Sailing the Graveyard Sea: The Deathly Voyage of the Somers, the U.S. Navy's Only Mutiny, and the Trial That Gripped the Nation

The only mutiny in the history of the United States Navy, which resulted in the deaths of three young men, is the subject of Richard Snow's "compelling" (The Wall Street Journal) book. It is a murder mystery, courtroom drama, and as exciting and dramatic as Patrick OBrian's best-selling novels. After a journey to teach a group of teenagers the basics of naval life, the US brig-of-war Somers anchored in New York Harbor on December 16, 1842. Commander Alexander Slidell Mackenzie landed and said he had stopped a mutiny that would have killed him and his officers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 21 November 2023
Publisher: Scribner

A captivating and compelling account of the sole mutiny in the history of the United States Navy, a little-known yet once notorious event that tragically claimed the lives of three young men. This remarkable tale blends elements of murder mystery, courtroom drama, and the gripping narratives found in the bestselling novels of Patrick OBrian.

On December 16, 1842, the US brig-of-war Somers anchored in the New York Harbor, concluding a voyage aimed at imparting naval knowledge to a group of adolescents. However, this routine exercise turned into a catastrophic disaster. Commander Alexander Slidell Mackenzie arrived ashore, asserting that he had successfully thwarted a mutiny that would have resulted in the demise of himself and his officers. While some of the thwarted mutineers were being held under guard, three individuals had already been executed at sea: Boatswains Mate Samuel Cromwell, Seaman Elisha Small, and Acting Midshipman Philip Spencer.

Eighteen-year-old Philip Spencer, according to his commander, was the mastermind behind the plot, inciting the crew to seize the ship and embark on a life of piracy, allowing them to engage in acts of rape and plunder along the northern coast of South America and the Caribbean. While the young man may have been captivated by tales of pirates, it soon became evident that the order that led to the execution of the three men lacked any legal basis. Furthermore, there was a growing suspicion that no actual mutiny had taken place, and the ship may have been seized by a creeping hysteria that ultimately resulted in the sacrifice of three innocent lives.

Months of accusations and counteraccusations ensued, leading to a highly public court-martial that put Mackenzie on trial for his life. The trial garnered significant attention from prominent writers of the day, including Herman Melville and James Fenimore Cooper. However, not all voices were in favor of Mackenzie.

This captivating and tragic event serves as a reminder of the complex and often unpredictable nature of human behavior, particularly within the confines of the military. The mutiny of the Somers remains a haunting chapter in American naval history, a testament to the power of both courage and corruption, and a reminder of the importance of justice and the rule of law.

Weight: 479g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781982185442