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Sailing the Graveyard Sea: The Deathly Voyage of the Somers, the U.S. Navy's Only Mutiny, and the Trial That Gripped the Nation
A riveting account of the only mutiny in the history of the United States Navy—a little-known event that cost three innocent young men their lives—part murder mystery, part courtroom drama, and as propulsive and dramatic as the bestselling novels of Patrick O’Brian.
On December 16, 1842, the US brig-of-war Somers dropped anchor in Brooklyn Harbor at the end of a cruise intended to teach a group of adolescents the rudiments of naval life. But this seemingly harmless exercise ended in catastrophe. Commander Alexander Slidell Mackenzie came ashore saying he had narrowly prevented a mutiny that would have left him and his officers dead. Some of the thwarted mutineers were being held under guard, but three had been Boatswain’s Mate Samuel Cromwell, Seaman Elisha Small, and Acting Midshipman Philip Spencer, whose father was the secretary of war, John Spencer.
Eighteen-year-old Philip Spencer, according to Mackenzie, had been the ringleader who encouraged the crew to seize the ship and become pirates, raping and pillaging their way across the old Spanish Main. And while the young man might have been a rebel fascinated by pirates, it soon became clear the order that condemned the three men had no legal basis. And worse, that perhaps a mutiny had never really occurred, and that the ship might instead have been seized by a creeping hysteria that ended in the sacrifice of three innocents.
Months of accusations and counteraccusations were followed by a highly public court martial which put Mackenzie on trial for his life, and a storm of anti-Navy sentiment drew the attention of the leading writers of the day (Washington Irving thought Mackenzie a hero; James Fenimore Cooper damned him with a ferocity that still stings). But some good did come out of it: public disgust with Mackenzie’s training cruise gave birth to Annapolis, the distinguished naval academy that within a century, would produce the mightiest navy the world had ever known.
Vividly told and filled with tense action based on court martial transcripts, Snow’s masterly account of this all-but-forgotten episode is naval history at its finest.
On December 16, 1842, the US brig-of-war Somers dropped anchor in Brooklyn Harbor at the end of a cruise intended to teach a group of adolescents the rudiments of naval life. But this seemingly harmless exercise ended in catastrophe. Commander Alexander Slidell Mackenzie came ashore saying he had narrowly prevented a mutiny that would have left him and his officers dead. Some of the thwarted mutineers were being held under guard, but three had been Boatswain’s Mate Samuel Cromwell, Seaman Elisha Small, and Acting Midshipman Philip Spencer, whose father was the secretary of war, John Spencer.
Eighteen-year-old Philip Spencer, according to Mackenzie, had been the ringleader who encouraged the crew to seize the ship and become pirates, raping and pillaging their way across the old Spanish Main. And while the young man might have been a rebel fascinated by pirates, it soon became clear the order that condemned the three men had no legal basis. And worse, that perhaps a mutiny had never really occurred, and that the ship might instead have been seized by a creeping hysteria that ended in the sacrifice of three innocents.
Months of accusations and counteraccusations were followed by a highly public court martial which put Mackenzie on trial for his life, and a storm of anti-Navy sentiment drew the attention of the leading writers of the day (Washington Irving thought Mackenzie a hero; James Fenimore Cooper damned him with a ferocity that still stings). But some good did come out of it: public disgust with Mackenzie’s training cruise gave birth to Annapolis, the distinguished naval academy that within a century, would produce the mightiest navy the world had ever known.
Vividly told and filled with tense action based on court martial transcripts, Snow’s masterly account of this all-but-forgotten episode is naval history at its finest.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published November 21, 2023
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January 21, 2024
Was it mutiny or was it murder? This book recounts an incident from our Naval History of 1842 that was quite notorious in its time. Apparently the incident was so controversial as to gain the attentions of authors Herman Melville, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Richard Henry Dana, and James Fenimore Cooper. These authors have tangential involvement though Melville was actually related to one of the officers involved in the incident. The story, unfortunately, suffers from time and changed values and seems like much ado about something tragically minor and Snow's writing style is too clinical and matter-of-fact to add any life or drama to the reading. However, tales from the age of sail coupled with a legal controversy was something I couldn't resist.
The story is about Commander Alexander Slidell Mackenzie and his command of the very small brig-of-war U.S.S. Somers, a school ship of the U.S. Navy in 1842. Of the 120 men onboard only 30 were out of their teens and 45 were between 13 and 16 years old. One of these boys was the 18 year old ne'er-do-well son of the then secretary of war John Spencer. Spencer's son, Phillip, was placed on the Somers with the apparent hope of helping him grow up but it only dovetailed with a fascination young Phillip had with piracy. Nevertheless, the Somers was part of a project to teach young men and boys the skills needed to become sailors and naval officers. Young Spencer was a midshipman in a meaning far different from what that title would mean after the Naval Academy at Annapolis was founded some years later. The Naval Academy's founding probably does owe something to the Somers mutiny incident. So with a handful of officers and a few, very few, experienced seamen and a lot of kids the Somers sets sail for a cruise to Western Africa and a return trip the Virgin Islands and then home. Before reaching the Virgin Islands Phillip Spencer and 2 crewmen are hung for attempted mutiny.
This is not a story that compares in anyway with Fletcher Christian and the HMS Bounty. Actually, what it reminded me of was the Salem Witch Trials. Phillip Spencer was an irritating malcontent whose fascination with piracy may have spawned a semi-serious notion of taking over the Somers or it may have been the fantasy of an bored and spoiled rich boy. In any event the talk of a conspiracy to mutiny and kill the officers and loyal crew members reaches captain Mackenzie and the snowball starts its rapid move downhill. Young Spencer is arrested and through suspicion and speculation two others are also arrested and shackled. The extent of the conspiracy, if there was one, is unknown and this ignorance promotes fear as the number of officers is too small to resist any organized attack by the crew. The officers are brought together by Mackenzie to decide what to do and they conclude that the three under arrest need to be executed to deprive the crew of the mutiny's ringleaders. Without any sort of due process the three are hung.
Needless to say when the Somers returns to New York and Secretary of War Spencer learns his black sheep son has been executed as a mutineer all hell breaks loose. There is a formal inquiry followed by a full blown courts martial that lasts a few months and the judicial quality of which is almost laughable if it wasn't so serious. Was there a mutiny? Did the exigent circumstances of the Somers permit Mackenzie to summarily execute crewmen without any sort of due process? Were there alternatives to execution that would have allowed the suspects to be formally tried? The courts martial reached their decision but the controversy continued for decades following. If tales of the sea interest you then this book may appeal to you as well. Enjoy.
The story is about Commander Alexander Slidell Mackenzie and his command of the very small brig-of-war U.S.S. Somers, a school ship of the U.S. Navy in 1842. Of the 120 men onboard only 30 were out of their teens and 45 were between 13 and 16 years old. One of these boys was the 18 year old ne'er-do-well son of the then secretary of war John Spencer. Spencer's son, Phillip, was placed on the Somers with the apparent hope of helping him grow up but it only dovetailed with a fascination young Phillip had with piracy. Nevertheless, the Somers was part of a project to teach young men and boys the skills needed to become sailors and naval officers. Young Spencer was a midshipman in a meaning far different from what that title would mean after the Naval Academy at Annapolis was founded some years later. The Naval Academy's founding probably does owe something to the Somers mutiny incident. So with a handful of officers and a few, very few, experienced seamen and a lot of kids the Somers sets sail for a cruise to Western Africa and a return trip the Virgin Islands and then home. Before reaching the Virgin Islands Phillip Spencer and 2 crewmen are hung for attempted mutiny.
This is not a story that compares in anyway with Fletcher Christian and the HMS Bounty. Actually, what it reminded me of was the Salem Witch Trials. Phillip Spencer was an irritating malcontent whose fascination with piracy may have spawned a semi-serious notion of taking over the Somers or it may have been the fantasy of an bored and spoiled rich boy. In any event the talk of a conspiracy to mutiny and kill the officers and loyal crew members reaches captain Mackenzie and the snowball starts its rapid move downhill. Young Spencer is arrested and through suspicion and speculation two others are also arrested and shackled. The extent of the conspiracy, if there was one, is unknown and this ignorance promotes fear as the number of officers is too small to resist any organized attack by the crew. The officers are brought together by Mackenzie to decide what to do and they conclude that the three under arrest need to be executed to deprive the crew of the mutiny's ringleaders. Without any sort of due process the three are hung.
