Guarding United States property at the Charlestown yard was normally the responsibility of the U.S. Marines, stationed there since 1802. But it was a small detachment, not enough to defend the yard and its ships against a serious attack. Bainbridge, who earlier protested the vulnerability of the yard, had other problems with the marines. Though they were under naval command while at sea, on shore the Navy had no authority over them. Bainbridge deplored this situation, complaining that his inability to mete out the same corporal punishment to marines as was used on sailors was “productive of insubordination.”
In any case _Independence_ was ready for launching by June 1814. But the much-anticipated ceremony on the 18th was an embarrassing failure. _Independence_ hung up halfway down the launching ways, much to the satisfaction of a Federalist quoted in the _Boston Gazette_: “It was no wonder she stuck ... the war itself sticks.” The next day, when workers attempted to move the vessel by winch with the New England Guards pitching in to haul on the lines, a block flew apart and killed master joiner William Champney.
[Illustration: _U.S.S._ Independence, _built at Charlestown in 1815, was the nation’s first ship-of-the-line. On its maiden voyage the 74-gun vessel served as flagship of the Mediterranean squadron in the Barbary Wars. After the Charlestown yard removed one gun deck in 1835, turning the slow 74 into a fast, powerful frigate (above)_, Independence _served as flagship of the Brazil and Pacific squadrons. The frigate spent the last 60 years of its career as receiving ship (temporary sailors’ quarters) at Mare Island Navy Yard near San Francisco Bay, where it ended a century of service in 1914._]
[Illustration: _Ships-of-the-Line were the battleships of their day, carrying 64 to 100 guns or more on two or three gun decks (below the open decks). Ship-rigged (square sails on three masts), these warships took their place in the line of battle in huge fleet actions._]
[Illustration: _Frigates had 22 to 44 guns on one gun deck. They were ship-rigged counterparts of today’s cruisers, excelling in single engagements and as commerce destroyers. Frigates also did convoy duty and served as scouts for battle fleets._]