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19 December 2023
Welcome back to our National Maritime Historical Society members and friends who share a love for naval history!
Today marks the 153rd Anniversary of Coxswain William Halford arriving in Hawaii to report the grounding of the side-wheeled sloop of war USS Saginaw on an outlying reef of Kure Atoll some 50 miles from Midway. The crew had been extracted with no loss of life following the 29 October incident; the commanding officer, Lt. Cdr. Montgomery Sicard, recognized they were not located along any commercial route and if they were to be rescued, they would need to send for help. Executive officer Lt. John G. Talbot volunteered, along with four of the crew, to take the captain’s gig out into the Pacific. Only Halford would survive. The complete story, courtesy of the Naval History and Heritage Command, is our feature article.
Tuesday Tidings is going to take the next two weeks off before resuming publication in January with our first-anniversary edition of publication with the National Maritime Historical Society. A reminder that Tuesday Tidings is published as a benefit of membership to members of the NMHS, but is also made available to friends who share a Love for Naval History. If you are one of those friends, consider treating yourself to a membership to the Society or if you simply enjoy receiving Tuesday Tidings make a donation so we can continue to cover production costs. We look forward to providing naval history content and “situational awareness” on upcoming events and conferences, individual accomplishments, new scholarship, and news from the fleet as we charge ahead into 2024.
Naval History Book Reviews offers you a holiday bonus with two reviews from Michael F. Solecki and Charles Kolb! Thank you to those who responded to review the latest arrivals from Naval Institute Press.
Preble Hall closes the year with what appeared to be the final segment of this fine series of podcasts with Dr. Claude Berube interviewing Dr. Nicholas Lambert about his forthcoming book on Alfred Thayer Mahan and sea power. But we find out in a subsequent podcast that the series will continue into the new year!
Finally, for our “In Case You Missed It” feature, we have last week’s Naval Order talk by Capt. Michael Lilly, USN (Ret.), on the 1942 collision between the aircraft carrier Wasp and destroyer Stack.
Tuesday Tidings is compiled by Dr. David F. Winkler and Jessie Henderson as a benefit for members of the National Maritime Historical Society and friends of naval history.
As always, comments are welcome at nmhs@seahistory.org.
| ITEMS OF IMMEDIATE INTEREST | |
Drawing of side-wheel steamer Saginaw, which was broken up by the outlying reef of Ocean Island (now called Kure Atoll), 29 Oct. 1870. The crew was rescued from the deserted island on 3 Jan 1871. Source: George H. Read's book “The Last Cruise of the Saginaw,” 28 April, 2010 (PD) | |
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On Dec. 19, 1870, Coxswain William Halford, the lone survivor of a rescue mission, reached the Hawaiian Islands after a month at sea in a makeshift 25-foot boat. Halford, along with four others, were seeking help for the crew of side-wheel steamer Saginaw that was wrecked on a deserted island about 50 miles away from Midway. Saginaw was at Midway to support dredging operations to deepen the entrance to the harbor, completing its portion of the mission on Oct. 21. A week later, Saginaw steamed for San Francisco intending to stop at Ocean Island (now called Kure Atoll) to possibly rescue any shipwrecked Sailors who might be stranded there (it was a known location for ships to be grounded on the reef). The next day, on Oct. 29, as Saginaw neared the rarely visited island, the ship struck an outlying reef and was ultimately grounded. Before the surf battered the ship to pieces, its crew managed to transfer much of its gear and provisions to the island. Miraculously, none of the crew died during the ship’s grounding. Many were wounded with foot and skin lacerations from the sharp reef. One member of the crew broke his clavicle as the waves pushed him against the coral.
Over the next several days, the crew set up camp, scavenged for wreckage and other supplies that may have been pushed to shore, and began to adapt to life as castaways. Food and water were in short supply, the latter being more of a concern. As luck would have it, the diving contractors that were on Saginaw had with them an auxiliary boiler that was recovered intact. The crew was able to use the boiler to produce steam, which was then condensed and distilled, providing freshwater. The crew was reduced to rations while fishing, and the culling of the local seal and albatross population helped supplement the food stores from Saginaw. Medical issues became more prevalent as time went on. An outbreak of dysentery from the high-fat, high-oil, and low-carb diet ravaged the crew. Lt. Cmdr. Montgomery Sicard, Saginaw’s commanding officer, very quickly realized that given their location, and the lack of vessel traffic in the area, they could not wait for the unlikely coincidence of a passing ship. After being stranded for only three days, Sicard gathered the crew and informed them that he would assemble a team to sail to Honolulu to obtain assistance.