Needless to say when the Somers returns to New York and Secretary of War Spencer learns his black sheep son has been executed as a mutineer all hell breaks loose. There is a formal inquiry followed by a full blown courts martial that lasts a few months and the judicial quality of which is almost laughable if it wasn't so serious. Was there a mutiny? Did the exigent circumstances of the Somers permit Mackenzie to summarily execute crewmen without any sort of due process? Were there alternatives to execution that would have allowed the suspects to be formally tried? The courts martial reached their decision but the controversy continued for decades following. If tales of the sea interest you then this book may appeal to you as well. Enjoy.
January 20, 2024
This book is non-fiction about the only mutiny in US Navy history. It occurred in 1842 aboard the sailing brig of war Somers, which was carrying dispatches to another ship off the coast of Africa while training midshipmen. It initially focuses on the main players and their backgrounds. These include the accused mutineers and the captain. Eighteen-year-old Philip Spencer, son of John C. Spencer (Secretary of War under President John Tyler), was one of the midshipmen. He and two others were accused, tried, and hung aboard the ship before it completed its mission and returned home. The ship was commanded by Alexander Slidell Mackenzie, who is portrayed as sadistic person with “enthusiasm for the lash.” It then covers the court of inquiry, court martial, and subsequent trial that ensued in the midst of much controversy.
Snow has clearly done a great deal of research and includes passages from the historical documentation to provide the reader with a good idea of what happened in the aftermath of the incident. Events on board ship are much less clearly defined, as there is not as much documentation available. It examines the legality of whether hanging these men was justified. Snow never explicitly states an opinion but allows readers to draw their own conclusions from the evidence. I think it would have been interesting to hear the author’s opinion, gleaned from his extensive research. It seems to imply that the Navy may have been protecting one of its own but stops short of actually stating as much. This is, however, a minor quibble in what I found a cogent account of a lesser-known event in history.
Snow has clearly done a great deal of research and includes passages from the historical documentation to provide the reader with a good idea of what happened in the aftermath of the incident. Events on board ship are much less clearly defined, as there is not as much documentation available. It examines the legality of whether hanging these men was justified. Snow never explicitly states an opinion but allows readers to draw their own conclusions from the evidence. I think it would have been interesting to hear the author’s opinion, gleaned from his extensive research. It seems to imply that the Navy may have been protecting one of its own but stops short of actually stating as much. This is, however, a minor quibble in what I found a cogent account of a lesser-known event in history.
October 20, 2023
An entire U.S. Navy ship and not a single adult on board. This is the story of Sailing the Graveyard Sea by Richard Snow. It was the only U.S. Navy mutiny in history and it is as bizarre as any seaborne tale I have ever read (and I have read quite a few).
I always feel that nautical narratives need to be economical. When an author tries to explain too many terms to us landlubbers, it usually comes off as a tangent at best and boring at worst. The best immerse you in the seafaring life and then getting to the core of the story. Luckily, Snow nails this portion and I never felt taken out of the story. Snow keeps the action moving and adds flourishes when needed.
The actual mutiny itself lives up to the hype. I will avoid spoilers, but there are a lot of twist and turns where you may feel very conflicted when all is said and done. When some of the best authors alive at the time can't agree, then you know this is truly a divisive event in history.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Scribner Books.)
I always feel that nautical narratives need to be economical. When an author tries to explain too many terms to us landlubbers, it usually comes off as a tangent at best and boring at worst. The best immerse you in the seafaring life and then getting to the core of the story. Luckily, Snow nails this portion and I never felt taken out of the story. Snow keeps the action moving and adds flourishes when needed.
The actual mutiny itself lives up to the hype. I will avoid spoilers, but there are a lot of twist and turns where you may feel very conflicted when all is said and done. When some of the best authors alive at the time can't agree, then you know this is truly a divisive event in history.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Scribner Books.)
December 27, 2023
Snow details the only recorded mutiny in United States naval history and of the actions taken--that upon the U.S.S. Somers in 1842. When the ship returns to harbor and it is learned that young men had been hung for the proposed mutinous plot, it is questioned if the Commander Alexander Slidell Mackenzie administered justice or murder. Part history and part true crime drama, Snow's book opens the reader up to a sad and fascinating part of the U.S. Navy's past.
January 16, 2024
Another fascinating contribution to nautical history nonfiction, this time a potential naval mutiny during America's infancy, its fallout and the ensuing trial, conducted both in legal court and the court of public opinion.
The Somers served as a "school" ship, one aboard which young boys and men were meant to learn the naval ways of life at sea. Thus, the majority of sailors aboard were not seasoned, career seamen, but young boys with little understanding of the chain of command, military levels of obedience, and indeed the grave consequences for defiance of either.
The ship would return from this educational exercise minus three men, hanged for treason whilst at sea, and with some other supposed potential mutineers under guard.
Snow painted a well-balanced portrait, I thought, of an 18 year-old with troublemaking tendencies, and a Captain who overstepped in meting out the harshest punishment of all. The book went a bit dry for some periods (not helped by an unremarkable narrator). But it remained relatively short while still providing rich, thorough context for events, especially when it came to blurbs on the careers of prosecutors and naval officials who oversaw the trial.
In the end, nothing was certain, other than Commander Mackenzie suspiciously over-explaining his actions in unnecessary detail, as the guilty often do, and that three men were dead, their remains in the Atlantic. Snow skillfully portrayed a ship aboard which ego, inexperience, animosity, hearsay and paranoia stoked a toxic atmosphere.
Like other nautical and maritime mysteries that are simply unsolvable under the weight of time and a scarcity of honesty, this one had me hopelessly intrigued. Four stars.
The Somers served as a "school" ship, one aboard which young boys and men were meant to learn the naval ways of life at sea. Thus, the majority of sailors aboard were not seasoned, career seamen, but young boys with little understanding of the chain of command, military levels of obedience, and indeed the grave consequences for defiance of either.
The ship would return from this educational exercise minus three men, hanged for treason whilst at sea, and with some other supposed potential mutineers under guard.
Snow painted a well-balanced portrait, I thought, of an 18 year-old with troublemaking tendencies, and a Captain who overstepped in meting out the harshest punishment of all. The book went a bit dry for some periods (not helped by an unremarkable narrator). But it remained relatively short while still providing rich, thorough context for events, especially when it came to blurbs on the careers of prosecutors and naval officials who oversaw the trial.
In the end, nothing was certain, other than Commander Mackenzie suspiciously over-explaining his actions in unnecessary detail, as the guilty often do, and that three men were dead, their remains in the Atlantic. Snow skillfully portrayed a ship aboard which ego, inexperience, animosity, hearsay and paranoia stoked a toxic atmosphere.
Like other nautical and maritime mysteries that are simply unsolvable under the weight of time and a scarcity of honesty, this one had me hopelessly intrigued. Four stars.
August 20, 2023
Sailing the Graveyard Sea had evaded my reading list on several occasions. Despite catching my attention each time it crossed my path, a certain hesitation persisted, largely due to the title's initial impression. However, upon realizing that the author behind this work is none other than Richard Snow, who has written the premier work on the Disney Theme Parks ever in "Disney's Land," I was compelled to reevaluate my reservations. Snow's remarkable skill in meticulous research and the art of presenting candid perspectives became evident in his previous work, thus establishing a foundation of credibility.
Upon retrospection, a notable facet of "Sailing the Graveyard Sea" emerges – my own ambiguity concerning the central issues depicted within the book. The narrative revolves around the execution of three men charged with mutinous intentions aboard a vessel, and a trial that ensued following the hangings despite the absence of any realized mutiny. Contemplating the matter, I find myself oscillating between potential viewpoints. On one hand, aligning with the captain's standpoint, I am inclined to speculate that Spencer, one of the accused, might have harbored clandestine intentions to embark on a pirate's path. Conversely, the evidence presented seems susceptible to subjectivity and the instigation of consensus. An alternative hypothesis arises – the targeted nature of the three accused men might have stemmed from their perceived insular disposition within the crew. Notably, Spencer displayed a certain youthful jest, which prompts reflection on whether his fate would have diverged aboard a different vessel or under alternative circumstances.
I empathize with Spencer's position from the vantage point of my profound intrigue in pirate lore. The concise yet comprehensive portrayal of pivotal individuals involved in the Somers mutiny, along with the ensuing judicial proceedings, constitutes a key strength of this narrative. However, if pressed to express any reservations, my sole contention would pertain to the choice of title.
"Sailing the Graveyard Sea" warrants consideration as a work of intriguing historical examination, seamlessly delving into the intricacies of maritime discord and subsequent legal ramifications. While my personal affinity for pirate history resonates with Spencer's circumstances, the narrative encapsulates a broader spectrum of dilemmas and perspectives.
