HMS Albion Stamp from Turks and Caicos

Turks and Caicos are British Islands in the Bahamas Chain, northeast of Cuba.

They have put out a stamp honoring both Admiral Alexander Cochrane and the HMS Albion.

The Albion was stationed  off Chesapeake Bay, part of a force that  harried the coastline of that bay during the War of 1812.

The Albion operated all the way up the Potomac and Patuxent rivers destroying large amounts of American shipping as well as U.S. government property.

This operation ended when peace was declared in 1815.

--Brock-Perry

Cochrane's Proclamation-- Part 2: What He Hoped to Accomplish

At no point in the proclamation did Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane mention the words slaves or slavery, but this was clearly his intention.  Runaway slaves had already been coming out to British ships to gain freedom.

This was a two-fold attempt at weakening the Americans.

First, these slaves could be enlisted to serve on British warships who were always in need of more crew members as well as the Colonial Marines.

Plus, the loss of slaves hurt the American economy.

With British ships in the Chesapeake Bay area, it was hoped that slaves would get out to the ships in vast numbers from the numerous plantations.

Essentially, this document could be read to be as an instrument of freedom.

The Free Black settlement at Willow Grove in New Brunswick Province in Canada was a result of the proclamation.

I'd definitely call this an early Emancipation Proclamation.

--Brock-Perry

Admiral Cochrane's Proclamation to Blacks in the United States: A Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation?

From American Battlefield Trust.

A British Appeal to American Slaves:  Bermuda, April 2, 1814

Proclamation of Vice Admiral Sir Alexander F.I. Cochrane, R.N.

"Whereas, it has been represented to me, that many Persons now resident in the United States, have expressed a desire to  withdraw therefrom,  with a view of entering  His Majesty's Service, or of being received as Free Settlers into some of His Majesty's Colonies.

"This is therefore to Give Notice,

"That all those who may be disposed to emigrate from the United States will, with their Families, be received on board His Majesty's Ships or Vessels of War, or at the Military Posts that may be established, upon or near the Coast of the United States. when they will have their choice of either entering into His Majesty's  Sea or Land Forces, or being sent as Free settlers to  the British Possessions in North America or the West Indies, where they will be met with due encouragement.

Given  under my Hand at Bermuda, this 2nd day of April, 1814, ALEXANDER COCHRANE.

By Command  of the Vice Admiral, William Balhetchet (Secretary)   GOD SAVE THE KING.

A Way Out of Slavery.  --Brock-Perry

Action Around Apalachicola Bay, Florida, During the War-- Part 1

From the January 17, 2018, Times (Appalachicola and Carrabelle, Florida) "Apalachicola Bay and the War of 1812" by Robert Register and James Hargrove.

British preparation for the attack on New Orleans began at St. George Island (Florida) in May 1814, when Captain Henry Pigot of the Royal Navy anchored the HMS Orpheus in Apalachicola Bay, and Captain George Woodbine of the Royal Marines unloaded 2,000 muskets for delivery to the Creek Indians and escaped black slaves who were living along the Apalachicola River.

At the same time, the British Navy began their blockade of Mobile and New Orleans.

The British advance into Apalachicola Bay was part of a three-pronged British attack planned by Admiral Alexander Cochrane.

--Brock-Perry

George Armistead-- Part 5: The British Withdraw

Because the British fleet was unable to get Fort McHenry to surrender in order to enter Baltimore Harbor and bombard the American defensive line east of the city, the British commander-in-chief Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane wrote to the British Army commander approaching those defenses, Colonel Arthur Brooke that it would be up to him to determine whether to attack.

Brooke had taken over command of the British Army after British Major General Robert Ross had been mortally wounded just before the Battle of North Point on September 12.  He decided to withdraw.

Baltimore was safe.

--Brock-Perry

Fort McHenry Stamp-- Part 4: Twenty-Five-Hour Bombardment

After the British Army met stiff resistance on land, Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane of the Royal Navy attempted to attack the city by getting past the defenses of Fort McHenry, which was manned by 1,000 troops under the command of Major George Armistead.

