War of 1812 Flags

From the March 25, 2014, Oswego (NY) County Today "Early American Flags and British Plans to Extricate Themselves from the War of 1812 Topics of April 5."

 Textile conservator Deborah Trupin is one of 12 speakers April 4th annual Oswego War of 1812 Symposium.

She had the rare opportunity to treat the 1809 Fort Niagara garrison flag captured by the British in 1813.
She also has worked on the September 1813 "Don't Give Up the Ship" flag that flew on Perry's flagship USS Lawrence at the Battle of Lake Erie.

Her presentation is "A Tale of Two Flags: How History, Ownership and Treatment Affected the Conservation of Two Early Nineteenth Century Flags."

--Brock-Perry

The First USS Vixen

From Wikipedia.

As I said earlier, there was a previous USS Vixen to the one captured by the HMS Belvidera. I found out a lot about the first Vixen, but very little about the one the Belvidera captured.

THE FIRST USS VIXEN: Was 83-feet long, mounting 14 guns and a crew of 111. Commissioned in 1803 and fought in the First Barbary War off the coast of Tripoli, but was not there when the frigate USS Philadelphia was captured. It did participate in bombarding Tripoli on four different occasions.

From 1806-1807, it was in ordinary at the Washington Navy Yard. After that, it operated along the Atlantic coast under the command of Lt. James Lawrence (later commander of the USS Chesapeake and the famous "Don't Give Up the Ship" words.

It was captured 22 November 1812 by the 32-gun British frigate HMS Southampton under Captain James Yeo, later commander of the British Lake Ontario fleet.

Both vessels were later lost by Concepcion Island, Bahamas, when strong westerly currents wrecked them on uncharted submerged rocks off the island in the Crooked Island Passage.

On the Rocks As They Say. --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

Privateering and Boatbuilding in Talbot County

From the April 29, 2012, Easton (Md) Star Democrat by Jean Griffith.

The British Navy far outnumbered that of the United States.  The Congress Act of 1812 provided "letters of marque" for those interesting in using a private ship to attack British shipping.  They would be known as privateers.  This set off a frenzy of activity in Talbot County building privateers.

Pilot Schooners were very useful and would be armed with a long gun called a "Long Tom" and had large crews for boarding with muskets, cutlasses and boarding pikes.

There were 25 shipbuilders in Talbot County at Harris Creek, Easton, St. Michaels, Hopkins Neck, Broad Creek, San Domingo Creek and Third Haven Creek.  None of them were naval architects, but all had practical knowledge of the craft.

Congress required each captain to keep a journal and turn it over to the collector of customs when arriving at a U.S. port.  The journals would include the value of prizes taken, their disposition and any useful information on the enemy.

Of interest, US Navy purser Samuel Hambleton of Martingham, Talbot County, achieved renown for designing the battle flag with the slogan "Don't Give Up the Ship" flown during the Battle of Lake Erie, September 1813.  He was on Perry's flagship and operated two guns.

Aye, It's a Privateer's Life for Me.  --Brock-Perry

US Navy Turns to War of 1812 for Help

From the April 14th Washington Post by Steve Vogel.

The United States Navy has begun a three year commemoration of the War of 1812 with information, events and educational outreach sites.

Gallup polls show that less than 9% of Americans understand the role the current Navy plays, that is ahead of the Coast Guard, but way behind the Marines, Army and Air Force.  The role today is the same as it was 200 years ago, "Freedom of the Seas."

The War of 1812 was the Navy's coming of age and one of the most glorious episodes in its history, from the USS Constitution's single-ship victories to Perry's victory at the Battle of Lake Erie.  By the end of the war, the Navy had a host of heroes and enduring battle slogans like "Don't Give Up the Ship."

Even better, Congress authorized funding for a permanent Navy and powerful fleet as a result of it.

Go Navy!!  --Brock-Perry