Upon retrospection, a notable facet of "Sailing the Graveyard Sea" emerges – my own ambiguity concerning the central issues depicted within the book. The narrative revolves around the execution of three men charged with mutinous intentions aboard a vessel, and a trial that ensued following the hangings despite the absence of any realized mutiny. Contemplating the matter, I find myself oscillating between potential viewpoints. On one hand, aligning with the captain's standpoint, I am inclined to speculate that Spencer, one of the accused, might have harbored clandestine intentions to embark on a pirate's path. Conversely, the evidence presented seems susceptible to subjectivity and the instigation of consensus. An alternative hypothesis arises – the targeted nature of the three accused men might have stemmed from their perceived insular disposition within the crew. Notably, Spencer displayed a certain youthful jest, which prompts reflection on whether his fate would have diverged aboard a different vessel or under alternative circumstances.
I empathize with Spencer's position from the vantage point of my profound intrigue in pirate lore. The concise yet comprehensive portrayal of pivotal individuals involved in the Somers mutiny, along with the ensuing judicial proceedings, constitutes a key strength of this narrative. However, if pressed to express any reservations, my sole contention would pertain to the choice of title.
"Sailing the Graveyard Sea" warrants consideration as a work of intriguing historical examination, seamlessly delving into the intricacies of maritime discord and subsequent legal ramifications. While my personal affinity for pirate history resonates with Spencer's circumstances, the narrative encapsulates a broader spectrum of dilemmas and perspectives.
December 12, 2023
I have been on quite a "boat" kick this year [shipwrecks and all] and when I saw this one, even though it was not a shipwreck, the title completely intrigued me and I added it to the list.
Well-researched [I will be searching out more books by this author to read], this is a story of boys [were they just "being boys"? Were they really pirates?], their superiors [many who were only a few years older than their charges], a new ship and the love [and hate] of going to sea. A mutiny, punishment and a court-martial trial that divided a closely knit group of men and left everyone involved floundering and leaves even us questioning everything we just read. The one good thing that came out of all of this was the development of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and the beginning of the great Navy this US now enjoys.
To be honest, I am just not sure what I am feeling over this book - I DO know that I will be thinking about this one for days, as I work out just what I learned and what was found and even then, I am not sure I will ever know just what I believe.
Thank you to NetGalley, Richard Snow, and Scribner for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Well-researched [I will be searching out more books by this author to read], this is a story of boys [were they just "being boys"? Were they really pirates?], their superiors [many who were only a few years older than their charges], a new ship and the love [and hate] of going to sea. A mutiny, punishment and a court-martial trial that divided a closely knit group of men and left everyone involved floundering and leaves even us questioning everything we just read. The one good thing that came out of all of this was the development of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and the beginning of the great Navy this US now enjoys.
To be honest, I am just not sure what I am feeling over this book - I DO know that I will be thinking about this one for days, as I work out just what I learned and what was found and even then, I am not sure I will ever know just what I believe.
Thank you to NetGalley, Richard Snow, and Scribner for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2024
If you hang every obnoxious nepo baby from the yardarm then who's going to run your corporations, Commander Mackenzie??
August 3, 2025
Outstanding title, pretty good book.
I read a lot of books about the age of sail, and a thing about this era that is endlessly fascinating to me is the question of how every single one of the crews on these ships didn’t turn mutinous the second they were out of sight of land. So many of the men who ended up on these ships were either there against their will, or were recruited under false pretenses. The work was incredibly dangerous. The companies and militaries that controlled these ships found a million little ways to deprive the crews of their full wages. Worst of all you have the captains, who were psychopaths to a man. Even the ones that were well loved by their crews and described as kind were still willing to torture their sailors for the most minor of offenses. This book doesn’t do much to answer that question, but it does provide plenty to think about in relation to it.
This is the story of a failson who either started a mutiny or made the mistake of daydreaming out loud about starting one in the worst possible place anyone should ever do so, and the captain who had him executed for it at sea without trial. The father of the failson in question turns out to be the Secretary of War in the Tyler administration, who uses his influence to stoke public outcry over the lack of due process until two separate trials are required to settle the matter.
It’s not a bad telling of the tale. Richard Snow does an especially outstanding job of providing context to the reader early on. The descriptions of daily life on a ship for a fresh recruit, the explanation of why the American Navy had an entire vessel that was basically crewed by children, and the introductions to Alexander Mackenzie, and John and Philip Spencer were all great. Informative without being too dry. There was also some surprising humor sprinkled through out the book. Snow isn’t averse to pointing out when something was ridiculous, or including an anecdote that serves no other purpose than being good for a laugh. “Three cheers for that jolly good fellow, God!” is a phrase that makes me smile every time it’s run through my mind since reading it.
The book does unfortunately lose some steam once it turns its attention to all the legal proceedings. Snow does a great job of summarizing this stuff in his own words, but unfortunately he also spends a ton of time just quoting court transcripts directly. He does a similar thing while talking about the fallout of the trials, when he quotes contemporary commentators like James Fenimore Cooper and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow at great length. To be fair, Cooper actually gets in a couple of pretty funny shots at Mackenzie’s expense, but the overall effect of all these quotations is that they tend to drain the momentum out of the book whenever they happen, and they happen a lot. No offense to Cooper or to any of the witnesses who’s testimony is quoted, but this stuff just reads a little too dryly, and the language employed is a little too different from modern writing, for any of it to transition smoothly back and forth to Snow’s own voice the way he needs it to.
Otherwise this is a pretty satisfying read. If you’re interested in naval history, or the age of sail or what have you, then this is worth a look.
I read a lot of books about the age of sail, and a thing about this era that is endlessly fascinating to me is the question of how every single one of the crews on these ships didn’t turn mutinous the second they were out of sight of land. So many of the men who ended up on these ships were either there against their will, or were recruited under false pretenses. The work was incredibly dangerous. The companies and militaries that controlled these ships found a million little ways to deprive the crews of their full wages. Worst of all you have the captains, who were psychopaths to a man. Even the ones that were well loved by their crews and described as kind were still willing to torture their sailors for the most minor of offenses. This book doesn’t do much to answer that question, but it does provide plenty to think about in relation to it.
This is the story of a failson who either started a mutiny or made the mistake of daydreaming out loud about starting one in the worst possible place anyone should ever do so, and the captain who had him executed for it at sea without trial. The father of the failson in question turns out to be the Secretary of War in the Tyler administration, who uses his influence to stoke public outcry over the lack of due process until two separate trials are required to settle the matter.
It’s not a bad telling of the tale. Richard Snow does an especially outstanding job of providing context to the reader early on. The descriptions of daily life on a ship for a fresh recruit, the explanation of why the American Navy had an entire vessel that was basically crewed by children, and the introductions to Alexander Mackenzie, and John and Philip Spencer were all great. Informative without being too dry. There was also some surprising humor sprinkled through out the book. Snow isn’t averse to pointing out when something was ridiculous, or including an anecdote that serves no other purpose than being good for a laugh. “Three cheers for that jolly good fellow, God!” is a phrase that makes me smile every time it’s run through my mind since reading it.
The book does unfortunately lose some steam once it turns its attention to all the legal proceedings. Snow does a great job of summarizing this stuff in his own words, but unfortunately he also spends a ton of time just quoting court transcripts directly. He does a similar thing while talking about the fallout of the trials, when he quotes contemporary commentators like James Fenimore Cooper and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow at great length. To be fair, Cooper actually gets in a couple of pretty funny shots at Mackenzie’s expense, but the overall effect of all these quotations is that they tend to drain the momentum out of the book whenever they happen, and they happen a lot. No offense to Cooper or to any of the witnesses who’s testimony is quoted, but this stuff just reads a little too dryly, and the language employed is a little too different from modern writing, for any of it to transition smoothly back and forth to Snow’s own voice the way he needs it to.
Otherwise this is a pretty satisfying read. If you’re interested in naval history, or the age of sail or what have you, then this is worth a look.
January 13, 2024
I had to get out my dictionary to read this 1842 "mutiny at sea" book written by an eloquent language author whose sea-going words were foreign to this dry-land West Texas boy. Commander Mackenzie takes a routine voyage with a crew of young "academy" learning naval life. His command style was in line with the strict leadership style which was demonstrated by the daily floggings of those who violated the regulations of the ship. It just happens that his enforcement of minor violations with severe "beatings" did not endure him to his young crew or some of their young staff. Early on in the short trip to the coast of Africa and back, there was talk of mutiny by an 18-year-old seaman, whether in jest or not, created an arrest which began a major examination of styles vs common sense leadership when Commander Mackenzie hung 3 seamen and buried their remains at sea.
A Court of Inquiry sided with his decisions while pointing out his poor leadership style. A wealthy, influential parent of one of the executed sailors hired a powerful lawyer in an attempt to convict him of murder. While not successful, the trial pointed out the unrealistic demands that ruined the career
of Mr. Mackenzie at an early age.
