Battle of New Orleans.

Monday, March 18, 2024

Jesse Elliott, USN: Pre War of 1812 Service

From Wikipedia.

JESSE DUNCAN ELLIOTT  (14 July 1782 - 10 December 1845) was a United States naval officer and commander on American naval forces on Lake Erie during the War of 812.  He is well-known for his controversial actions during the Battle of Lake Erie.

He was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, and enlisted in the Navy as a midshipman in April 1804 and saw action in the Mediterranean Sea during the Barbary Wars between 1805 and 1807, serving on the USS Essex under Commodore James Barron.

In June 1807, Elliott was on board the USS Chesapeake when Barron was forced to allow his ship to be searched by the HMS Leopard.

Elliott was promoted to lieutenant in April 1810 and was assigned to Lake Erie to oversee the construction of the American squadron there upon the outbreak of the War of 1812.

--Brock-Perry


Friday, March 15, 2024

Roadtripping Through History: From a Civil War Sailor to the War of 1812's Naval Officer Jesse Elliott

I have been writing about Henry Schutes, a Civil War sailor who received the Medal of Honor and is buried in Philadelphia's Mount Moriah Cemetery.  So, I had to check out this cemetery and see if anyone else was buried there of interest and a lot of people were.

One of them was a War of 1812 naval officer of some repute named Jesse Elliott.  So I had to do sone research on him.

I have already written about Elliott in this blog in connection with John B. Montgomery having served under him at the Battle of Lake Erie.

It turns out that a big disagreement between Elliott and Oliver Hazard Perry grew out of the Battle of Lake Erie.

--Brock-Perry


Thursday, March 14, 2024

Things You Didn't Know About Oliver Hazard Perry-- Part 6

In 1814, Perry received a Congressional Gold Medal, the Thanks of Congress, and a promotion to the rank of full captain for his efforts at the Battle of Lake Erie.

He died at the age of 34 from yellow fever.  Six years after his victory at the Battle of Lake Erie, Perry succumbed to  yellow fever near Trinidad while at sea on a diplomatic mission to Venezuela on behalf of the United States.

The Navy has honored Perry by naming several ships and classes of ships after him.  As early as 1843, there was a USS Perry.  Four have been destroyers and one was a guided missile frigate.

--Brock-Perry


Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Things You Didn't Know About Oliver Hazard Perry-- Part 5: 'Don't Give Up the Ship'

Perry is known for his "Don't Give Up the Ship" flag, which serves even to this day as a rallying cry for the U.S. Navy.

As a tribute to his dying friend Captain James Lawrence of the USS Chesapeake, killed in a June  1813 battle in Boston Harbor.  Lawrence had issued a plea to his crew during his clash with the HMS Shannon as he lay dying.  (Sadly, they did surrender.)

Perry had a group of women in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he was building his fleet.  The flag became a symbol of victory and perseverance when it flew over Perry's flagship, the USS Lawrence, at the Battle of Lake Erie.  When his ship was so battered that it could no longer fight, Perry transferred himself and that flag to the USS Niagara, continued the fight and won dramatically.

--Brock-Perry  (The Perry in my signoff is for Oliver Hazard Perry.)



Saturday, March 9, 2024

Things You Didn't Know About Oliver Hazard Perry-- Part 4: 'Perry's Luck'

6.  Known for his leadership skills and abilities to raise  a crew of inexperienced sailors, Perry instilled discipline in his men that is part of his Navy legacy even today.

In addition to seafaring skills, he had the ability to pick the right men for the right job and to turn a group of novices into crews of sailors.  When Perry first arrived in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1812,   he was unfamiliar with the area and additionally was tasked with training men, most of whom had no knowledge of ships.

He was firm in his discipline.  There is frequent references to "Perry's Luck" as this approach and an orderly mind proved to be successful throughout his career.

--Brock-Perry


Thursday, March 7, 2024

Things You Didn't Know About Oliver Hazard Perry-- Part 3: 'We Have Met the Enemy and They Are Ours'

5.  Perry led the American fleet to victory at the Battle of Lake Erie which was a major turning point in the War of 1812.

On September  1813, the American fleet under Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry  came out to fight the British (from Put-in-Bay).  Within hours, the Americans had defeated the British.  This victory allowed the United States to gain control of Lake Erie, preventing the British from attacking the interior of the continent.

It also meant that the British could no longer reinforce or provide provisions for their Army at Detroit and caused them to evacuate and meet disaster at a battle during that retreat.

Before this victory American forces had suffered defeat and losses causing a great drop in morale.  This victory inspired the country.

--Brock-Perry


Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Things You Didn't Know About Oliver Hazard Perry-- Part 2: A Builder

3.  Perry was promoted to Master Commandant in the Navy at age 28.  After being a midshipman, he returned to Rhode Island and supervised the construction of a flotilla of small gunboats.  In March 1812, he achieved the high rank of Master Commandant, something few as young as he achieved.

