Maine's Privateers-- Part 1: Money to be Made

I am writing about the Maine privateer Hyder Ali or Hyder Ally, I've seen several spellings for the ship.  I will put this ship's name as Privateer Hyder Ali in my labels.

From The Maine Story:  "The Hyder Ally:   Maine's Unluckiest Privateer." by Pat Higgins.

At the onset of the War of 1812, the American Navy had about 17 ships.  Their foe, the British Navy, had about 1,000 ships.

A privateer navy would be needed to fill the breech.

Maine and New England jumped into activity.  Here was a business proposition that would recoup losses suffered because of the Embargo Act of 1807 and the Non-intercourse Act of 1809.  Both of these hit New England interests particularly hard.

Ships were built for speed and armed for battle.  Shares were sold.  Money was there to be made and the New Englanders were just the people to take advantage of it.

A privateer infestation soon occurred for any and all British shipping along the North American coasts.  This extended into the Caribbean Sea and across the Atlantic to the Irish Sea.  It was also in the Mediterranean and even as far as the Indian Ocean (where the Hyder Ally went).

--Brock-Perry

An American Spy (for the British)-- Part 3: A New Exhibit

Keith Herkalo did 18 months of research on Cadwallader R. Colden and found that Colden was a British loyalist, a regular at the racetracks and lacked a lot of skills.  Herkado termed him  an overall "schmuck."

Colden's story, along with  the fate of the British fleet from the Battle of Plattsburgh, is now the latest exhibit in the War of 1812 Museum in Plattsburgh.

The guy hid in plain sight for over 200 years.  Nobody knew what he had done.

The museum's exhibit features plaques retelling Colden's story, including his influential mother who wrote to early American figures like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, and a new display made from walking sticks made from British warships at the Battle of Plattsburgh.

Looks like I am going to have to do some research myself about this act of treason Colden was going to initiate.

--Brock-Perry

Southwest Georgia Played a Key Role in the War of 1812-- Part 1: The Causes of the War

 From the September 7, 2021, Albany (Georgia) Herald by Tom Seegmueller.

Sometimes referred to as America's Second War for Independence, the War of 1812 was fought against Britain and its Canadian and Indian allies.  Many Americans know about the battles along the country's northern borders, the iconic naval battles, the burning of the White House, Battle of Fort McHenry and Andrew Jackson victory at the Battle of New Orleans (after the war was over).

One of the primary reasons often cited as a reason for the war was the impressment of American sailors into the British Navy, estimated to have been as high as 15,000.

There is also proof that the British were stirring up the Indians, who were increasingly fearful of American encroachment on their lands.

Florida was under Spanish control at the time and that too was a threat to the U.S., especially in the state of Georgia.

--Brock-Perry

Dueling Frigates-- Part 2: Advantages of American Super Frigates and Frigates

The strength of a warship were measured in several ways

First was number of guns carried.  The American Super-Frigates which carried at least 44 and sometimes 50 cannons were more heavily armed than all but a few British frigates, which usually carried 38 guns.

Second was the weight of cannon balls fired.    U.S. frigates were commonly armed with cannons firing 24-pound shot, whereas British vessels commonly had 18-pounders.

Thirdly, was the size of the crew.  Naval battles often were settled by boarding an enemy ship and hand-to-hand fighting.  A large crew would help in this case and American crews were generally larger.

So, especially when it was an American Super-Frigate like the USS Constitution up against a smaller British frigate like the HMS Guerriere, the American ship had a decided advantage in a ship-to-ship fight.

--Brock-Perry

Dueling Frigates: Why Standard British Frigates Were No Match for U.S. "Super Frigates" Like the USS Constitution

From the New London County (Connecticut) Historical Society "Dueling Frigates."

Not only did Navy personnel on both sides during the War of 1812 engage in duels, but also there were times when a sea battle between two enemy frigates was actually more of a duel in itself.

******************************

BACKGROUND

With a fleet of just six frigates (including three 44 gun super frigates), five smaller sloops of war, two brigs and a motley collection of  small coastal (Jeffersonian Gunboats) defense vessels, the U.S. navy was in no way in a position to face off with the Royal Navy which had more than 600 active vessels, about 100 of which were 74+ gun ships of the line.

Fleet actions characterized much of the fighting between the French and English,, U.S. ships went out singly or in small  squadrons to raid British commerce and engage single British ships when the opportunity arose.

