To James Madison from Joseph P. Prince, 10 April 1813
From Joseph P. Prince
Charleston So Carolina April 10th. 1813
Respected Sir,
The liberty I take I trust you will excuse, It is, Sir, for the Purpose of making known to you the manner in which I have been Treated by the navy Department. I have, Sir, taken the liberty of Inclosing to you my midshipmans appointment to shew you the length of time I served, as a Midshipman in the Service of my Country, with a full expectation that at some futer day, I might obtain Promotion. Sir, in the year Ninety nine, I enterd the Navy as a midshipman, in Eighteen Hundred and nine I was Promoted, to a Sailing Master in Eighteen Hundred and Twelve, Mr Charles, F, Grandison was appointed a Sailing master, and between five and Six months after he was appointed a Master, he was Promoted to a Lieutt over me, this Sir, was done by Mr. Hamilton, I regret making Known to you Excellency my feelings on this occurrence, I have Sir served my Country for Ten or Twelve Years boath as an Officer on board Ship and on Shore, on the 24th June 1812, I wrote to Mr. Hamilton, saying that if Mr. Grandison was Promoted over me, I should be compeled to Resign,1 unless Mr Grandison could Shew, in any way where he had Signalized himself for the good of my Country and not his, Mr Grandison Sir, Values himself on being the natural son of Sir Sidney Smiths, what I assert to your Excellancey, I am ready and willing to be accountable for, I therefore think it a hard case that a native born, American, a South Carolinian should be compeled to quit the service of his Country, at this particular moment, to give way to Mr. Grandison, who has acted far beneath the Dignity of the Gentleman, or the Officer, who has been branded with the Epithet, of Coward, with Impunity.2
Your Excellancey will I trust pardon the liberty and over look the Freedom, of my Language, for in this instance I have been wounded in the most Tender Point. I trust your Excellencey will take these circumstances in to consideration and have me Reinstated in the navy,3 as a master, I had Sir the Honor of being introduced to you by Colonel John R. Fenwick, of United States Armey, last Janua⟨r⟩y Twelve months; after wishing your Excellency many years of Health and Happiness I subscribe myself your Obt. and very huml. Sert.
Joseph. P. Prince
RC (DNA: RG 45, Letters from Commissioned Officers below the Rank of Commander). A note on the cover sheet in William Jones’s hand reads: “⟨the⟩ resignation was accepted & his Rn. closed his Correspondence with this Department.”
1. In his 24 June 1812 letter to Paul Hamilton, Prince complained about the promotions of John W. Gibbs and Charles F. Grandison and pledged to resign if not promoted himself (DNA: RG 45, Letters from Commissioned Officers below the Rank of Commander). Hamilton replied on 2 July 1812, accepting Prince’s resignation (DNA: RG 45, Letters to Officers).
2. Early in 1813, as acting lieutenant on the St. Marys station, Grandison was put under suspension due to misbehavior. In addition, the brig Troup, which he purchased for the navy, was soon thereafter found to be rotten and unfit for service, and his attempts to refit the ship were deemed incompetent. On 19 Apr. 1813 a court of inquiry upheld charges against him of unofficerlike and ungentlemanly conduct, but William Jones dismissed Grandison from the navy because of his unauthorized purchase of the Troup (Dudley, Naval War of 1812, 2:88–90). Grandison wrote Dolley Madison on 26 July 1813, requesting (apparently without success) that she intercede for him with JM (ViU: Dolley Madison Papers, box 1).
3. On 15 June 1813, JM nominated Prince to the rank of third lieutenant in the Second Regiment of Artillery, with a commission effective 12 Apr. 1813. The Senate confirmed the nomination on 1 July (, 2:358, 380).