Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery, The U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842

It was a review of this book in the National Geographic Adventure magazine which first caught my eye, and prompted me to purchase Philbrick's excellent narrative of the US Exploring Expedition. The Expedition sailed from Norfolk, USA, carrying the scientific and exploratory hopes of the United States on a trip to South America, Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Asia that encompasses nearly 5 years. Over 500 men, in 6 ships left in 1838, to return in 1842, much reduced in number, but with enough scientific specimens (over 4000) to form a large portion of the Smithsonian collection. Commanded by Lieutenant Wilkes, the story of the US Ex. Ex has largely been forgotten, but Philbrick has produced a book which hopefully will bring to the forefront the achievements of the US Ex. Ex and its' men. "Sea of Glory" is truly a spectacular rendition of events, as Philbrick portrays the deterioration of the relationship between Commander and his men, while journeying through some of most inhospitable seas in the world. Wilkes comes across as a near megalomaniac and odious character (almost immediately after beginning the expedition, he promoted himself Captain!), belittling the achievements of his underlings and inflating his own. It is a miracle that he was succeeded in bringing the expedition home largely unscathed. Nor does the story end there. The final chapters reveal the trials and tribulations of Wilkes (and other members of the expedition) as he realizes that he may be held accountable for his actions. Upon return of the expedition, there were no fewer than 5 court martials involving Wilkes and officers of the vessels comprising the expedition, largely petty incidents raised by Wilkes as revenge for perceived slights by the officers. Philbrick writes extremely well, in a very fluid and easy manner, and it takes little effort to read. Large portions of the book are based upon the journal of Midshipman Reynolds, once an ardent admirer of his commander but by the conclusion of the expedition despising him. Philbrick superbly brings this out, contrasting parts of the journal from early on in the voyage to sections of the journal written much later, the journal's author much jaded and embittered by the actions of his commander. But Philbrick does not focus only on Wilkes; the achievements of the expedition are also discussed, and the sometimes incredibly imposing situations the expedition faces, such as the attack by natives on the expedition in the Fiji Islands which resulted in the death of Wilkes' nephew. A book of this type benefits from having illustrations and maps, and on neither account does it fail. There are a number of maps produced in the book, although I have to say the main map (in the preface), which traces the voyage of the expedition throughout the 5 years it spent abroad, is a little hard to follow due to the back and forth nature of parts of the expedition, and also when the expedition split up for short periods of time. There are two sections of very nice illustrations which show the main characters involved and some events that occurred. "Sea of Glory" is a true story that ranks alongside the best of adventure books, and I cannot recommend this book highly enough. A worthy addition to the library.