--Brock-Perry

HMS Belvidera-- Part 1

Yesterday, I mentioned the HMS Belvidera capturing the USS Vixen off Delaware on today's date 200 years ago. I didn't remember ever hearing of either ship so did some more research. It turns out I had written about the British ship in an earlier blog entry.

From Wikipedia.

The HMS Belvidera was a 36-gun Apollo-class, fifth rate frigate built in Deptford in 1809 and was 145 feet long and had a crew of 264. It saw action in the Napoleonic Wars and War of 1812 and actually survived to 1906 when it was sold for breaking up.

It served the British Navy as a warship until 1846 and then became a harbor service ship and in 1860 became a receiving ship.

More to Come. --Brock-Perry

Ships of Oak, Guns of Iron

From the December 18, 2012, Huntington (WV) News "Book Review: 'Ships of Oak, Guns of Iron': The War of 1812 Examined in Readable Detail on Its Bicentennial" reviewed by David M. Kinchen.

I am most interested in the naval aspects of any war so this book would be right up my line.

The book is written by Ronald D. Utt, 528 pages, $29.95. He blames the Royal Navy's impressment actions as the cause of the war. Low estimates put impressment at 2,500 and a high of 25,000 with some 7,500 by the start of the War of 1812.

The Royal Navy faced serious manpower shortages as Britain had been fighting Napoleon and had been at perpetual war for twenty years.

The book covers some land battles, but most of it centers on naval action (that's alright for me). The U.S. Navy had 17 ships at the start of the war that had to fight 500 British warships (though most were involved in the Napoleonic Wars). Utt says the "American courage, gunnery and skill could prove itself against daunting odds."

Signature battle was the USS Constitution vs, HMS Gueriere on August 19, 1812, which made Isaac Hull a national hero (this was actually a very lop-sided battle favoring the Constitution). His uncle, General William Hull, 59, a hero of the Revolutionary War, had surrendered Detroit without much of a fight just three days before the Constitution's victory.

Thomas Jefferson bears responsibility of appointing many of the disappointing American commanders.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Royal Navy Dockyards in Canada

From Wikipedia.

YORK NAVAL YARD-- York, Upper Canada (Today's Toronto, Ontario) Used 1798-1813

PENETANGUISHENE NAVAL YARD-- Penetanguishene, Canada (1813-1834)

KINGSTON ROYAL NAVY DOCKYARD-- Kingston, Canada near Point Frederick (1789 to late 19th century) Expanded greatly during the War of 1812. Near where the Royal Military College of Canada is located today.

 --Brock-Perry

Royal Navy Dockyard

From Wikipedia.

Another unfamiliar term for me.

A Royal Navy Dockyard is a harbor where commissioned British ships are stationed as well as ones where ships are overhauled or refitted.

In past years, the Royal Navy had a string of Dockyards around the world, but since World War II, the number has decreased to just four. 

Four of the Royal Navy Dockyards were classified as Great Dockyards: Portsmouth, Plymouth, Chatham and Glasgow.

Then, there were Large and Small Dockyards. Halifax was classified as Small.

--Brock-Perry

The British North America and West Indies Station-- Part 3

Halifax, Canada, was the main base for the Royal Navy during the Seven Years War (French and Indian), American Revolution and War of 1812.

In 1818, Halifax became the summer base of operations of the N.A.& W.I. Station (North American and West Indies).   For the rest of the year, headquarters was switched to Bermuda.

Bermuda was chosen, besides the weather, as a base from which the British Navy could better watch the United States.

Brock-Perry

The British North America and West Indies Station-- Part 2

Evidently, the Atlante source, Naval Database, had it wrong when it referred to the station as the North America and West Indies, as, according to Wikipedia, the West Indies and North America stations were separate intil 1818 when the two combined.

Then, it was renamed the America and West Indies Station in 1926. The two stations were formed to counter French forces in North America back in 1745. For its first 60 years, the North America Station was headquartered at Halifax Naval Yard in Nova Scotia, now CFB Halifax.

The land and buildings were purchased by the Royal Navy Dockyard in 1758 and commissioned in 1759. 

Keeping It Shorter Than Usual Because of These Darn Run-On Paragraphs. --Brock-Perry

The North America and West Indies Station-- Part 1

Wikipedia.

The HMS Atalante made captures while on, what the source called, the British North America and West Indies Station, something I'd never heard of.

It is a formation of command for England's Royal Navy in the Western Hemisphere. much like during the Civil War when the Union had such naval groups at the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron or the West Gulf Blockading Squadron or the U.S. Navy had the African Squadron before the Civil War to stop slavers and the Neutrality Patrol before the country entered World War II.

