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: Richard Snow

Narrated by: Jacques Roy

A “compelling” (The Wall Street Journal) account of the only mutiny in the history of the United States Navy—a little-known but once notorious event that cost three 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 the New York Harbor at the end of a voyage intended to teach a group of adolescents the rudiments of naval life. But this routine exercise ended in catastrophe. Commander Alexander Slidell Mackenzie came ashore claiming he had 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 already been hanged at sea: 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 his commander, had been the ringleader who encouraged the crew to seize the ship and become pirates so that they might rape and pillage their way through the northern coast of South America and the Caribbean. While the young man might have been fascinated by stories of pirates, it soon became clear the order that condemned the three men had no legal basis. And, worse, it appeared possible that no mutiny had actually 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 that put Mackenzie on trial for his life, and a storm of anti-Navy sentiment drew the attention of such leading writers of the day as Herman Melville and James Fenimore Cooper. But some good did come out of it: public disgust with Mackenzie’s hapless “training” gave birth to Annapolis, the distinguished naval academ that within a century would produce the mightiest navy the world had ever known.

Vividly told and filled with tense shown directly in court-martial transcripts, Richard Snow’s masterly account of this all-but-forgotten episode is “a hell of a yarn” (Kirkus Reviews) and naval history at its finest.

Critic reviews

"Listeners can explore the only mutiny ever to take place aboard a U.S. Navy ship that occurred in 1842...Jacques Roy’s narration carries the audiobook along with an even tone. He adds no false drama.'

One of the Best Books

This book is well written. The author lets the story tell itself. It is a fascinating story of human nature. BRAVO!

Interesting story is you like sea stories

This is an interesting story if you are a fan of sea stories with a little legal thrown in. The narrator is clear and professional. Narrator does a little character voicing, but not individually to each character. Writer is well, but not overly detailed.

good read

an most interesting story about America navy history, told in a way like you are actually standing right there in history with the crew

Outstanding!

I highly recommend. I cannot believe we are not taught this in school. This pushes your thinking!!! Great read!

Great Maritime History

A well researched and well told story, more enjoyable than Patrick O'Brien because it is true. There is plenty of nautical detail, an an on-board plot, and enough information to let you decide a verdict but still leave some doubt. An engaging story and courtroom tale.