The annals of maritime exploration are filled with great names. Magellan! Columbus! Cook! Um...some...other people who I can't recall. They were probably pretty awesome, though. And then there was Charles Wilkes of the U.S. Navy. Possibly a surveying expedition that at least partially owed its establishment to then-popular crackpot "hollow Earth" theories was always going to be doomed to have a clouded history. And the fact that few, if any, of the naval officers of the day could stir themselves to be interested in serving with the expedition could have been a sign of trouble. "Fortunately", the glory-hungry Wilkes was at hand, and when more competent and experienced officers passed up the chance as being beneath them, everyone shrugged and said, "Eh, why not send him? Maybe it will SHUT HIM UP." This was not necessarily the best of decisions, seeing as, at heart, Wilkes hated the seafaring life and would have had a hard time commanding a toy boat in his own bathtub. His primary motivation was to achieve fame, social standing, and babes. Sadly, besides his undeniable skill as a surveyor, he had one undeniable talent: the ability to drive everyone around him insane with rage and a vindictive burning desire for utmost revenge. Consequently, his own navy decided not to give him his coveted promotion to acting captain, and he was sent off in charge of a six-ship squadron as a mere lieutenant in charge of other junior lieutenants and midshipmen. Complications naturally ensued. In this book, we discover the amazing exploits of the U.S. Exploring Expedition, which charted the heretofore uncharted (resulting in maps that would be used as late as WWII), established the continental nature of Antarctica, piled up tons of science stuff that would help in the establishment of the Smithsonian, surveyed the Pacific Northwest coast, and squabbled with the Fijians. Pretty much no voyage to the South Sea would be complete without a murderous brush with the "natives" and the U.S. Ex.Ex. was no exception to this rule. Along the way, Wilkes more or less fired every talented officer with a spine, promoted himself to commodore, regularly flogged anyone who looked cross-wise at him, delighted in crushing the spirits of every man in the squadron, and engaged in devious machinations to make certain that every last opportunity for the slightest shred of fame would accrue only to him. His letters home to his beloved wife, the only person capable of keeping him in check, proved him to be a monster of unfettered ego, endlessly boasting of his superiority and how he was now soaring above lesser mortal scum. That many of the principals of the voyage should immediately find themselves locked in trial by court martial upon their return to the U.S. should therefore be no surprise. Few acquitted themselves well in this petty internecine bickering. This is an absorbing account of a mostly forgotten chapter of American history. It makes good use of the letters of Wilkes to his wife, along with the secret journal of one of his mortal enemies, Lt. William Reynolds. Philbrick draws upon a wide spectrum of sources, detailed in a lengthy section of notes at the end. Maps and illustrations alike are plentiful. The author keeps up a brisk pace with only a few asides and digressions, and the mandatory epilogue wraps things up quite neatly. This is not a detailed account of the scientific accomplishments of the expedition or a thorough analysis of 19th century maritime life. Essentially it's the rather sad tale of one vain and astonishingly insecure man's ambitions run monstrously amok and how his pathologies collided headlong with the fixations upon rank and privilege of most everyone around him. My one complaint would be that there is a bit too much sailing jargon. It's one thing for anchors to be weighed, sheets to be furled, and yards to be hauled, but there's always something going on with topgallants, false keels, mizzenmasts, and mainstays. A little too often the author breathlessly relates how a hapless brigantine is being driven upon a lee shore while the crew frantically uncorkscrews the bowsprit, slips the cables, goldbricks the spar deck, and reverses the polarity of the flux capacitor. Seeing as most of us don't know a jib sail from a lateen rig, a lot of this could've been reduced to something more basic for the layman. But that's just a minor complaint. And maybe it's just me.

Although I have never had a particular interest in sailing, I decided to buy this Philbrick book after reading "In the Hurricane's Eye". I was not disappointed. The author has the rare ability to mold what could be a dry story into a gripping page turner. I won't bother giving a synopsis of the subject, as other reviewers have done this much better than I would, so I'll just say that this is a must-read for anyone who enjoys learning about the formative years of America. Philbrick breathes new life into the individuals involved in this monumental adventure, as the story unfolds he puts the reader at their side as they courageously battle the unforgiving whims of mother nature and struggle with their own aspirations and demons. Their challenge of putting aside their personal differences as they fight to accomplish the seemingly impossible goal of the expedition (and their own lives) is easily a metaphor for the conflicts facing our young country at the time they set sail. This chronicle is a tale of triumph over staggering odds, man's determination to conquer their fears in the pursuit of knowledge, and the age-old desire to discover unknown lands. Philbrick doesn't try to portray these men as faultless heroes; he presents them as they were, at times incredibly brave and selfless, but often cruel and selfish. It's unbelievable that this story isn't taught in our schools, but it is lucky for us that Mr Philbrick has given us this masterpiece of historic literature. I strongly recommend this book, and any book he has written.

Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery, The U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 Sea of Glory: The US Exploring Expedition "I have reason to rejoice that I have been enabled to carry the moral influence of our country to every quarter of the globe where our flag has waved, and I trust that the Expedition will compare advantageously with any other that has preceded it, in its moral and correct deportment." CHARLES WILKES Washington City, 1844 It is clear from Commodore Charles Wilkes' introduction to "The Narrative of the U.S. Exploring Expedition" that he considered the four-year enterprise both a voyage of discovery and an extension of America's philosophy, with himself its goodwill ambassador. Unfortunately, Wilkes was hardly a model of the enlightened ship's captain: he was a harsh taskmaster, quick to condemn officers and seamen alike, and possessed of a mighty ego. He found himself on trial in a court martial, accused of overstepping the bounds of seaborne discipline. But the same characteristics that limited his performance as a leader - stubbornness, perseverance and micro-managing - served him well when he prepared his exhaustive "Narrative of the US Exploring Expedition." The flora and fauna collected during the four-year expedition formed the basis for the collections of the Smithsonian Institution. The expedition's cartographers surveyed hundreds of South Pacific islands, charted the coast of the Pacific Northwest which would later become Oregon and Washington, and ....controversially....claimed to have discovered Antarctica. That claim would later be challenged in Wilkes' court martials. In a sense, the real work of the Expedition began after the voyage ended. The vast collections of ethnographic items and biological and zoological specimens had to be organized and displayed...first in the US Patent Office and later in the Smithsonian. The lasting contribution of the US Exploring Expedition, in the words of one observer, was to "put science in Government, and Government in Science." T he expedition put the United States on the world map - literally. Nathaniel Philbrick ("In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex") is well-qualified to write the story of the Wilkes Expedition, He is knowledgeable about Nantucket, the New England whaling industry, and the travails of extended sea journeys. The Smithsonian Institution has digitized and posted the complete "Narrative" and Scientific Journals of the expedition. The United States Exploring Expedition should rank up with Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery, except for the internal dissention and personality conflicts that have relegated it to a footnote in US history until Philbrick's excellent book.

Before reading Sea of Glory I had not heard of the U.S. Exploring Expedition or any of its crew members. Having read Nathaniel Philbrick's wonderful account of the voyage I find its continued obscurity striking. Despite the tremendous controversy that surrounded "the Ex. Ex." and its volatile commander, it made significant and lasting contributions to science, cartography, and the international reputation of the United States. In addition to discovering Antarctica and charting much of its coast, the expedition mapped an incredible number of islands and coastlines and returned a treasure trove of scientific observations and specimens. Sea of Glory is, at its core, an adventure story. Hundreds of men and a half-dozen ships set sail knowing they would be at sea for at least three years. In addition to sailing into (literally) uncharted waters, the men would have to survive a host of challenges if they were to return home. The ships were tossed about by storms, battered by icebergs, and severely damaged by reefs and sandbars. The men themselves, meanwhile, had to deal with frigid temperatures, angry natives, and their always unpredictable commander, Charles Wilkes. The reader will quickly appreciate how incredibly dangerous the journey was and marvel at the fact that anyone survived it. Beyond the rigors of life at sea and the impressive accomplishments of the expedition, I was especially struck by how different the world was just a century and a half ago. No one knew the location or size of Antarctica, assuming it even existed. The west coast of North America was barely charted and was not at all certain to become part of the United States. A sailing expedition consisting of six ships and just a handful of scientists was able to profoundly impact multiple branches of science. Because the Exploring Expedition was a government-sanctioned, scientific endeavor, all of its members were required to keep detailed journals during the voyage. Thanks to this requirement, Philbrick is able to provide a highly detailed account of all that happened and allows his readers to see into the minds of both the commander and the crew. It is certainly a story worth reading and I will recommend Sea of Glory to others. You will find this book especially enjoyable if you are a fan of Magellan, Cook, or other maritime explorers.

Excellent book, I read it 10 years ago and just purchased a second copy to re read. Very detailed and informative.