For some 25 hours beginning on the morning of September 13, Cochrane's squadron fired more than 1,500 rounds of shells and rockets at the fort, while his ships remained safely out of range of the fort's guns.

--Brock-Perry

Bomb Vessel HMS Volcano (1804)-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Origianally the merchant vessel Heron, purchased by the Royal Navy in 1804 and became the HMS Heron.  During the Napoleonic Wars it served as a convoy escort vessel on the Leeward Islands Station.

In 1810 it was converted into a bomb vessel and renamed the HMS Volcano and served during the War of 1812 and participated in the Battle of Baltimore (which led to "The Star-Spangled Banner").  It was sold in 1816.

Commander David Powell Price assumed command of it 6 December 1813.  In the summer of 1814, it was sent to North America and joined Sir Alexander Cochrane's fleet off Baltimore harbor.  It was one of 19 British vessels that bombarded Fort McHenry.  The Volcano and other bomb vessels launched over 1500 bombs.  However, only 4 Americans were killed and 24 wounded.

--Brock-Perry

Battle of Lake Borgne, Louisiana-- Part 2

The British were defeated in September 1814 at Fort Bowyer and thusly denied the capture of Mobile, Alabama. As a result, the British determined to attack New Orleans.  American Commodore Daniel Patterson commanded the New Orleans Squadron and went on immediate alert.

The British fleet, under the command of Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane arrived on December 9, 1814, and Patterson dispatched Lt. Thomas ap Catesny Jones and a small flotilla to Lake Borgne to defend it and its back door entrance to New Orleans.  Jones had with him five Jeffersonian gunboats: Nos. 156, 163, 162, 5 and 23.  Also the schooner USS Sea Horse and two sloops of war, the USS Alligator and Tickler.

Gunboat No. 156 was the flagship of the squadron and mounted one long 24-pdr., four 12-pdr. carronades and four swivel guns with a crew of 41 men.  The whole squadron had 245 men and mounted 16 long guns, 14 carronades, 2 howitzers and 12 swivel guns.

--Brock-Perry

200 Years Ago: British Land Near New Orleans

DECEMBER 10, 1814:  British naval and military expedition under Vice-Admiral  Alexander Cochrane and Major General Sir Edward Pakenham land near New Orleans, Louisiana.

Setting the Stage for You Know What.  --Brock-Perry

Colonial Marines-- Part 1

From Wikipedia

Two units were raised consisting of former American slaves.  This was started by Admiral Alexander Cochrane.  They were actually formed on two different occasions, but disbanded the first time after Loyalist militia threatened to leave service.

1ST CORPS--  smaller group.  Served in the Caribbean from 1808-1810.

2ND CORPS--  larger group served from 18 May 1814 to 20 August 1816.  Stationed mostly along the Atlantic Coast but one company served at a Gulf Coast fort in Florida.

They did not regard themselves as "slave soldiers."

--Brock-Perry

200 Years Ago: Battle of North Point and Bombardment of Baltimore

SEPTEMBER 11, 1814:    British capture Fort O'Brien and Machias, District of Maine.


SEPTEMBER 12-15, 1814:  Also the death of British Major General Robert Ross.

After sacking Washington, D.C., British commanding officer Robert Ross led a force of roughly 4,000 men north to Baltimore.  On 12 September, during the Battle of North Point, Ross was mortally wounded;  Colonel Arthur Brooke then assumed command and defeated Brigadier General John Stricker's 3,200 American troops.

The British advanced until they came upon recently prepared fortifications around Baltimore.  Judging the defenses too strong to be attacked, the British withdrew.

Meanwhile, Vice-Admiral Alexander Cochrane led an unsuccessful naval attack on Fort McHenry.  The spectacle inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner."

As for Ross. his comrades preserved his body in rum and sent it to Halifax, Nova Scotia, for burial, where his remains received a hero's welcome.

