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The famous rowing boat, called
American star
, was built by
John and William Chambers. Whitehall gigs are named for the
Manhattan street where they were first built more than 250
years ago. George Washington used them to evacuate troops
from Brooklyn during the Battle of Long Island, a surreptitious
middle-of-the night operation on Aug. 29, 1776, that saved the
Continental Army from destruction. Still now, an annual race
commemorates the December 1824 contest between two
gigs : one the British, Thames River champion, the
Dart
, the
other the Brooklyn-built gig, the
American Star
. $1000 was
placed on that race. Added to political factors between the two
nations, it drew out 50,000 spectators : one third of the city’s
population and the largest crowd up to that time to witness an
American sporting event.
The
American Star
, rowed by Whitehall boatmen and coxed
by a fourteen year old named John Magnus, decisively won
the race. At once the elegant
American Star
was a celebrity,
a symbol of the country’s engineering skills and the vigor of
its people. When an appropriate gift was sought for General
Lafayette in July 1825, the beautiful boat was presented by
young John Magnus with his statement of the great motto of
seamen during the War of 1812 : “Freedom of the seas and
sailors right”, that we can read on this manuscript - and which
was affirmed by Lafayette. The
American Star
is today the
oldest American craft still in existence today, and one of the
most elegant. It is housed in the Château de La Grange with
the winning rowers names visible on its four seats.
270
[
LA FAYETTE
, Gilbert du Motier, marquis de]
Document manuscrit de la main de John Magnus (?) ou de l’un des “Whitehall
Oarsmen”
[9 juillet 1825]
1 p. in-4
“FREE TRADE AND SAILORS RIGHT”.
LES RAMEURS VICTORIEUX OFFRENT À LAFAYETTE LEUR CÉLÈBRE BARQUE :
L’
AMERICAN STAR
. IL LA RAPPORTERA AU CHÂTEAU DE LA GRANGE.
EXEMPLAIRE DE LA FAYETTE : DE
L’HERMIONE
À L’
AMERICAN STAR
Message d’adieu des Whitehall Oarsmen : “General Lafayette Permit the Whitehall
oarsmen to present to you the race Boat American Star which was successfully
distinguished for it fleetness. We wish you to convey it to Your residence in France
where it may occasionally remind you of the greatful friends you have left behind, of
the sincerity of the Mechanics of a Country which you assisted to liberate and also our
great Naval Motto Free trade & Sailors rights”
Le fameux canot
American Star
fut construit par John et
William Chambers. Ces bateaux de course à la rame portent
le nom de Whitehall d’après la rue de Manhattan où ils ont
été construits il y a plus de deux cent cinquante ans. George
Washington les utilisa pour évacuer les troupes de Brooklyn
pendant la Bataille de Long Island, en pleine nuit le 29 aout
1776. Il sauva ainsi l’Armée Continentale. De nos jours, une
course annuelle commémore encore celle qui eut lieu en
décembre 1824 entre le
Dart
britannique, champion de la
Tamise et l
’American Star
de Brooklyn. L’enjeu de la rivalité
entre les deux nations était de $1000. 50.000 spectateurs, soit
un tiers de la population de New York, assista à la course.
C’était la plus grande assistance jamais réunie jusqu’alors
pour un événement sportif en Amérique.
L’
American Star
avait pour équipage de jeunes bateliers
de Whitehall et, pour barreur, un garçon de quatorze ans
prénommé John Magnus. La victoire de l’
American Sta
r
le rendit célèbre. Il devint le symbole des compétences
techniques du pays et fut choisi comme présent offert au
général Lafayette en juillet 1825. Le bateau lui fut donné par le
jeune barreur John Magnus qui proféra la devise maritime de
la Guerre de 1812 : “Freedom of the seas and sailors right”, et
que nous lisons sur ce manuscrit.
L’
American Star
est l’un des objets manufacturés les plus
anciens des États-Unis. Elle est conservée au château de La
Grange