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Captain Lilly’s presentation on the USS Wasp/USS Stack collision. | |
NAVAL HISTORY BOOK REVIEWS | |
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A History of Ship Launches and their Ceremonies By George Hodgkinson, Barnsley, Yorkshire and Philadelphia: Pen & Sword Transport, (2023).
Reviewed by Charles C. Kolb, PhD
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...In “Ship Launches and Politics,” the author reviews public relations and patriotism that accompanied ship launchings. He contrasts Hitler’s speech at the launching of Bismarck on 12 February 1939 with Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s at the launch of the first Liberty Ship, Patrick Henry, on 26 September 1941, and Charles De Gaulle’s the launch of Le France, 26 July 1956. Launch Day gifts such as ship models, commemorative jewelry, and crystal glass bowls were often gifts, as well as dedicatory cards or booklets. In “Launch Miscellany” (a kind of catch-all) nine disparate items are cited, including Athenian liturgies for ships, the 21-gun salute to King George (1789), Royal Prayers, fire risks from friction on the ways, a dockyard worker serving as a ship’s godmother (1956), Union representatives not attending a launching, and the Admiralty flag at the Royal Dockyard was changed by Queen Elizabeth II.
The brief conclusion reminds us that each launching is unique, and that a successful launch is the first, but critical, step in a ship’s life. Symbolism is a common feature of launching ceremonies, which is a unique event, engenders rituals, and a mixture of emotions – not unlike a graduation ceremony.
This delightful volume is packed with information about British ship launching customs and examples; there are some non-British examples from the United States and particularly in Chapter 13 with the listing of traditions in nine countries. I was particularly struck to learn of the paucity of books on the history of ship launchings. There are, of course, articles and chapters about individual ships but not a comprehensive assessment of the history, customs, and rituals. George Hodgkinson has written a path breaking volume that should point the way to further scholarship on ship launching.
Read full review>>
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SŬBMARINE-ËR - 30 Years of Hijinks & Keeping the Fleet Afloat By Lt. Cdr. Jerry Pait, USN (Ret.) and compiled by Robert G. Williscroft; Fresh Ink Group, LLC, Guntersville, AL (2022)
Reviewed by Michael F. Solecki
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 |  | During “shipyard time” as most petty officers in the Navy, he was sent to different advancement and specialty schools including qualifying as a Navy SCUBA diver. But mostly he worked or muddled in some cases his way progressively through, his enlisted rating by his own initiative on the boat. After a few “Nuke” schools, he was assigned to the nuclear submarine USS Von Steuben (SSBN 632) and eventually made it to STS1 (Sonar Technician Submarine First Class Petty Officer). The many ports of call were always fun; again, adding to the myriad of sea stories, and he was next selected to teach at Sonar A-school in San Diego. While there he was selected for and promoted to Chief Petty Officer on his first attempt, which is rare. (As a note: for those “non-military” types or from other services folks, in the Navy all rank promotions come after attending and passing several job schools, attaining specialty qualifications, and passing several written and practical examinations and passing a review board.) As he moved through the different schools and assignments that a submariner normally would, he also took additional civilian college courses to earn a bachelor’s degree in business. His journey to Senior Chief (E-8) also is accompanied by a myriad of acquired sea stories. He eventually applied for a commission as an officer and was commissioned as a “mustang” (meaning an officer that was previously enlisted) Ensign moved through the ranks on schedule as he moved through various duty stations. Now as a Lieutenant Commander he was assigned to Port Operations at the Naval Ordnance Test Unit at Port Canaveral, Florida where after a very successful stint he eventually retired after thirty years of service on August 1, 1994. As a civilian, he worked many “consulting jobs” for major government and military contractors, of course adding a few more sea stories to his resume. I’ll leave the “aftermath” of this story for the reader to discover.
