Comments by "Admiral Tiberius" (@admiraltiberius1989) on "The Drydock - Episode 123" video.
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Because the early American Navy was so small, it could afford to pick the best available men for service. Now at times those men maybe weren't the ideal candidates, but they were still good stock.. The American merchant service payed ridiculously higher wages and offered better conditions so many many potential recruits signed on with them instead, and I can't blame them.
But the life of a sailor in the Navy was attractive to some apparently.
Also, interestingly enough, and this is not covered enough in various books, the crews of many early American warships had a sizeable minority of black sailors. On the Constitution in particular several entire gun crews were black only. I believe it was Issac Hull who cited many of them for bravery. Saying they fought like devils, stripped to the waist, singing and chanting as they loaded, fired the big 24s. Even though Captains weren't supposed to hire black sailors, many openly did and apparently the Navy had bigger problems and ignored it.
Fantastic video as always Drach.
Im now 8 DryDocks away from my 100th episode. Glorious day indeed.
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