Seagoing authors of the day did their investigations and found the Commander GUILTY. This same leadership style of micro-management still is around today with the same results.
A Court of Inquiry sided with his decisions while pointing out his poor leadership style. A wealthy, influential parent of one of the executed sailors hired a powerful lawyer in an attempt to convict him of murder. While not successful, the trial pointed out the unrealistic demands that ruined the career
of Mr. Mackenzie at an early age.
Seagoing authors of the day did their investigations and found the Commander GUILTY. This same leadership style of micro-management still is around today with the same results.
May 20, 2025
Throughout reading, I took considerable time pondering my rating, but the epilogue really sealed the deal. The content itself was super interesting to me, and helps fill a few gaps in my knowledge of historical maritime tragedy (yes, IMO my personal conclusion is that this is a tragedy brought on by a gross overreach of power and NOT a heroic display of nationalism). I feel like the author did a good job of leading me through the context/timeline in a way that allowed me to oscillate between believing P. Spencer to be guilty or innocent. One thing I really wish I could read is the full ‘S’ letter as opposed to the excerpts in the book— to me there’s something very tender about Spencer Sr. going to bat for his son posthumously, even going as far as to pick a fight with the president and allegedly throwing fists with others.
In all, this is the story of a character of high or noble status (Midshipman Spencer) who brings about their own downfall (capital execution) due to a fatal flaw (hubris, among others), highlighting greater failings of the system (the government, the navy, the courts) at large.
A tragedy.
In all, this is the story of a character of high or noble status (Midshipman Spencer) who brings about their own downfall (capital execution) due to a fatal flaw (hubris, among others), highlighting greater failings of the system (the government, the navy, the courts) at large.
A tragedy.
June 16, 2025
in hindsight, packing cartoonishly dumb men onto a boat and sending them into the ocean without a compelling mission was probably a bad idea
March 12, 2024
Interesting story, but the first third suffers from way too many unnecessary backstories.
May 13, 2024
Was probably going to be 3 but then as the events unfolded and the trials began I could not put the book down. Love a maritime tale.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2025
I have to start with two pedantic mini-rants
1. The cover of the book shows a sailing ship. You'd think it would be of the title ship, the USS Somers, or possibly a similar ship. But no, it is of some random ship painting out of the British Maritime Museum collection. The cover ship has four (4) masts and the Somers only had two (2)!
2. The sub-title "...the U.S. Navy's Only Mutiny..." - really? In fact, spoiler alert, there was no mutiny, only the perception on the part of the Captain that a mutiny was imminent. I thought I was going to read a book about an actual mutiny and perhaps the capture and bringing to justice of the mutineers such as in Mutiny on the Spanish Main: HMS Hermione and the Royal Navy's Revenge or the superbly written The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder
What you do get is a tale told in minute detail of a US Navy brig that sailed with many apprentice seamen and many young midshipmen on basically a training voyage towards Africa. One of the midshipmen, who happened to be the son of the Secretary of War, was a troublemaker, inspired by pirate stories from his youth.
Between a tyrannical captain who was prone to the lash, an inexperienced crew, our young alleged mutineer, and a conversation late at night, things got out of hand. I won't go into any more detail but because there was an extensive investigation and court martial once the ship reached port, there are exhaustive first hand accounts of all the goings on. Yardarms get involved.
You'll definitely feel like you're at sea having your exposed back bloodied by up to twelve lashes for the mildest of infractions. You'll also feel the rhythms of the ship, storms, watches, grub, shore leave, petty grievances, and so on of an 1842 brigantine. At least by then, scurvy had been conquered so your teeth stayed in.
Three stars for a readable, detailed account of an alleged mutiny but a not very exciting or compelling story. As a reader, you are torn for your sympathies between the troublemaker and the need for order on a Navy ship.
The other two aforementioned books are better reads if you are in the mood for an 18th-19th century naval mutiny.
One map and a few illustrations.
1. The cover of the book shows a sailing ship. You'd think it would be of the title ship, the USS Somers, or possibly a similar ship. But no, it is of some random ship painting out of the British Maritime Museum collection. The cover ship has four (4) masts and the Somers only had two (2)!
2. The sub-title "...the U.S. Navy's Only Mutiny..." - really? In fact, spoiler alert, there was no mutiny, only the perception on the part of the Captain that a mutiny was imminent. I thought I was going to read a book about an actual mutiny and perhaps the capture and bringing to justice of the mutineers such as in Mutiny on the Spanish Main: HMS Hermione and the Royal Navy's Revenge or the superbly written The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder
What you do get is a tale told in minute detail of a US Navy brig that sailed with many apprentice seamen and many young midshipmen on basically a training voyage towards Africa. One of the midshipmen, who happened to be the son of the Secretary of War, was a troublemaker, inspired by pirate stories from his youth.
Between a tyrannical captain who was prone to the lash, an inexperienced crew, our young alleged mutineer, and a conversation late at night, things got out of hand. I won't go into any more detail but because there was an extensive investigation and court martial once the ship reached port, there are exhaustive first hand accounts of all the goings on. Yardarms get involved.
You'll definitely feel like you're at sea having your exposed back bloodied by up to twelve lashes for the mildest of infractions. You'll also feel the rhythms of the ship, storms, watches, grub, shore leave, petty grievances, and so on of an 1842 brigantine. At least by then, scurvy had been conquered so your teeth stayed in.
Three stars for a readable, detailed account of an alleged mutiny but a not very exciting or compelling story. As a reader, you are torn for your sympathies between the troublemaker and the need for order on a Navy ship.
The other two aforementioned books are better reads if you are in the mood for an 18th-19th century naval mutiny.
One map and a few illustrations.
July 18, 2024
Philip Spencer is an eighteen-year-old midshipman who has failed out of two colleges and been sent to sea by his formidable and disapproving father, the Secretary of War. (Sending him to the frontier, which was also considered, would have lacked discipline and oversight of a young man seen as unruly and spoiled.) Philip, who loves the dramatic thrillers about piracy that are common at the time, struggles to make friends with his fellow officers, and doesn't adapt well to shipboard life. He's transferred to a different ship after punching a senior midshipman on two separate occasions, and then transferred again after being repeatedly drunk and disorderly and drunkenly accosting a British officer. (He is most likely spared severe consequences for these serious infractions because nobody wants to anger his powerful father.) His third ship is the Somers.
The Somers is basically a school ship. There is no Naval Academy yet, so enterprising naval minds have put a ton of teenagers on the small, fast Somers and sent it on a journey over to Africa to teach the youngsters how to sail. It's captained by Commander Alexander Mackenzie, who's a severe disciplinarian (bordering on the sadistic) and fascinated with corporal and capital punishment. He hates having this spoiled rich kid on board who is insubordinate, drunk, fantasizes about piracy, and chooses to befriend sailors instead of officers. He can't whip Spencer the way he constantly and excessively whips the kids he's supposed to be teaching (not judging by modern values -- officers at the time, reading the discipline records after the voyage, were shocked and disapproving). Instead, he becomes convinced that Spencer is planning a mutiny, and that if he claps him in irons and brings him back for court-martial (like he's supposed to do), his father's influence will get him off. So there must be only one solution...
This is the story of the one "mutiny" in the American Navy. The author doesn't have a lot of analysis or a strong authorial voice, choosing instead to simply lay out the sources and let them speak for themselves. The voyage of the Somers and the subsequent inquiry and court-martial are all covered at length. I will say that I certainly didn't have any trouble coming to a view on the matter after reading this book!
The Somers is basically a school ship. There is no Naval Academy yet, so enterprising naval minds have put a ton of teenagers on the small, fast Somers and sent it on a journey over to Africa to teach the youngsters how to sail. It's captained by Commander Alexander Mackenzie, who's a severe disciplinarian (bordering on the sadistic) and fascinated with corporal and capital punishment. He hates having this spoiled rich kid on board who is insubordinate, drunk, fantasizes about piracy, and chooses to befriend sailors instead of officers. He can't whip Spencer the way he constantly and excessively whips the kids he's supposed to be teaching (not judging by modern values -- officers at the time, reading the discipline records after the voyage, were shocked and disapproving). Instead, he becomes convinced that Spencer is planning a mutiny, and that if he claps him in irons and brings him back for court-martial (like he's supposed to do), his father's influence will get him off. So there must be only one solution...
This is the story of the one "mutiny" in the American Navy. The author doesn't have a lot of analysis or a strong authorial voice, choosing instead to simply lay out the sources and let them speak for themselves. The voyage of the Somers and the subsequent inquiry and court-martial are all covered at length. I will say that I certainly didn't have any trouble coming to a view on the matter after reading this book!
