Traditional Muzzleloading Association
The Center of Camp => The Campfire => Topic started by: rollingb on July 03, 2018, 09:40:05 PM
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The U. S. S. Constitution (Old Ironsides), as a combat vessel, carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea. She carried no evaporators (i.e. fresh water distillers).
However, let it be noted that according to her ship's log, "On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum."
Her mission: "To destroy and harass English shipping." Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum.
Then she headed for the Azores , arriving there 12 November. She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine.
On 18 November, she set sail for England .. In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchant ships, salvaging only the rum aboard each.
By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless, although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland .. Her landing party captured a whisky distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch aboard by dawn. Then she headed home.
The U. S. S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February 1799, with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no whisky, and 38,600 gallons of water.
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They seem to have the right attitude.
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According to my figures,.... 475 men drank (more than) 252,000 gallons of booze, VS a measely 10,000 gallons of fresh water, during their 7 months at sea. :bow :toast :laffing
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I'd drink the rum too. Imagine how foul and stagnant that water would be down in the belly of that ship.
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I'd drink the rum too. Imagine how foul and stagnant that water would be down in the belly of that ship.
Hank,.... I think you're right, their "fresh water" probably wasn't very fresh after a period of time, and likely even had some "critters and vermin" floatin' in it. :o
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Water's not fit to drink when you have Rum... :lol sign
That was a good read, Rondo! :bl th up
On a side note;
I once heard Paul Harvey give the real reason the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock... They were out of beer and couldn't drink the water. They also felt they couldn't drink the water in the new world so their first order of business was to make beer. Don't know what their beer was made from but I expect it was a high Indian corn alcohol content... :toast
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According to my figures,.... 475 men drank (more than) 252,000 gallons of booze, VS a measely 10,000 gallons of fresh water, during their 7 months at sea. :bow :toast :laffing
According to that I figure about 2 1/2 gallons a day per man - not counting spillage. :toast
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According to my figures,.... 475 men drank (more than) 252,000 gallons of booze, VS a measely 10,000 gallons of fresh water, during their 7 months at sea. :bow :toast :laffing
According to that I figure about 2 1/2 gallons a day per man - not counting spillage. :toast
SharpStick,.... I told my wife what you just posted, and that she shouldn't be concerned if I drink 1 piddly little gallon a day at rendezvous. :laffing :toast
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During that time, even the water on land was grossly polluted and unpalatable. Every city waterway was contaminated with sewage. That is one reason that so much beer was imbibed. At least the beer was free of the disease causing organisms and could supply well-needed hydration. Rum was another favorite.
There is evidence that rum was distilled in the early colonial villages like Williamsburg. They used lead for making the distillation coils because it was malleable and waterproof. Analysis of colonial bone fragments showed high levels of lead, suggesting that lead poisoning was widespread in early, colonial America.
I have to get the lead out and go do some work. 8)
Ron