--Brock-Perry

With "the Utmost Hostility"

From the Maryland in the War of 1812 Blog "Naval Orders: "the utmost Hostility against the shores of the United States..." April 1814. 

Vice Admiral Sir Alexander F.I. Cochrane wrote to Rear Admiral George Cockburn in Bermuda, April 28, 1814, Cochrane had replaced Admiral Sir John Warren as commander of the North American Station in Bermuda. He issued these orders to his second in command, Cockburn, who followed them with relish, becoming the most hated British naval officer in America. 

Already in 1813, he had attacked principal Maryland shore towns of Havre-de-Grace (May 3) and Fredericktown and Georgetown on May 5th. 

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Timeline for April, 1814: Napoleon's Abdication Really Bad News for Americans

APRIL 1, 1814: Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane was appointed to command the Royal Navy's North American Station. 

APRIL 4TH: French emperor Napoleon abdicates, enabling the British to send more men and ships to North America. 

This was a really bad thing for the United States. After Napoleon's defeat, Britain picked up its pace on all North American fronts. With more ships available, Cochrane increased pressure on the Chesapeake and extended the blockade northward to include all of the New England states. This extension stifled the licensed trade and Halifax merchants loudly protested. Meanwhile, New Brunswick counterparts were deeply involved in smuggling with Americans. 

Cochrane ignored the protests, but, even with more ships, was unable to effectively seal the increased blockaded areas, especially in New England where smuggling was rampant. 

--Brock-Perry

HMS Statira-- Part 1

From the Naval Database site. Continued from Lively-Class Part 3 from Feb.5th.

In mid 1810, it was the flagship of Sir Alexander Cochrane, who would later gain fame for his operations off the U.S. coast during the War of1812.

In mid-1812, it was chased by a U.S. squadron under rhe command of Commodore Rodgers. 11 August 1812, it captured the American privateer Buckskin. On February 8, 1863, boats from the Statira and others in Lynhaven Bay chased and captured the American privateer schooner Lottery which later served the British Navy as the HMS Canso.

In March 1813, armed U.S. schooners Arab, Lynx, Racer and Dolphin escaped into Virginia's Rappahannock River and boats from the Statira captured them. The Racer and Lynx later became the HMS Shelburne and Musquedobit.

More to Come. --Brock-Perry

British Lively-Clas Frigates-- Part 3: HMS Statira

This one was accidentally listed as the HMS Satira in the Wikipedia article.

The HMS Satira was launched in 1807 and accidentally wrecked off Cuba in 1815. The Wreck Site says that in 1815, the Statira was commanded by Captain Swaine and sailing with a convoy from Bermuda to Ile Dauphin to join Sir Alexander Cochrane in February 1815.

It struck an uncharted rock off Cuba on February 26th and sank within 30 minutes, but all aboard were saved.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Exhibit Opens At Annapolis: An Emancipation Proclamation

From the Jan. 25, 2013, Capital Gazette.com "Around Annapolis: War of 1812 Exhibit opens at State House" by Diane M. Rey.

On August 20, 1814, the HMS Menelaus was at anchor off Annapolis. The British fleet sailed past the port and shortly thereafter, Washington, D.C. was captured and burned. Then the fleet sailed past again on its way to attack Fort McHenry protecting Baltimore. Annapolis, however, was never directly attacked.

A new War of 1812 exhibit opened at the Maryland State House on Jan. 14, 2013 "The Enemy Nearly All 'Round' Us." The centerpiece is a 16-by-24-foot enlargement of a painting by Frederick artist Richard Schlecht showing British ships off Annapolis as seen from the State House dome. A circular inset on the painting shows the 38-gun frigate Memelaus under full sail.

Hundreds of slaves escaped to the British ships, seeking their freedom. On April 2, 1814, British Admiral Sir Alexander Cochran issued an emancipation proclamation to any slaves who joined the Colonial Marines and settled in British colonies. Some 700 Maryland slaves took him up on it, 21 of them from Annapolis.

The exhibit also has a personal log of a British officer on the Menelaus.

--Brock-Perry