Background
Newly constructed to take children considered “the sweepings of the street,” including orphans and the poor of a nation ravaged by a long economic depression and train them into personnel of the US Navy, the brig USS Somers was placed under Captain Mackenzie in which they were beaten for "infractions" such as not being fast enough, being "disorderly", not being clean or neat enough, for rebellious adolescent behavior, and for masturbation. Philip Spencer, who was son of Secretary of War John C. Spencer, was given a commission of Midshipman after he ran away to work on a whaler at Nantucket after an abortive stay at Union College. His father located him and convinced him that if a life on the sea was what he wanted, to live it as "a gentleman"; i.e., as a commissioned officer. Considered "wild and uncontrollable despite displaying signs of high intelligence" at his attendance of Geneva College (now Hobart College), he would assault a superior officer twice assigned to the USS North Carolina, having punishment of a court-martial averted to forced resigning due to the prominence of his father, and then re-assignment to the USS Somers. He was popular with a large amount of the "sweeping of the streets" enlisted personnel onboard of the USS Somers and provided them gifts of money, tobacco, alcohol, and probably at least had sex with one of them, probably more. He was mainly disliked by his fellow officers though. Philip Spencer was a founding member of theIncident
On 26 November, Captain Mackenzie through his chain of command via purser H.M. Heiskill and first lieutenantSpencer's secret note
:"CERTAIN: P. Spencer, E. Andrews, D. McKinley, Wales :"DOUBTFUL: Wilson (X), McKee (X), Warner, Green, Gedney, Van Veltzor, Sullivan, Godfrey, Gallia (X), Howard (X) :"Those doubtful marked (X) will probably be induced to join before the project is carried into execution. The remainder of the doubtful will probably join when the thing is done, if not, they must be forced. If any not marked down wish to join after the thing is done we will pick out the best and dispose of the rest. :" NOLENS VOLENS: Sibley, Van Brunt, Blackwell, Clarke, Corney, Garratrantz, Strummond, Witmore, Waltham, Nevilles, Dickinson, Riley, Scott, Crawley, Rodman, Selsor, The Doctor :"Wheel: McKee :"Cabin: Spencer, Small, Wilson :"Wardroom: Spencer :"Steerage: Spencer, Small, Wilson :"Arm Chest: McKinley" As evidence of a conspiracy, however, the document had several problems. For starters, nobody named “E. Andrews” was aboard Somers. Cromwell, a leading suspect, was not listed, while Wales—the man who had brought the story to his superiors’ attention—was listed as a “certain” conspirator. A mast failed and damaged some sail rigging on 27 November. The timing and circumstances were regarded as suspicious by Captain Mackenzie; and Cromwell, the largest man on the crew, was questioned about his alleged meetings with Spencer. Cromwell said: "It was not me, sir – it was Small." Small was questioned and admitted meeting with Spencer. Both Cromwell and Small joined Spencer in being restrained on the quarterdeck. On 28 November wardroom steward Henry Waltham was flogged for having stolen brandy for Spencer; and, after the flogging, Captain Mackenzie announced to the crew of a alleged plot by Spencer to have them murdered. Waltham was flogged again on 29 November for suggesting theft of three bottles of wine to one of the apprentices. Sailmaker's mate Charles A. Wilson was detected attempting to obtain a weapon on that afternoon, and Landsman McKinley and Apprentice Green missed muster when their watch was called at midnight.Execution
Four more men were restrained on the morning of 30 November: Wilson, McKinley, Green, and Cromwell's friend, Alexander McKie. Captain Mackenzie then addressed a letter to his four wardroom officers (First Lieutenant Gansevoort, Passed Assistant Surgeon L.W. Leecock, Purser Heiskill, and Acting Master M.C. Perry) and three oldest midshipmen (Henry Rodgers, Egbert Thompson, and Charles W. Hayes), asking their opinion as to the best course of action. The seven convened in the wardroom to interview members of the crew. On 1 December, the officers reported that they had "come to a cool, decided, and unanimous opinion" that Spencer, Cromwell, and Small were "guilty of a full and determined intention to commit a mutiny;" and they recommended that the three be put to death, despite Spencer's claim that the accused conspirators "had been pretending piracy", though different accounts state that the Captain “badgered” the officers to convict the accused. They were hanged that day andAftermath
''Somers'' reached St. Thomas on 5 December and returned to New York on 14 December. She remained there during a naval court of inquiry which investigated the alleged mutiny and subsequent executions. The court exonerated Mackenzie, as did a subsequent court-martial, held at his request to avoid a trial in civil court. Nevertheless, the general populace remained skeptical.Morison, 1967.Notes
Further reading
* Baldwin, Hanson. ''Sea fights and shipwrecks; true tales of the seven seas'' (1955) pp 183–206Primary sources
* Hayford, Harrison, ed. ''The Somers Mutiny Affair'' (1959, primary sources.. * ''Proceedings of the court of inquiry appointed to inquire into the intended mutiny on board the United States brig of war Somers, on the high seas : held on board the United States ship North Carolina lying at the Navy Yard, New-York : with a full account of the execution of Spencer, Cromwell and Small, on board said vessel 1842'' (1843External links