4.  In 1813, he was given command of naval forces on the Great Lakes and appointed to supervise the construction of an American fleet on Lake Erie.  His headquarters were at what is today Erie, Pennsylvania.  When he arrived, there were no American ships and the British already had eight ships.

Despite the fact that he had no nearby resources other than trees, in short order he had nine vessels with the 490 ton brigs Lawrence and Niagara being the largest.

--Brock-Perry


Monday, March 4, 2024

Things You Didn't Know About Oliver Hazard Perry-- Part 1: Family Ties

Perry is part of my signoff for this blog:  Brock-Perry (the Brock part is named for British/Canadian hero Isaac Brock).

From the Feb. 27, 2024, Military History Now Oliver Hazard Perry--  10 Things You Didn't Know About America's Iconic Naval Commander."

1.  He came from a family with strong ties to the U.S. Navy.  His father, Christopher Raymond Perry was a privateer in the American Revolution and captain in the U.S. Navy during the Quasi-War with France.  His brother, Matthew Perry, also in the U.S. Navy played a major role in the opening of Japan to the United States.

2.  Perry became a midshipman at the age of 13.  He spent his youth sailing with his father.  He became a midshipman in 1799 and spent the next six years in the Quasi-War and the Tripolitan War against the Barbary Pirates.

--Brock-Perry


Friday, March 1, 2024

Commodore David Conner, USN-- Part 2

In the decade following the War of 1812, Lieutenant Conner had shore duty at Philadelphia and commanded the schooner USS Dolphin.  Attaining the rank of Commander in March 1825, he was commanding officer of the sloops of war USS Erie and USS John Adams before receiving promotion to captain in 1835.

In 1841, he became a naval commissioner and was later Chief of Bureau of Construction, Equipment & Repair.  Late in 1843, he took command of the West Indian and Home squadrons.

He led U.S. naval forces in the Gulf of Mexico during the first months of the Mexican War 1846-1847.  During this time, he was responsible for amphibious operations against several coastal towns and for the successful landing of the U.S. Army at Vera Cruz in March 1847.

Leaving seagoing service soon afterwards, Conner subsequently  commanded the Philadelphia Navy Yard.  However, ill health kept him from seeing much other active employment.  Commodore Conner died in Philadelphia on 20 March 1856 and is buried at the Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Two destroyers have been named after him.

--Brock-Perry


Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Commodore David Conner, USN

I listed some naval officers who were in the War of 1812 in my last post.  David Conner is one of them.  I'd never heard of him before.

From the Naval History and Heritage Command.

DAVID CONNER (1792-1856)

He was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1792 and became a midshipman early in 1809 and served on the frigate USS President for the next several years.  In 1811, he joined the sloop USS Hornet, serving in her during the War of 812 except for a time as a prisoner of war early in the conflict.

He participated in  the Hornet's two most significant combat actions, that with the HMS Peacock in February 1813 and the March 1815 capture of the HMS Penguin.

He received a promotion to lieutenant in July 1813.

--Brock-Peerry


Monday, February 26, 2024

Road Trippin' Through History: Notable War of 1812 Persons Buried at Laurel Hull Cemetery

Laurel Hill is a cemetery in Philadelphia.  This is a continuation of a Road Trip that started in my Running the Blockade blog with Richard Binder, USMC, who received a Medal of Honor for action at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher during the Civil War.  He is buried at West Laurel Hill Cemetery which is a part of Laurel Hill Cemetery.

There are several War of 1812 notables buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery.

DAVID CONNER (1792-1856)--  Naval officer in War of 1812 and Mexican War.  Served on the USS Hornet.

ISAAC HULL  (1773-1843)--  Commanded USS Constitution in its battle with the HMS Guerriere.

ELIE AUGUSTUS F. LA VALLETTE  (1790-1862)--  War of 1812 American officer at Battle of Lake Champlain.  Also served in Mexican War.

--Brock-Perry


Friday, February 23, 2024

John M. Gamble-- Part 5

While in command of the Greenwich, he captured the British armed whaler Seringapatam after a sharp engagement on or about  13 July 1813.  This engagement earned him much publicity in American newspapers of the time as the British ship was considered the biggest threat to American whalers in the Pacific at the time.

Porter later ordered the Greenwich burned to deprive Britain of valuable whale oil.  Later, during the Nuku Hiva Campaign, David Porter again ordered Gamble to take command of the prize ship Sir Andrew Hammond.

After the Seringpatam Mutiny, Gamble set out to the Leeward Islands in the Sir Andrew Hammond, but was intercepted on the way by the HMS Cherub.

--Brock-Perry


Tuesday, February 20, 2024

John M. Gamble, USMC-- Part 4: The Only Marine Officer to ....

Lt. Colonel John M. Gamble is chiefly remembered in history as the only Marine to ever command a U.S. Naval vessel, and he did this not once, but twice.  He commanded two separate prizes captured by the USS Essex while operating in the Pacific Ocean.  

The Essex was commanded by David Porter, father of eventual Union Admiral David Dixon Porter. and raised another Union Admiral who achieved fame also in the Civil War, David Glasgow Farragut.  As a matter of fact, Farragut accompanied David Porter in this Pacific cruise.