I always have difficulty reviewing autobiographies as I want to tell you all the cool stuff that the author experienced. At the same time, I want to give you the potential reader the thrill/anticipation of reading it for yourself with the context the author intended. I thoroughly enjoyed the story it even brought back some memories of my own, sailors should enjoy it with the thought, “yep, that’s about right.” However, to me, the format is a bit haphazard in that it tends to confuse the timeline. The author uses “interjection” to include a sea story or an explanation making the reader wonder if they missed something along the way or is this section for something in the future, sort of like a detour in the author’s train of thought as he puts it on paper. I have come across this method in autobiographies before and find the style confusing making the read harder than it should be especially, when the story/topic is solid. I realize that the final manuscript was compiled by another author but, the flow could be better. So, did I enjoy the story, I did. Would I recommend it, I would but, with the caveat: that the reader be patient, it is a little hard to read but, worth the effort.
Read full review>>
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NAVAL HISTORY BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW | |
USS Altair Christmas Dinner Menu 1932 | |
USS Cavalla Christmas Dinner Menu 1982 | |
NAVAL HISTORY CALLS FOR PAPERS | |
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Brigadier General James L. Collins Jr. Book Prize in Military History Increased to $2,000
The US Commission on Military History proudly announces the submission date for all books for consideration for the Brigadier General James L. Collins Book Prize in Military History. The prize entails a $2,000 award to the author, irrespective of nationality, of the best book written in English on any field of military history published during 2022. The Book Prize Committee, comprising USCMH members Dr. Edward J. Marolda, (Chair), Dr. Jeffrey Clarke, and Dr. John Hosler, will review the submitted books and select the winner. Topics in all periods and all aspects of military history (including naval and air warfare) will be considered.
One copy of books for consideration by the Collins Prize Committee must be submitted to each of the following addresses:
Dr. Edward J. Marolda
15570 Golf Club Drive
Montclair, VA 22015
Dr. Jeffrey Clarke
1011 North Van Dorn Street
Alexandria, VA 22304
Dr. John Hosler
Command and General Staff
CollegeDepartment of Military History
100 Stimson Avenue
Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027
Copies must be postmarked no later than 31 December 2023. Upon notification from the selection committee, the Collins Prize will be presented at the USCMH Annual General Meeting usually held in early November of the following year. For further information contact the Collins Prize Committee Chair at: edwardmarolda@yahoo.com.
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UPCOMING NAVAL & MARITIME HISTORY GATHERINGS | |
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9–11 January 2024: Surface Navy Association National Symposium
17–18 February 2024: Western Naval History Association Symposium, San Diego, CA.
29 February–1 March 2024: Women’s History Symposium, National World War II Museum, New Orleans
18–21 April 2024: Society For Military History Annual Conference Arlington, VA
24–25 April 2024: Council of American Maritime Museums, Constitution Museum, Boston, MA
20–23 June 2024: Joint NASOH/CNRS Conference, St. Catherines, Ontario
24–28 September 2025: 12th Maritime Heritage Conference, Buffalo, NY
| PREBLE HALL NAVAL HISTORY PODCAST | |
A naval history podcast from Preble Hall – the United States Naval Academy Museum in Annapolis, Maryland. Preble Hall will interview historians, practitioners, military personnel, and other experts on a variety of naval history topics from ancient history to more current events.
Click here for the latest episode: 219: Good Luck Everyone>>
Click here for all Preble Hall Podcasts >>
| DRACHINIFEL YOUTUBE CHANNEL | |
Welcome to Navy History Matters, Naval History and Heritage Command’s biweekly compilation of articles, commentaries, and blogs related to history and heritage. Every other week, they gather the top-interest items from a variety of media and social media sources that link to related content at NHHC’s website, your authoritative source for Navy history.
Click here for most recent article>>
| INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NAVAL HISTORY | |
The International Journal of Naval History (IJNH) provides a preeminent forum for works of naval history, researched and written to demonstrable academic standards, with the goal of stimulating and promoting research into naval history and fostering communication among naval historians at an international level. IJNH welcomes any scholarly historical analysis, focused on any period or geographic region, that explores naval power in its national or cultural context. The journal is independent of any institution and operates under the direction of an international editorial board that represents various genres of naval history.
Click here to read the February 2023 edition and archived issues on the IJNH website >>
| SUPPORTING US NAVAL HISTORY & HERITAGE | |
With the 250th anniversary of the US Navy on the horizon, NMHS seeks your support as we plan to honor those who have provided for our maritime security.
Click here to donate today >>
If you are one of those friends who have considered joining the Society or have wanted to recommend membership to friends, the Society is offering a 60th anniversary membership sale: ten bucks! See:
Anniversary Membership Special Offer.
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