January 29, 2024
This was an okay read.
I didn't find it as intriguing/ gripping as the jacket led me to beleive.
I didn't find it as intriguing/ gripping as the jacket led me to beleive.
June 2, 2024
Good story just seemed very slow reading.
October 9, 2023
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Scribner for an advance copy of this book dealing with the only mutiny in United States Naval History and the many mysteries and controversies that are still unanswered.
Most kids dream of being pirates. Lost Boys and Girls sailing the stealing ships, robbing the rich, cannons to the left, sword play to the right. Most grow out of these dreams, but for some the idea of freebooting on the open seas and taking treasure is hard to get rid of. In our more modern day these people become tech leaders or vulture capitalists, with letters of marque from politicians paid for in bribes. In the 1800's though the Golden Age of piracy had long been over, there was still the idea, that a ship could be taken be a few men, and wealth could be had as well as villainy. These thoughts might have lead to the first and only mutiny in the United States Navy. Or maybe it was just a dream spoken aloud, with words that can never be uttered on the open seas. Sailing the Graveyard Sea: The Deathly Voyage of the Somers, the U.S. Navy's Only Mutiny, and the Trial That Gripped the Nation, by writer and historian Richard Snow, is a look at this little discussed mutiny, the mysteries that remain, and the reasons why the subject has been down played by history.
In 1842 the United States Navy had no real school or training facility for their officer core, so very young officers were trained the way navies always trained, at sea. The USS Somers was a newer boat, a brig and in addition to carrying dispatches to Africa, with many young men on board, sailing for the first time, as midshipmen. The Captain Alexander Mackenzie was a man of letters whose book about his service in Spain was carried on all naval boats in their library. Mackenzie was also a fan of punishment, for even the most minor of actions. The punishment was flogging, with either the famed cat of nine tails, or the colt, which was a piece of 1 inch rope, used to beat the men on their backs. A midshipman with a famous father, Philip Spencer, whose father was the current Secretary of War, was a boy that might not have been suited for navy life. He was brash, quick to anger, and already in trouble for striking a superior, a problem the Navy avoided by moving him to the Somers. Spencer made friends among the officers and crew, supplying them with cigars, and alcohol, which Mackenzie was against. Soon the atmosphere of the boat began to change, the crew all feeling that something was going to happen. And one day Spencer made a comment, that drew a lot of attention. And tragedy.
As a person who loves history, I was completely unaware of this mutiny, the first and only in Navy history, at least at sea. After reading the book, one can understand why, for the story is far more complex than just a simple mutiny, and joining pirates. Richard Snow is a very good writer, keeping this story clear, and the research Snow has done is quite impressive. Trial transcripts, journals, lost letters, books, newspaper articles, bring both the story and trial to life. One can see why the navy wouldn't want this well known, as mutiny is probably not something they would be proud about. However as Snow writes, there is a lot more to this mutiny than it looks. One innocent man might have been killed, either because of the Captain's paranoid fear, or his wanting to have a hanging, or maybe because there was a plot to seize the ship. Snow really navigates the story well, no doldrums here. A really masterful history, about a subject I knew nothing about, but now want to know more.
Recommended for readers of naval history, even naval fiction, for the life of sailors, and the navy of the 1800's. There are many interesting facts, as well as a truly riveting historical event that not many know about, that will sadly remain a mystery for all time. A great book to find under the tree, or to give to that lover of history.
Most kids dream of being pirates. Lost Boys and Girls sailing the stealing ships, robbing the rich, cannons to the left, sword play to the right. Most grow out of these dreams, but for some the idea of freebooting on the open seas and taking treasure is hard to get rid of. In our more modern day these people become tech leaders or vulture capitalists, with letters of marque from politicians paid for in bribes. In the 1800's though the Golden Age of piracy had long been over, there was still the idea, that a ship could be taken be a few men, and wealth could be had as well as villainy. These thoughts might have lead to the first and only mutiny in the United States Navy. Or maybe it was just a dream spoken aloud, with words that can never be uttered on the open seas. Sailing the Graveyard Sea: The Deathly Voyage of the Somers, the U.S. Navy's Only Mutiny, and the Trial That Gripped the Nation, by writer and historian Richard Snow, is a look at this little discussed mutiny, the mysteries that remain, and the reasons why the subject has been down played by history.
In 1842 the United States Navy had no real school or training facility for their officer core, so very young officers were trained the way navies always trained, at sea. The USS Somers was a newer boat, a brig and in addition to carrying dispatches to Africa, with many young men on board, sailing for the first time, as midshipmen. The Captain Alexander Mackenzie was a man of letters whose book about his service in Spain was carried on all naval boats in their library. Mackenzie was also a fan of punishment, for even the most minor of actions. The punishment was flogging, with either the famed cat of nine tails, or the colt, which was a piece of 1 inch rope, used to beat the men on their backs. A midshipman with a famous father, Philip Spencer, whose father was the current Secretary of War, was a boy that might not have been suited for navy life. He was brash, quick to anger, and already in trouble for striking a superior, a problem the Navy avoided by moving him to the Somers. Spencer made friends among the officers and crew, supplying them with cigars, and alcohol, which Mackenzie was against. Soon the atmosphere of the boat began to change, the crew all feeling that something was going to happen. And one day Spencer made a comment, that drew a lot of attention. And tragedy.
As a person who loves history, I was completely unaware of this mutiny, the first and only in Navy history, at least at sea. After reading the book, one can understand why, for the story is far more complex than just a simple mutiny, and joining pirates. Richard Snow is a very good writer, keeping this story clear, and the research Snow has done is quite impressive. Trial transcripts, journals, lost letters, books, newspaper articles, bring both the story and trial to life. One can see why the navy wouldn't want this well known, as mutiny is probably not something they would be proud about. However as Snow writes, there is a lot more to this mutiny than it looks. One innocent man might have been killed, either because of the Captain's paranoid fear, or his wanting to have a hanging, or maybe because there was a plot to seize the ship. Snow really navigates the story well, no doldrums here. A really masterful history, about a subject I knew nothing about, but now want to know more.
Recommended for readers of naval history, even naval fiction, for the life of sailors, and the navy of the 1800's. There are many interesting facts, as well as a truly riveting historical event that not many know about, that will sadly remain a mystery for all time. A great book to find under the tree, or to give to that lover of history.
April 29, 2024
In 1804, Richard Somers was one of eleven men who volunteered to navigate a fire ship to its target during the First Barbary War. Unfortunately, he and his men died when the vessel exploded. Decades later, the United States Navy named a new brig-of-war in his honor and intended it to be a school-ship, one where novices would learn to become capable sailors. When she set sail on 13 September 1842, the majority aboard the USS Somers were between thirteen and nineteen years of age. Only thirty of the 120 men aboard were older.
One man, who was eighteen at the time, was Acting Midshipman Philip Spencer, whose father served as secretary of war for President Tyler. John Spencer, a lawyer and politician, was successful, uncompromising, ill-tempered, and determined. Philip strove to please him but never succeeded. His favorite book, published in 1837, was The Pirates Own Book, and perhaps it fueled his desire to head West and try his hand at unlawful adventures on the Mississippi. Trouble at college convinced his father that a better option would be for Philip to join the US Navy, which is how he eventually landed aboard the Somers.
Alexander Slidell Mackenzie entered the navy at age eleven and rose from midshipman to command the USS Somers. He came from wealth and he had connections, one of whom was his brother-in-law, Oliver Hazard Perry. Commander Mackenzie was pious and followed the rules and he expected his men to do likewise. When they did not, he was known to have them flogged.
Philip didn’t fit in easily with his fellow officers, so he gravitated to those who worked the ship. He bribed them with forbidden brandy, tobacco, and tales of misadventure at sea. Two favorites were Boatswain’s Mate Samuel Cromwell and Seaman Elisha Small. Together, they hatched nefarious plans.
Commander Mackenzie initially laughed at the improbability of their scheme. But all was not right aboard Somers, and before she returned to New York, three would hang from the yardarm. The resulting scandal would captivate the nation as cries for justice were heard far and wide.
Snow raises interesting questions as he recounts events, such was why Spencer chose to confide in the purser’s steward, a man beholden to Mackenzie. Details about life at sea and in the navy are interwoven with the principal story, helping readers to gain a better understanding of how and why events unfolded as they did. He provides key information about those involved to allow readers to see the individuals as actual people complete with their foibles and virtues. Combining the views of well-known contemporaries with the historical elements of what transpired permits readers to form their own opinions as to where the truth lies. Snow also ably demonstrates how resolutions don’t always satisfy everyone, even in the past.