(Note: the following is a review of the audiobook). In "Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery," Nathaniel Philbrick, who authored the excellent best-seller "In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex," covers the story of the U.S. Southseas Exploring Expedition of 1838 (often referred to simply as the Ex. Ex.). During its four year voyage, the expedition surveyed and charted little-explored areas such as the Antarctic coast, the Fiji Islands, and the Pacific Northwest. An incredible array of specimens, fossils, documents, charts, maps, paintings and drawings were collected and made up the foundation for the Smithsonion Institution which was founded four years after the return of the Ex. Ex. in 1842. Some of the charts created during the Ex. Ex. were used as late as the Second World War. Although the expedition was one of the great accomplishments in American history, it is not remembered as well as, say, Lewis and Clark. The reason the Ex. Ex. was not as celebrated as it should have been even during its time is the focus of this study and, in this reader's opinion, the reason "Sea of Glory" is not as highly praised as "In the Heart of the Sea." Philbrick seems to be explaining why this expedition is relatively unknown rather than detailing what made it so significant. The title "Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery" is a bit misleading. The bulk of the book is hardly a glorification of the Ex. Ex. and its many "discoveries." Instead, Philbrick examines the leadership style of the commanding officer, U.S. Navy Lt. Charles Wilkes. Although a tireless commander, Wilkes rubbed most of his officers and crew the wrong way with his arrogance, vindictiveness, rigid discipline, excessive punishments and his insistence on wearing the uniform and flying the pennant of a captain and commodore. The book sometimes deviates away from Wilkes to discuss the heralding survival of a ship separated from the expedition, the first alleged sightings of Antarctica, and a bloody battle with natives in the Fiji Islands, but soon returns to its anti-Wilkes tone with critical assessments of Wilkes's reactions to those events. Even Dennis Boutsikaris, who conducts the audio book reading, uses a sarcastic voice sometimes when quoting Wilkes. Ill feelings extended to Secretary of the Navy Upshur, who thought Wilkes was critical of the current administration and lead Wilke's court-martial. If those in high political position who would otherwise praise Wilkes instead sought to ruin him, it is little wonder the Ex. Ex. itself was not recognized as much as was deserved. To be fair, Philbrick's angle on the story is more interesting for the mainstream reader/listener. Who would want to read detailed information on the thousands of specimens, fossils, plant and fish species collected by the expedition's scientists when there exists all the intrigue of a jerk commander. When a list of the accomplishments are read--particularly on disc 5 after the courts-martial are discussed, it is a wonder so much was achieved amidst all the complaining and in-fighting. Many of Wilkes's poor decisions and conduct unbecoming a commander sounded a bit petty. He sent many officers home whom he inherited from the expedition's original commander Thomas ap Catesby Jones, and therefore did not like. He agreed with an officer's decision to put William Reynolds's jacket in the "Lucky Bag" ("lost and found" to be auctioned off) and then transferred him from the Vincennes to the Peacock when he protested. One incident on track 5 of disc 4 was built up as if it was going to be an example of tyrannical behavior. A British sailor named Sweeney was flogged in Honolulu. As a listener, I thought, "Oh boy, it's going down!" After the flogging, he was discharged and sent off on a boat amidst ridicule. O.K. Wilkes may have had seamen flogged more than he was allowed without court-martial, but he wasn't making his men walk the plank or hanging them from the masts. There is no jaw-dropping moment. The audiobook ends with Wilkes's post-Ex. Ex. life and career which included his attempts to promote his expedition through editing and publication of writings and documents including the "Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition" in 5 volumes (a set was owned by Herman Melville) and volumes of scientific studies. "Sea of Glory" reads more like a biography of Charles Wilkes with emphasis on his behavior during the Ex. Ex. Even with all the criticism, however, Philbrick admits that the Ex. Ex. probably would not have fared any better results-wise with a calmer, cooler-headed commander. Wilkes's hunger for recognition in promoting the expedition helped spur later scientific explorations and the audiobook ends with a quote praising Wilkes's energetic and bold leadership style (hmmmm). The book is abridged and read on 5 discs with occasional music accompaniment. It is not a brilliant, can't wait to find out what happens next, masterpiece like "In the Heart of the Sea," but is a well-researched and well-told account of roughness and bullying that went down while great discoveries were made.

There are apparently many maps, which I am unable to see on my Kindle Paperwhite. This may be a good book but don't try to read it on a Kindle.