The two ships that Gamble commanded were the aforementioned Sir Andrew Hammond and Greenwich.  For want of Navy officers, Gamble was placed in charge.

--Brock-Perry


Monday, February 19, 2024

John M. Gamble, USMC-- Part 3: His Brother Peter Also in War of 1812 Where He Lost His Life

It should be mentioned that John M. Gamble had a brother by the name of Peter Gamble who was an officer in the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812.

Peter Gamble was born on 5 November 1793 in Bordentown, New Jersey.  He was appointed midshipman on 16 January 1809, and served on Thomas Macdonough's flagship USS Saratoga at the Battle of Lake Champlain.

There, he was killed in action while sighting his gun on 11 September 1814.

Macdonough his deplored the loss and commended his bravery in action.

A destroyer was named for both Peter and John M. Gamble, the USS Gamble DD123/DM-15).  This ship was at Pearl Harbor when the attack came.

--Brock-Perry


Friday, February 16, 2024

John M. Gamble, USMC-- Part 2

From Wikipedia.

JOHN MARSHALL GAMBLE

(1791 - 11 September 1836)

He remains the first and only-known U.S. Marine to command a U.S. Naval vessel for commanding the prize ships Greenwich and Andrew Hammond.

He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and commissioned a second lieutenant in the USMC on 16 January 1809, at the age of 17.

During the War of 1812, he was stationed in the Pacific Ocean on the frigate US Essex where he rose to be a captain by June 1814.  Among his accomplishments during that time was sailing the whaling ship Albert Hammond, a prize taken by the Essex, with a 4-man crew and without benefit of a chart to the Hawaiian Islands in 17 days.

--Brock-Perry


Tuesday, February 13, 2024

John M. Gamble, USMC

From "Records of officers and men of New Jersey in wars 1791-1815."

GAMBLE, JOHN M.

Midshipman, January 16, 1809

Ordered to duty at New York, N.Y.:

Transferred to merchant service, July 5, 1809.

He remains the only known US Marine ever to command a Navy ship, which he did twice during the War of 1812.

(For subsequent and continued record, see Officers of the United States Marine Corps, War with Great Britain.)

--Brock-Perry


Friday, February 9, 2024

Back on Line Agin'... Well, Sorta

It has been a long journey for me since last May in the ever-fun world of new technology and the internet. You may have noticed there have been few posts. 

I ended up having to buy a new pc and somehow got it hooked up by myself.  However, I am unable to get all of my e-mail sites and blogging sites back, but am working on it.

Hopefully, when I get the other four back on, I won't lose this one, but who knows.

Anyway, regardless, there will be a major difference in posting,  Before I was shooting for 20 posts a month minimum in all eight blogs.  Now, several of them will be posts every so often, maybe five a month, including this one.

Anyway, it is good to be back, even if just part way

Lovin' It.  --Brock-Perry


Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Mammoth Caves Black History

From the February 2, 2023, Wave, (Louisville, Ky) "Slaves explored, discovered cave paths at Mammoth Cave National Park" by Kelly Dean.

According to Molly Schroer, Public Affairs Officer at the park, "They were some of the first people to take our early visitors into the cave.  But they also served as early explorers.

Over 200 years ago, black slaves  worked in the cave to create gunpowder used during the War of 1812.

"What's ironic about the whole thing is they were working hard for us to keep our freedom while they didn't have theirs," said Schroer.

In the mid-1800s,  slaves were used  to not only act as tour guides, but also to go deep down into the caves to discover new paths.

Stephen Bishop was one of the first black tour guides who discovered miles and miles of trails that visitors today walk.

Helping the Cause Even Back Then.  --Brock-Perry



Saturday, May 13, 2023

Caldwell's Western Rangers

From Wikipedia  "Canadian Units in War of 1812."

Known as Western Rangers or Caldwell's Rangers.  Unit named after its leader, William Caldwell, noted Loyalist and Indian trader,   The unit was a relatively small one, probably not more than fifty men, normally organized into two companies.  

They worked in conjunction with the Indian Department and often fought alongside the Indians (chiefly the Ojibwe, Wyandotte and Pottowottomi).

The unit, or parts of it fought at the Battle of Moraviantown,  the Battle of Longwoods,  the Battle of Lundy's Lane and in several actions on the Niagara Peninsula.

--Brock-Perry


Monday, May 8, 2023

William Caldwell-- Part 2: Northwest Indian War and War of 1812

During the Northwest Indian War, Caldwell led a company  of 80-150 Canadian militia alongside Northwestern Confederacy Natives against advancing American troops at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, the final engagement of that war.

With the outbreak of the War of 1812, Caldwell was commissioned a lieutenant colonel and given command of a group of between 40 and 50 volunteers from the Canadian militia and they became known as Caldwell's Rangers(also sometimes referred to as the Western Rangers).

He fought at the Battle of   the Thames and the Battle of  Longwoods, among many actions.

He gained commissions for all his sons in the regular army.

--Brock-Perry