The Cruise of the "Lively Bee"

In Short

John De Morgan’s The Cruise of the "Lively Bee" is a patriotic sea adventure for young readers set during the War of 1812. The narrative follows John Tempest, a young officer who resigns his position in the regular navy to join Captain Vernon aboard the privateer Lively Bee. Together, they stalk British war vessels and merchantmen across the Atlantic, take part in historic naval duels, liberate captives, and endure violent storms and hand-to-hand shipboard melees. The novel endures as an energetic sample of late nineteenth-century historical juvenile fiction, blending high-seas action with actual early American naval lore.

The Story

The tale begins in the early days of the War of 1812, shortly after Lieutenant John Tempest steps down from his post on the U. S. frigate Essex. Troubled by British aggression and the forced impressment of American sailors—exemplified by a harrowing incident where a target of impressment chose self-mutilation over capture—Tempest seeks a direct way to strike back. He is recruited by Captain Vernon, the spirited commander of the privateer schooner Lively Bee. Deeply impressed by Tempest’s resolve, Vernon places the vessel under his command, and Tempest swears a solemn oath before heaven that his hand will know no rest until the British acknowledge American liberty.

The Lively Bee immediately sets out to shadow the British ship Belvidera after a disastrous gun explosion cripples the American commodore aboard the President. Soon, Tempest and Vernon brave a violent storm that tests the schooner’s durability. Joining forces with the Essex, the Lively Bee decoy tactics help force the surrender of the British sloop-of-war Alert, marking one of the early naval victories of the war. Recognizing Tempest’s talents, Vernon arranges a temporary assignment for him aboard the frigate Constitution under Captain Hull. Tempest participates in the historic battle against the HMS Guerriere, where he personally braves a rowdy, intoxicated set of British prisoners to clear the captured vessel before setting her ablaze.

Rejoining the Lively Bee, Tempest and his crew take aim at British supply lines and men-of-war. During a heavy fog, the privateer intercepts a vessel commanded by the ruthless Captain Carter. Inside the cabin, Tempest discovers Bertha, a young woman abducted by Carter to force her into marriage. Tempest rescues her, raises the American flag over the prize, and safely guides her away, though the vessel is soon pursued by the British sloop Monarch. In a fierce boarding action, Tempest defeats the British captain in single combat, transfers the captured guns, and blows up the enemy vessel.

As the crew returns home, their exploits earn them national acclaim. Tempest and the young powder-monkey Bob travel to Washington, where they present the captured enemy colors to First Lady Dolly Madison at a White House celebration. Despite facing wartime perils—including Bob’s narrow escape from a hasty military court-martial after a scuffle with a sentry—the crew continues their successes on the water, eventually capturing the heavily laden merchant ship Regina. Safe on land as the conflict progresses, Tempest secures both his naval legacy and personal happiness, while Captain Vernon successfully woos Bertha’s companion, Pauline, cementing their fortunes as the nation rallies to face the ongoing war.

How It Unfolds

The privateer’s oath Lieutenant John Tempest meets Captain Vernon in the cabin of the Lively Bee and reflects on the cruel realities of British impressment. Moved by righteous anger, Tempest swears to devote his life to fighting for American freedom, prompting Vernon to place the privateer under the young man's operational command.

Battle and tempest The Lively Bee pursues the escaping British cruiser Belvidera after an accident aboard an American flagship halts the fleet's attack. Shortly after, the small schooner is caught in a ferocious storm, but Tempest's unwavering confidence inspires the crew to navigate through the lightning and towering waves.

Victory with the Constitution After helping the Essex capture the Alert, Tempest takes temporary duty aboard Captain Hull’s frigate Constitution. He witnesses the defeat of the HMS Guerriere and single-handedly subdues a group of armed, defiant prisoners before setting the wrecked enemy vessel on fire.

Rescue of the captive Using a thick sea fog to conceal their approach, the privateers board a merchant vessel and discover that its captain has kidnapped a young woman named Bertha. Tempest frees her from her cabin, defeats an pursuing British sloop in hand-to-hand combat, and blows up the enemy prize.

