Privateer Hyder Ally-- Part 4: The First Capture Is then Lost

Near the Cape of Good Hope, the Hyder Ally was chased all day by a British  East India Company sloop of war, but escaped under cover of darkness.  After rounding the cape, she captured an East Indian merchant ship with a valuable cargo.

Thorndike sent it off with a prize crew to Portland.  This prize never made it home as it was captured off Cape Elizabeth by the British privateer Tom.

That this prize was captured there is no big surprise because the coast of Maine was virtually under siege by the British for most of 1813 and 1814.  Maine had begun fortifying its coast as a result.

In Portland, the militia had built a defensive earthwork they named Fort Burrows, after the captain of the USS Enterprise in the famed battle.  Other batteries were around as well.  Also, out toward the harbors entrance, there were Fort Preble at Spring Point and Fort Scammel on House Island.  Both of these were built in 1809.

--Brock-Perry

Bluenoses Made Out Like Bandits-- Part 4: the Privateers

Some Halifax privateer ships of note:  Crown, Sir John Sherbrooke, Fly, Weazel and George.

Some Liverpool privateer ships:  Retaliation, Wolverine (Hey, a movie of that name is coming out), Rolla,  Shannon, Lively, Rover, Minerva, Saucy Jack, Dart and the Dove.

Annapolis privateers:  Royal, Matilda and the Broke.

Also, the Retrieve operated out of Windsor and the Lunenburg operated out of Lunenburg.

The Crown, out of Halifax, was commissioned in February 1813 under Captain Solomon Jennings.  It was 12 metres long and had a crew of 30, many just boys.  Its armament consisted of one 9-pound carronade.  Privateers preferred carronades to long guns. 

Carronade cannons were lighter, used less powder, took up less room and were cheaper.

When a Long Just Won't Do.  --Brock-Perry