The Tall Frigates

Book excerpt: The story of the tall frigates spans one of the most exciting eras of American history. As the first vessels of the United States Navy, these brave sailing ships defended the interests of the new nation on waters around the world. In dramatic duels against the French, the English, the North African corsairs, such men of war as The Constitution, Constellation, Essex, Philadelphia, United States, President and Congress, under the command of intrepid skippers like Truxton, Preble, Talbot, Dale, Lawrence, Bainbridge, Decatur, Barron, Rogers, Hull and Porter, challenged the great sea powers and showed that the rights of the infant country could not be abused.