North of Craney Island, fifty British barges were approaching in two columns and came under fire. Royal Navy Captain John Martin Hanshette was the illegitimate son of King George III, and reportedly was eating strawberries and drinking champagne under an umbrella, so sure of success was he. (I've also seen his name spelled Hanchett or Hanshard, but I was unable to find out much about him.)
His barge grounded on the mud flats 300 yards from the shore and came under terrific fire from the Americans. Hanshette was among the first to fall and his death threw the barges into confusion.
The British simply were too over confidant. Their casualties are not known.
--Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
I can assure you that Captain John Martin HANCHETT did not die at Craney Island although he was seriously injured. A cannon ball to the thigh meant that he had walked with a limp for the rest of his life.
ReplyDeleteHe was also not the illegitimate son of George III although he was not adverse to letting people think he was. He was the son of Lieut. John Martin Hanchett of Ickleton, Cambridgeshire and his wife Frances nee Pryce.
He went on to be awarded a CB and was the first Comptroller General of the Preventative Waterguard in the UK.
Capt. Hanchett died in 1862 in Italy.