797 and 1798 authorized the arming of the first three frigates , the completion of the second three frigates , and the purchase and construction of additional warships to counteract rising privateer activity from France , America ’ s first ally .
Stoddert ’ s War begins with the infant United States trying to claw its way out of the economic depression that followed the 1783 Treaty of Paris . When war broke out between Great Britain and Revolutionary France , America strove to remain neutral and carried on a lucrative maritime trade with both belligerents . Britain and France alike regularly halted , searched , and seized American merchant vessels , straining contemporary definition of the rights of neutrals . Ratification of the Jay Treaty in 1796 improved America ’ s relationship with Britain at the expense of the relationship with France . French depredations against American shipping worsened , and when a 1797 diplomatic mission refused to pay a $ 220,000 bribe before they could be received by the French foreign minister , the two nations effectively broke off all relations . The United States began preparing to fight a foreign war for the first time since the ratification of the Constitution .
Palmer takes valuable time to study the creation and growth of the Navy Department during the administration of President John Adams , which made for a great parallel to the purchase , construction , and launch of the navy ’ s first warships . Upon his appointment as secretary , Benjamin Stoddert literally built the Navy Department up from nothing . Palmer deftly brings to life Stoddert ’ s travails in supervising the completion of multiple warships , creating naval strategy ( such as the desire to confront French privateers near their bases in the Caribbean after they had been mostly cleared from the US coast ), adjudicating disputes between touchy politicians and even touchier naval officers , and everything required to fight a maritime war . Through Stoddert ’ s tireless efforts , the US Navy established itself as a viable military service , survived the massive cuts of the Jefferson Administration , and blooded the officers who would be called upon to sight a similar war with Tripoli less than a decade later .
While Palmer briefly disparaged himself in the preface by suggesting that his concentration on strategy and planning do not make for the kind of
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