Honors at the White House Tempest and the young powder-monkey Bob travel to the capital to deliver captured enemy colors to First Lady Dolly Madison. At a grand banquet, Bob boldly interrupts the formal toasts to demand recognition for the privateer crew, winning over the First Lady and the assembled guests.

The final prize and romance The Lively Bee captures the Regina, a ship laden with valuable tin plates, securing wealth for the crew despite suffering casualties during the hard-fought battle. With the prize safely towed home, Captain Vernon confesses his love to Pauline, bringing the voyage to a triumphant personal conclusion.

The People

• John Tempest wants to avenge British insults to American sovereignty and prove his worth on the high seas. Hindered by his lack of a formal naval command after leaving the Essex, he channels his fighting spirit into privateering aboard the Lively Bee. Through relentless shipboard duels, courageous command under fire, and diplomatic honors, he transforms into a celebrated national hero.
• Captain Vernon seeks to strike profitable and patriotic blows against British shipping while protecting his beloved schooner, the Lively Bee. Standing in his way are superior enemy warships and the inherent hazards of privateering. Warm-hearted and deviously clever, he fosters Tempest’s career and eventually earns the romantic affection of Pauline.
• Bertha wants to escape the unwanted advances of the ruthless merchant skipper Captain Carter, who has abducted her to force a marriage. Isolated and helpless aboard an enemy vessel, her resolve remains unbroken until Tempest leads a rescue party, liberating her and securing her safety under the American flag.
• Bob is a spirited young powder-monkey who wants wealth, excitement, and full respect for privateers. Constantly endangered by naval combat, bad companions, and a near-fatal run-in with military law, his uninhibited confidence catches the eye of First Lady Dolly Madison, earning him a seat of honor at a presidential banquet.

In Its Own Voice

"Before heaven I swear my hand shall know no rest, my life no pleasure, until the British acknowledge our right to liberty!"

Standing on the deck of the Lively Bee after witnessing an enemy ship slip away, John Tempest swears his total devotion to the American cause.

"A privateer is a man who does all the dirty work in a naval war, receives all the kicks, and watches others enjoy the glories."

An old sea dog at the Washington celebration offers a candid assessment of how formal diplomatic circles view privateer crews despite their wartime sacrifices.

"Captain Carter, I have told you I will never be your wife. Touch me, dare to come within a yard of me, and I will kill you as I would a snake."

Trapped inside a ship's cabin during a dense fog, Bertha fiercely defies her captor, refusing to submit to an forced marriage.

What It's Really About

Beneath its rousing sequence of naval chases and broadside duels, The Cruise of the "Lively Bee" explores the moral legitimacy of privateering during a war for national survival. The story continually weighs the distinction between regular naval service and private commerce-destroying, defending privateers against the sneering accusation that they are merely "patriotic pirates." It also highlights the extreme personal sacrifices demanded by wartime impressment and maritime combat, contrasting noble self-sacrifice with the brutal realities of sea battles. Throughout the narrative, true honor is defined not by official naval rank, but by personal bravery, chivalry toward the defenceless, and an unyielding commitment to liberty.

Why Read It Today

Readers with an appetite for classical naval adventures, nineteenth-century juvenile fiction, or early American military history will find much to enjoy in this fast-paced tale. De Morgan writes with straightforward narrative energy, delivering brisk action scenes, colorful sea jargon, and an unpretentious melodrama that moves rapidly from one encounter to the next. The book offers a fascinating glimpse into the popular historical fiction created for young readers at the turn of the twentieth century, complete with unabashed patriotic fervor and larger-than-life heroics.

Modern readers should be prepared for the story's episodic structure and period conventions. The plot relies heavily on dramatic coincidences, rapid turnarounds, and idealized characterization where villains are entirely unsavory and heroes remain unfailingly noble. Additionally, the text reflects nineteenth-century attitudes toward maritime warfare and military justice, featuring graphic moments of shipboard violence—such as severed limbs and lethal cutlass fights—rendered in direct, unsentimental prose. Despite these period traits, the novel remains an engaging, highly scannable artifact of historical sea fiction that carries its readers swiftly across the waves.

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