Sailing the Graveyard Sea has all the attributes of a sea thriller: mutiny, piracy, intrigue, murder, opposing forces, and newsworthy vilification. The book includes a map that shows the voyage of the Somers during the last quarter of 1842, illustrations of ship life and those involved in the mutiny, a bibliography, and index. What became of the participants, how the events impacted their lives, and a summary of later accounts on this period in naval history round out this absorbing, well-researched story of an incident few readers have ever heard of.
(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/RSnow.html)
One man, who was eighteen at the time, was Acting Midshipman Philip Spencer, whose father served as secretary of war for President Tyler. John Spencer, a lawyer and politician, was successful, uncompromising, ill-tempered, and determined. Philip strove to please him but never succeeded. His favorite book, published in 1837, was The Pirates Own Book, and perhaps it fueled his desire to head West and try his hand at unlawful adventures on the Mississippi. Trouble at college convinced his father that a better option would be for Philip to join the US Navy, which is how he eventually landed aboard the Somers.
Alexander Slidell Mackenzie entered the navy at age eleven and rose from midshipman to command the USS Somers. He came from wealth and he had connections, one of whom was his brother-in-law, Oliver Hazard Perry. Commander Mackenzie was pious and followed the rules and he expected his men to do likewise. When they did not, he was known to have them flogged.
Philip didn’t fit in easily with his fellow officers, so he gravitated to those who worked the ship. He bribed them with forbidden brandy, tobacco, and tales of misadventure at sea. Two favorites were Boatswain’s Mate Samuel Cromwell and Seaman Elisha Small. Together, they hatched nefarious plans.
Commander Mackenzie initially laughed at the improbability of their scheme. But all was not right aboard Somers, and before she returned to New York, three would hang from the yardarm. The resulting scandal would captivate the nation as cries for justice were heard far and wide.
Snow raises interesting questions as he recounts events, such was why Spencer chose to confide in the purser’s steward, a man beholden to Mackenzie. Details about life at sea and in the navy are interwoven with the principal story, helping readers to gain a better understanding of how and why events unfolded as they did. He provides key information about those involved to allow readers to see the individuals as actual people complete with their foibles and virtues. Combining the views of well-known contemporaries with the historical elements of what transpired permits readers to form their own opinions as to where the truth lies. Snow also ably demonstrates how resolutions don’t always satisfy everyone, even in the past.
Sailing the Graveyard Sea has all the attributes of a sea thriller: mutiny, piracy, intrigue, murder, opposing forces, and newsworthy vilification. The book includes a map that shows the voyage of the Somers during the last quarter of 1842, illustrations of ship life and those involved in the mutiny, a bibliography, and index. What became of the participants, how the events impacted their lives, and a summary of later accounts on this period in naval history round out this absorbing, well-researched story of an incident few readers have ever heard of.
(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/RSnow.html)
November 29, 2023
Title: Sailing the Graveyard Sea: The Deathly Voyage of the Somers, the U.S. Navy's Only Mutiny, and the Trial That Gripped the Nation
Author: Richard Snow
Narrated by: Jacques Roy
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Length: Approximately 8 hours and 4 minutes
Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster Audio. Thank you @simonandschuster #BookClubFavorites for the free books!
Do you like to listen to audiobooks in the car on long trips? If you are traveling with someone, how do you decide what book to listen to? We traveled to Michigan over Thanksgiving weekend. My daughter enjoys watching movies on trips and opts out of audiobooks. I read the descriptions of several non-fiction audiobooks to my husband and two sons and they all voted to listen to Sailing the Graveyard Sea by Richard Snow.
Sailing the Graveyard Sea introduced us to a new part of history that we had never heard before. In 1842, the US brig-of-war Somers was being used a training vessel for many 14- to 18-year-olds and was captained by Commander Alexander Mackenzie. When the ship arrived in Boston, Mackenzie announced that he had narrowly prevented a mutiny and had hanged the three mutineers at sea. One of the mutineers was 18-year-old acting Midshipman Philip Spencer, the son of the Secretary of War, John Spencer.
As officials look more into the case, they could not find any evidence that a mutiny did indeed take place. Everything was based on the testimony of one crew man who stated that Spencer had talked about taking over the ship and becoming a pirate. After Mackenzie heard this, he locked up Spencer and two other men and through paranoia started to believe that everyone was against him and that mutiny was imminent. He decided to hang the three men without a trial before arriving back at port. For this decision, he was put on trial. The trial was riveting and did not end as we all expected it would.
This was a fascinating story that kept us enthralled through our voyage. Jacques Roy was a good narrator. I enjoyed hearing the back story of Philip Spencer, the ne’er-do-well son of the Secretary of War. Spencer loved reading pirate stories and talking about pirates. Was he just entertaining himself and the other sailor with pirate stories or did he indeed want to take over the ship? One thing was for certain, the training of officers had to change. After this trial, the Naval Academy was started in Annapolis.
Overall, Sailing the Graveyard Sea is a fascinating look into a forgotten episode of naval history.
This review was first posted on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2023...
Author: Richard Snow
Narrated by: Jacques Roy
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Length: Approximately 8 hours and 4 minutes
Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster Audio. Thank you @simonandschuster #BookClubFavorites for the free books!
Do you like to listen to audiobooks in the car on long trips? If you are traveling with someone, how do you decide what book to listen to? We traveled to Michigan over Thanksgiving weekend. My daughter enjoys watching movies on trips and opts out of audiobooks. I read the descriptions of several non-fiction audiobooks to my husband and two sons and they all voted to listen to Sailing the Graveyard Sea by Richard Snow.
Sailing the Graveyard Sea introduced us to a new part of history that we had never heard before. In 1842, the US brig-of-war Somers was being used a training vessel for many 14- to 18-year-olds and was captained by Commander Alexander Mackenzie. When the ship arrived in Boston, Mackenzie announced that he had narrowly prevented a mutiny and had hanged the three mutineers at sea. One of the mutineers was 18-year-old acting Midshipman Philip Spencer, the son of the Secretary of War, John Spencer.
As officials look more into the case, they could not find any evidence that a mutiny did indeed take place. Everything was based on the testimony of one crew man who stated that Spencer had talked about taking over the ship and becoming a pirate. After Mackenzie heard this, he locked up Spencer and two other men and through paranoia started to believe that everyone was against him and that mutiny was imminent. He decided to hang the three men without a trial before arriving back at port. For this decision, he was put on trial. The trial was riveting and did not end as we all expected it would.
This was a fascinating story that kept us enthralled through our voyage. Jacques Roy was a good narrator. I enjoyed hearing the back story of Philip Spencer, the ne’er-do-well son of the Secretary of War. Spencer loved reading pirate stories and talking about pirates. Was he just entertaining himself and the other sailor with pirate stories or did he indeed want to take over the ship? One thing was for certain, the training of officers had to change. After this trial, the Naval Academy was started in Annapolis.
Overall, Sailing the Graveyard Sea is a fascinating look into a forgotten episode of naval history.
This review was first posted on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2023...
May 7, 2024
Getting into "Sailing the Graveyard Sea," I felt like I was embarking on a journey through a hidden slice of maritime history. Snow skillfully raises intriguing questions as he guides us through the tumultuous events surrounding the Somers voyage. I couldn't help but ponder why Spencer, amidst the chaos, chose to confide in the purser's steward, a choice that seemed fraught with tension given the steward's allegiance to Mackenzie. These personal details added layers to the narrative, making the characters feel like real individuals with their own complexities and motives.
The blend of sea life anecdotes and naval insights enriched the story, providing a vivid backdrop against which the drama unfolded. Snow didn't just recount events; he immersed us in the world of the Somers, allowing us to understand not just what happened, but why. As I followed the twists and turns of the mutiny, piracy, and intrigue, I was treated to a gripping tale that felt like a thrilling sea adventure.
What set "Sailing the Graveyard Sea" apart was Snow's meticulous attention to detail. From well-drawn illustrations of ship life to a comprehensive bibliography, every aspect of the book was meticulously crafted. And let's not forget the map tracing the Somers' voyage - a visual aid that brought the story to life in a whole new way.
As the narrative unfolded, Snow seamlessly wove together the perspectives of various historical figures, allowing me to form my own opinions on where the truth lay. It was a testament to his storytelling prowess that even in the face of resolution, not everyone was satisfied - a reminder that history is often as messy and unresolved as the present.
By the final pages, I found myself not just captivated by the story, but invested in the fates of its characters. What became of them after the dust settled? How did these events shape their lives and legacies? Snow didn't leave us hanging, providing a comprehensive summary of their post-Somers trajectories that added a satisfying layer of closure to the narrative.
