“The many-sided lessons locked up in old naval manuscripts are well worthy of public attention,” wrote President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1934 in the Foreword to Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War between the United States and France. “Our early naval and maritime history is closely associated with the country’s pioneer settlement and expansion, with the winning of its independence and with its subsequent security in very precarious times.” That year, at his request, Congress approved the printing of two multi-volume compilations of historical material relating to the Navy—the present collection (linked below), published between 1935 and 1938, and Naval Documents related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers, which followed.

Volume I: Naval Operations from February 1797 to October 1798.

Complete (36mb). Also available as:

Volume II: Naval Operations from November 1798 to March 1799.

Complete (37mb). Also available as:

Volume III: Naval Operations from April to July 1799.

Complete (37mb). Also available as:

Volume IV: Naval Operations from August to December 1799.

Complete (38mb). Also available as:

Volume V: Naval Operations from January to May 1800.

Complete (39mb). Also available as:

Volume VI: Naval Operations from June to November 1800.

Complete (40mb). Also available as:

Volume VII: Naval Operations from December 1800 to December 1801.

Complete (35mb). Also available as: