Stephen Cassin, the son of Commodore John Cassin of the United States
Navy, was born in Philadelphia, the 16th of February, 1783.
He entered the navy as midshipman in 1800, then in his seventeenth
year. His first cruise in 1801, was in the frigate Philadelphia,
Commodore Stephen Decatur, the father of the late and gallant Decatur,
whose bravery in the Tripolitan war and also in the war of 1812, forms
a conspicuous part in the naval history of America. After a cruise of
nearly two years, during which nothing of consequence occurred, the
command of the Philadelphia was transferred to Captain Samuel Barron,
and after a short cruise with him, Midshipman Cassin was transferred
to the schooner Nautilus of sixteen guns, ordered to form part of the
squadron preparing to sail for the Mediterranean, under the command
of Commodore Preble, for the purpose of protecting effectually the
commerce and seamen of the United States against the Tripolitan
cruisers on the Atlantic ocean, the Mediterranean and adjoining seas.
This squadron, consisting of seven sail, viz: the Constitution,
forty-four guns; Philadelphia, forty-four, already on the station;
Argus, eighteen; Siren, sixteen; Nautilus, sixteen; Vixen, sixteen;
Enterprise, fourteen. This squadron sailed on the 13th of August, 1803,
and reached Gibraltar the 13th of September. On the 17th, they arrived
in Tangier bay, when the negotiations commenced which terminated so
prosperously and which have already been given in the life of Commodore
Preble. After two years’ service as midshipman in the Nautilus,
greatest part of the time being spent in cruises in the Mediterranean,
Stephen Cassin was promoted to a lieutenancy on board the John Adams,
Captain Shaw.
Not long after his promotion, Lieutenant Cassin returned to the United
States, and sailed as captain of a merchant ship to the Pacific,
where he was captured by the Spaniards and detained for nearly two
years. Soon after his second return to the United States, he joined
the Chesapeake, Commodore Hull. In this ship, he made several cruises
under this brave commander. In the interval between the Tripolitan war
and that which commenced in 1812, no occasion occurred to our naval
officers by which they signalized themselves; we therefore pass over
that period till we find Lieutenant Cassin promoted to the command
of the Ticonderoga, eighteen guns, and ordered forthwith to join the
squadron commanded by Macdonough on Lake Champlain.
Among the young officers of the navy who were ordered on the lake
service, and destined to become illustrious in our naval annals was the
hero of these memoirs.
Commodore Macdonough, in his official account of the battle on Lake
Champlain, says, “The Ticonderoga, Lieutenant Commandant Stephen
Cassin, gallantly sustained her full share of the action.” In this
sharp conflict, the British force was superior in numbers; being the
frigate Confiance, thirty-nine guns; the Linnet, sixteen guns; the
Finch, eleven guns; and thirteen galleys, carrying eighteen guns; in
all, ninety-five guns, nine more than were in the American fleet;
their complement of men was much greater. The calmness of this lake
permitted heavy armaments in comparatively light vessels, and of this
circumstance the British availed themselves to the utmost, giving their
commander a ship equal in force to the President or the Constitution,
with which he--being a veteran officer--made sure of capturing the
young American officer, ranking only as lieutenant, who was his
opponent in a flag-ship of twenty-six guns. But it is here seen,
that “the race is not always to the _swift_, nor the battle to the
_strong_.” Naval discipline, skill, coolness, and courage, were put in
requisition in this battle, united with daring intrepidity in coming
down head upon the line of an enemy of superior force. As a description
of this battle has been given in the memoir of the gallant Commander
Macdonough, it is unnecessary to repeat it here. Lieutenant Cassin was
promoted to the rank of post-captain, and received from Congress a gold
medal, an engraving of which is given in Plate XIII., in commemoration
of the victory. At the close of the war, Captain Cassin commanded
the Newport, Rhode Island Station, and since had command, for five
years, of the Washington Navy yard. Captain Cassin’s residence, when
not in service, has always been in the vicinity of Washington, where
his well-known character for courage and ability, and his amiable and
gentlemanly deportment have drawn around him a large circle of friends.
Notwithstanding the difficulties and disappointments attending a young
officer in his first naval career, and his oppressing captivity in
Spain for two years, yet his undaunted spirit led him forward, in spite
of every untoward event in the path of glory, and crowned his exertions
with success.