I have written about these in my Civil War blogs and World War I blog.

More to Come. --Brock-Perry

--Brock-Perry

Mr. Jefferson's Gunboat Navy-- Part 1

Source: Mariner's Museum, Virginia.

Since I have been writing about United States War of 1812 gunboats, I though this article I found from last year was appropriate.  It also provides some background information on events leading up to the war.

By 1805, tension between the U.S. and Britain continued to mount.  America was angered by the blockade of France, impressment of American sailors and confiscation of our ships.  And, after the defeat of te French fleet at the October 1805 Battle of Trafalgar Britain held complete domination of the sea.

From 1800 to 1805 fifty-nine American merchant ships were taken by the British Navy.

From 1805 to 1807 about half of U.S. merchant ships, 469, were taken.

In the year 1807, there was the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair and the further impressment of 6,000 sailors from American ships.

Clearly, the countries were approaching the brink of war.

War Clouds On the Horizon.  --Brock-Perry

Some War of 1812 Facts

From the June 8, 2012, Washington Post for Kids "War of 1812 Fun Facts."  Well, if you can have fun facts about a war.  But, bet some of you didn't know some of this stuff.  I sure didn't.

**  It lasted long after 1812.  The final battle was fought in 1815.  You know, "Took a little trip."

**  The British Navy at the time was the largest and most powerful in the world with 600 ships.  The US Navy had just 18.  It was a real NIU vs, FSU thing.

**  The expression "Don't Give Up the Ship" came from 1812.  These were the dying words of Captain James Lawrence of the USS Chesapeake as his ship was captured by the HMS Shannon.  It is now the US Navy motto.

**  Francis Scott Key's song was originally called "Defence of Fort McHenry" and the tune comes from an old British drinking song.  It did not become the official national anthem until 1931.  Wonder what they sang before games before that time?  OK, let's all rise, remove those hats and sing "The Defence of Fort McHenry.

"Jose Can You Sing?"  --Brock-Perry

American and British Bases Around Maine-- Part 2

PRIVATEER PORTS

Wiscasset, Maine
Castine, Maine
Salem, New Hampshire
Machias, Maine


AMERICAN SECONDARY BASES

Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portland, Maine


BATTLES

HMS Shannon-- USS Chesapeake June 1, 1813
Battle of Hampden September 3, 1814
HMS Boxer-- USS Enterprise September 5, 1813


BRITISH EXPEDITIONS

Penobscot Expedition Sept. 1, 1814
Machias Expedition September 10, 1814
Moose Island  July 18, 1814

More Going On Than You'd Think.  --Brock-Perry

American and British Bases Around Maine-- Part 1

From the May 31, 2012, MidCoast "Coastal Mainers defended and betrayed key front in War of 1812" by Tom Groening.

According to a map accompanying the article, from Boston to the northeast Maine border, there was one major US Navy base in Boston, two other secondary bases, five privateering ports and three battle sites.  American privateering bases were located at Glouchester, Bath, Belfast and two other sites.

In Nova Scotia, there is a major Royal Navy base at Halifax and two secondary bases.  Two British secondary bases were at St. John, New Brunswick and Liverpool, Nova Scotia.

Brock-Perry

Letters and Documents from the War of 1812 Up for Auction

From the Nov. 24, 2012, Art Daily.org.

An auction December 12th will feature three drafts of letters/reports from the summer of 1814 written by Alexander Dobbs, commander of a squadron of British ships, to his commander, Commodore Sir James Lucas Yeo.  One of them is a personal account of the Battle of Lundy's Lane.

Also included is Dobbs' account of the HMS Magnet which was blown up to prevent capture and his experience at the Siege of Fort Erie, where he said, "our losses have been very severe: 10 Seamen and 11 Marines killed, 15 Seamen and 18 Marines wounded and missing.. I fear that a number of the latter were blown up.  Lieut. Stevenson, Mr. Harris Master and myself were wounded. 

Mr. Hinde, Master's mate, had his thigh broke and was left in the Ditch where I fear he must have perished.  If there is any inaccuracy in this I trust you will excuse it, as my head aches so intolerably I can scarce hold it up."

Another letter from Yeo to Dobbs warns him not to get involved in any attack of the Army on the Americans.  This was essentially a warning to stay off the lake which was under the command of the Americans.

Some Primary Source Materials.  --Brock-Perry