In sum, "Sailing the Graveyard Sea" was a captivating blend of history, adventure, and human drama that left me hooked from the first page to the last. Whether you're a seasoned history buff or simply looking for a thrilling tale to lose yourself in, this book delivers on all fronts. Trust me, you won't want to miss this hidden gem of maritime history.
The blend of sea life anecdotes and naval insights enriched the story, providing a vivid backdrop against which the drama unfolded. Snow didn't just recount events; he immersed us in the world of the Somers, allowing us to understand not just what happened, but why. As I followed the twists and turns of the mutiny, piracy, and intrigue, I was treated to a gripping tale that felt like a thrilling sea adventure.
What set "Sailing the Graveyard Sea" apart was Snow's meticulous attention to detail. From well-drawn illustrations of ship life to a comprehensive bibliography, every aspect of the book was meticulously crafted. And let's not forget the map tracing the Somers' voyage - a visual aid that brought the story to life in a whole new way.
As the narrative unfolded, Snow seamlessly wove together the perspectives of various historical figures, allowing me to form my own opinions on where the truth lay. It was a testament to his storytelling prowess that even in the face of resolution, not everyone was satisfied - a reminder that history is often as messy and unresolved as the present.
By the final pages, I found myself not just captivated by the story, but invested in the fates of its characters. What became of them after the dust settled? How did these events shape their lives and legacies? Snow didn't leave us hanging, providing a comprehensive summary of their post-Somers trajectories that added a satisfying layer of closure to the narrative.
In sum, "Sailing the Graveyard Sea" was a captivating blend of history, adventure, and human drama that left me hooked from the first page to the last. Whether you're a seasoned history buff or simply looking for a thrilling tale to lose yourself in, this book delivers on all fronts. Trust me, you won't want to miss this hidden gem of maritime history.
March 21, 2024
Very interesting historical story of the US Navy’s only mutiny—or at least that’s how it was recorded. This is the story of The USS Somers, a brand new (at the time) small fighting brig of the US Navy in 1942. After a short shakedown crew, the captain, Alexander Slidell MacKenzie, brought on a permanent crew which included a young, pugnacious midshipmen, Philip Spencer, who happened to be the son of the US Secretary of War at the time. MacKenzie hanged Spencer and two “accomplices” during the first cruise on the charge of mutiny. The book recounts the events that led up to their hanging and the aftermath, including the Navy’s investigation of the incident and subsequent court-martial of MacKenzie which ended in his acquittal. It’s a fascinating story and excellent read.
The story does offer cautionary tales on two accounts. The first is the folly of sweeping under the rug the discontent of a famous father’s progeny. Spencer had exhibited disquiet and trouble in pervious Navy service that ought to have disqualified him from sailing with the Sumers, or at the very minimum resulted in serious corrective action. But because his father was a famous, politician, his supervisors chose simply to kick that can down the road, directly resulting into the Somer’s tragic tale.
The other is the severe temptation that results from absolute power. There is, perhaps, no greater unchecked power over people than that of a ship’s captain on the high seas, and particularly if the ship is a military ship. This was true to a far greater extent in the navies of the 18th and 19th centuries than it is today. MacKenzie was a severe taskmaster, far too free with the lash, and, at the whiff of a mutiny brewing, arrested, convicted and sentenced to death three men of his command, all without any opportunity for a trial, even aboard ship: just MacKenzie as arresting officer, judge and jury. We each have but one life, and the power of a single person to decide to snuff it out on his own judgement is unjust, a very sad tale and forever besmirched the reputation of the Somers and Captain MacKenzie.
The book is an interesting read, and excellent study in personalities that impact history. Well worth the time.
The story does offer cautionary tales on two accounts. The first is the folly of sweeping under the rug the discontent of a famous father’s progeny. Spencer had exhibited disquiet and trouble in pervious Navy service that ought to have disqualified him from sailing with the Sumers, or at the very minimum resulted in serious corrective action. But because his father was a famous, politician, his supervisors chose simply to kick that can down the road, directly resulting into the Somer’s tragic tale.
The other is the severe temptation that results from absolute power. There is, perhaps, no greater unchecked power over people than that of a ship’s captain on the high seas, and particularly if the ship is a military ship. This was true to a far greater extent in the navies of the 18th and 19th centuries than it is today. MacKenzie was a severe taskmaster, far too free with the lash, and, at the whiff of a mutiny brewing, arrested, convicted and sentenced to death three men of his command, all without any opportunity for a trial, even aboard ship: just MacKenzie as arresting officer, judge and jury. We each have but one life, and the power of a single person to decide to snuff it out on his own judgement is unjust, a very sad tale and forever besmirched the reputation of the Somers and Captain MacKenzie.
The book is an interesting read, and excellent study in personalities that impact history. Well worth the time.
May 29, 2023
As an avid history enthusiast who typically leans toward video or articles to dive into history, I took a leap of faith when I decided to delve into Sailing the Graveyard Sea by Richard Snow. Little did I know that I would uncover an interesting breakdown of the harrowing events surrounding the U.S. Navy's only mutiny and the ensuing trial that captured the nation's attention, but I feel like it has disappeared with time.
Snow introduces readers to a historical narrative that, surprisingly, I feel has hidden with time even tho it has such an impact on how things changed from that moment forward for the Navy and how quickly people trust stories from open water. Snow's ability to break down and present the sequence of events is commendable, particularly considering my limited exposure to nonfiction literature. He manages to make a complex historical account digestible and engaging, catering to readers like me who may not be "living" in the genre.
However, it is worth noting that at certain points, the book tends to become dry and overly reliant on factual accuracy. While I understand the importance of staying true to the historical record, I felt that Snow could have injected more creativity or paraphrased certain sections to heighten the sense of intrigue and captivate readers further. Although it remained informative, there were instances where a more enthralling approach would have elevated the overall reading experience.
Despite these minor drawbacks, Sailing the Graveyard Sea is a commendable work that sheds light on a significant yet to the common person overlooked chapter in naval history. Richard Snow deserves credit for his ability to make a complex narrative accessible to readers with varying levels of interest in nonfiction. While I reserve higher ratings for books that flawlessly balance accuracy and entertainment, this book certainly merits a respectable 3.5 out of 5 stars. For history enthusiasts seeking a compelling dive into naval mutiny and its aftermath, Sailing the Graveyard Sea is worth exploring.
Snow introduces readers to a historical narrative that, surprisingly, I feel has hidden with time even tho it has such an impact on how things changed from that moment forward for the Navy and how quickly people trust stories from open water. Snow's ability to break down and present the sequence of events is commendable, particularly considering my limited exposure to nonfiction literature. He manages to make a complex historical account digestible and engaging, catering to readers like me who may not be "living" in the genre.
However, it is worth noting that at certain points, the book tends to become dry and overly reliant on factual accuracy. While I understand the importance of staying true to the historical record, I felt that Snow could have injected more creativity or paraphrased certain sections to heighten the sense of intrigue and captivate readers further. Although it remained informative, there were instances where a more enthralling approach would have elevated the overall reading experience.
Despite these minor drawbacks, Sailing the Graveyard Sea is a commendable work that sheds light on a significant yet to the common person overlooked chapter in naval history. Richard Snow deserves credit for his ability to make a complex narrative accessible to readers with varying levels of interest in nonfiction. While I reserve higher ratings for books that flawlessly balance accuracy and entertainment, this book certainly merits a respectable 3.5 out of 5 stars. For history enthusiasts seeking a compelling dive into naval mutiny and its aftermath, Sailing the Graveyard Sea is worth exploring.
November 6, 2023
When a navy ship arrived with three dead mutanis members Eliza Small, Samuel Cromwell and Jonathan Spencer on board the captain was touted as a hero and a brave seamen The New York papers couldn’t say enough about Captain McKenzie and even compared him to the bravery of ancient Warriors from the day of Ceaser. And if not for he and his cruise fast thinking the SS summers would’ve been taken over by the evil Phillips Spencer and his cohorts and turned in to a thieving pirate ship. Unfortunately truth Captain McKenzie‘s reputation and eyewitnesses would prove this wasn’t the story at all. With a narrative of True Crime that reads like fiction Ian courtroom testimony this book brings you from beginning to the end in conclusion we even learn about the early days of Philip Spencer who was the secretary of war John Spencer and we also learn about how Captain McKenzie got his abusive reputation. I do believe Richard snow did a wonderful job researching and writing this True account about a young boy who would be villainized for dreaming of the same thing other young boys dreamed of butter in this case the evil doers do not get away with it I think the author did a great job writing this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it and totally recommend that I love love loved it and if you love great history stories then you will definitely love this book as well. I want to think Scribner and Net Galley for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes I am blind.
November 20, 2023
Before reading this book, I had never heard the story of the attempted mutiny aboard the US Warship Somers in 1842 or Commander Alexander Slidell Mackenzie. Mackenzie reported when the ship reached port in Brooklyn, that 3 crew members had been hanged after the mutiny was prevented. But, later, it came out that the execution of the 3 crewmen may have been unlawful and that perhaps there had been no mutiny at all.
This book outlines the history of the ship, the men involved, and the very public court martial that followed.
Wow! What a tale! I'm not sure how I never heard of this incident! I enjoyed reading this account. The author presents the story of a training mission gone wrong using transcripts from the court martial. It makes for a very interesting read! Snow writes the facts in a very interesting way and the story kept my attention from start to finish. What a strange and very public case that definitely split opinions in its time. Some felt Mackenzie was a hero, and others thought he was a complete villain in the incident.
Definitely a story I did not know at all before I read this book. I'm glad I learned the history of this naval incident and the good it eventually brought about that strengthened the U.S. Navy.
I will definitely be reading other books by this author!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Scribner. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
This book outlines the history of the ship, the men involved, and the very public court martial that followed.
Wow! What a tale! I'm not sure how I never heard of this incident! I enjoyed reading this account. The author presents the story of a training mission gone wrong using transcripts from the court martial. It makes for a very interesting read! Snow writes the facts in a very interesting way and the story kept my attention from start to finish. What a strange and very public case that definitely split opinions in its time. Some felt Mackenzie was a hero, and others thought he was a complete villain in the incident.
Definitely a story I did not know at all before I read this book. I'm glad I learned the history of this naval incident and the good it eventually brought about that strengthened the U.S. Navy.
I will definitely be reading other books by this author!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Scribner. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
November 30, 2023
A well setup account of what happened on the USS Somers in 1840s: mutiny, misunderstanding, or murder?
When the Somers docked in Brooklyn in 1842, Commander Mackensie reported to his superiors that he barely managed to stop a mutiny and was forced to hang three young men for the crime.
The book then turns to the background stories of the three so-called mutineers, who were still just teens when they boarded the Somers for what was essentially a training voyage. Then Snow introduces contemporary sources and court documents to try to determine what really happened.
Though some aspects of this tragedy remain a mystery, Snow makes it clear that Mackensie completely botched his handling of the affair, from an illegal "trial" to his evident cruelty. Were the boys simply over-romanticizing the pirate stories they were so fond of? Did they really intend to take over the ship and raise a black flag? This book provides the evidence so you can decide for yourself.
I enjoyed learning about this sad moment in naval history, though this is not my favorite history/nonfiction read of the year.
Jacques Roy was the narrator for the audiobook. He did a good job toeing the line between story and history. He was expressive enough, though some of the firsthand accounts and long extracts were hard to follow in audio. I wish the audiobook publishers had thought to include a PDF with the illustrations included in the print book.
Thanks to the SimonAudio for the review copy.
When the Somers docked in Brooklyn in 1842, Commander Mackensie reported to his superiors that he barely managed to stop a mutiny and was forced to hang three young men for the crime.
The book then turns to the background stories of the three so-called mutineers, who were still just teens when they boarded the Somers for what was essentially a training voyage. Then Snow introduces contemporary sources and court documents to try to determine what really happened.
Though some aspects of this tragedy remain a mystery, Snow makes it clear that Mackensie completely botched his handling of the affair, from an illegal "trial" to his evident cruelty. Were the boys simply over-romanticizing the pirate stories they were so fond of? Did they really intend to take over the ship and raise a black flag? This book provides the evidence so you can decide for yourself.
I enjoyed learning about this sad moment in naval history, though this is not my favorite history/nonfiction read of the year.
Jacques Roy was the narrator for the audiobook. He did a good job toeing the line between story and history. He was expressive enough, though some of the firsthand accounts and long extracts were hard to follow in audio. I wish the audiobook publishers had thought to include a PDF with the illustrations included in the print book.
Thanks to the SimonAudio for the review copy.
September 16, 2024
In December 1842, Captain Alexander Mackenzie of the U.S. naval training brig Somers ordered that eighteen-year-old Midshipman Philip Spencer and two seamen be hanged for mutiny. Richard Snow recounts the story of this mutiny and the Court of Inquiry regarding Mackenzie’s actions in “Sailing the Graveyard Sea: The Destiny Voyage of the Somers, the U.S. Navy’s Only Mutiny, and the Trial that Gripped the Nation” (2023). The events drew considerable attention at the time. Phillip Spencer was the son of Tyler’s Secretary of War. Mackenzie was related by marriage to Oliver Hazard Perry. Guert Gansevoort, First Lieutenant aboard the Somers, was Herman Melville’s cousin. Richard Henry Dana, author of “Two Years Before the Mast”, reported on the Court of Inquiry. James Fenimore Cooper wrote a blistering review of a court martial at which the officers of the brig were tried for murder. Later accounts of the events on the Somers are described in Melville’s “White Jacket” and “Billy Budd” and in a review of the court martial by Rear Admiral Samuel Morison, who strongly criticized Cooper’s report. This book is a well-written, interesting, and well-researched account of the mutiny. Snow has been the editor-in-chief of “American Heritage Magazine” and is the author of ten books, many of which deal with sea warfare. Highly recommended if you are interested in this subject.
August 22, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and Scribner for the opportunity to review an eARC.
The Somers Mutiny is not a story I’ve ever heard of, but was intrigued from the title of this book. I am not a naval buff, but I do enjoy a good seafaring tale. This was well-researched by the author and presented all sides fairly, which I can definitely appreciate. I think the author could have summarized a bit more rather than relying on other works to tell the story. A lot of citations here! I understand there is a duty to cite an author’s work, but some chapters were a bit heavy handed on the quotes. That did pull me out of the story every now and then and I felt myself glancing over some of the writing.
I have read a few books about shipwrecks and was a little familiar with the workings of the ship, but thought this book could’ve delved a little deeper into the workings of the ship. Even though the ship itself is not the plot of this book, it is the main stage.
All in all, I enjoyed getting to know the crew of the Somers (not so much the captain). I would definitely read more on this subject or any other seafaring work the author produces. I give this a 3.5/5 stars.
The Somers Mutiny is not a story I’ve ever heard of, but was intrigued from the title of this book. I am not a naval buff, but I do enjoy a good seafaring tale. This was well-researched by the author and presented all sides fairly, which I can definitely appreciate. I think the author could have summarized a bit more rather than relying on other works to tell the story. A lot of citations here! I understand there is a duty to cite an author’s work, but some chapters were a bit heavy handed on the quotes. That did pull me out of the story every now and then and I felt myself glancing over some of the writing.
I have read a few books about shipwrecks and was a little familiar with the workings of the ship, but thought this book could’ve delved a little deeper into the workings of the ship. Even though the ship itself is not the plot of this book, it is the main stage.
All in all, I enjoyed getting to know the crew of the Somers (not so much the captain). I would definitely read more on this subject or any other seafaring work the author produces. I give this a 3.5/5 stars.
May 6, 2025
Overall: 3.5 stars
I enjoyed learning about the historical events in this book, but the author's writing style wasn't my favorite. His style was a little belabored and clunky and didn't flow well. In addition, he used a lot - and I mean a LOT - of quotes from historical and literary sources, which can be okay, but he would quote for a couple pages on end which is just too much. As my old English profs would say, we need to see your interpretation of the text, not just a recreation of it. Quotes used judiciously = good. Quotes used endlessly = tiresome.
Nevertheless, the writing was competent enough that I still learned a lot about this period in history, which I enjoyed because I'm a ship disaster nerd.....and legal drama nerd.
It's worth noting that this book is 1/3 establishing the setting via Melville quotes, 1/3 mutiny, and 1/3 courtroom drama. If you're wanting a more traditional mutiny book, this ain't it. Still, I found it interesting and would consider worth reading if you are in it for the facts and not the storytelling.
I enjoyed learning about the historical events in this book, but the author's writing style wasn't my favorite. His style was a little belabored and clunky and didn't flow well. In addition, he used a lot - and I mean a LOT - of quotes from historical and literary sources, which can be okay, but he would quote for a couple pages on end which is just too much. As my old English profs would say, we need to see your interpretation of the text, not just a recreation of it. Quotes used judiciously = good. Quotes used endlessly = tiresome.
Nevertheless, the writing was competent enough that I still learned a lot about this period in history, which I enjoyed because I'm a ship disaster nerd.....and legal drama nerd.
It's worth noting that this book is 1/3 establishing the setting via Melville quotes, 1/3 mutiny, and 1/3 courtroom drama. If you're wanting a more traditional mutiny book, this ain't it. Still, I found it interesting and would consider worth reading if you are in it for the facts and not the storytelling.
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