2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Last month, I wrote a lot about War of 1812 naval officer John Downes. He had two sons who were in the Civil War. One was a naval officer, John A. Downes and the other was in the Union Army.
Henry Hill Downes was a private who enlisted on August 11, 1862, in the 124th Illinois Infaqntry Regiment.
He died in Vicksburg, Mississippi, 26 September 1864, of malaria.
--Brock-Perry
From Find-A-Grave.
JOHN A. DOWNES
BIRTH: 25 August 1822, Massachusetts
DEATH: 21 September 1865 (aged 43), New Orleans, Louisiana.
BURIAL: Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts
United States Navy officer, Civil War. Entered naval service September 4, 1837. Lieutenant in 1851 and commander in 1862.
Commnder of ironclad USS Nahant in attacks on Fort McAllister in March 3, 1863 and Fort Sumter on April 7, 1863, as well as assisting in the capture of the ironclad CSS Atlanta on June 10, 1863.
On July 1, 1965, he took command of the Gulf Squadron at New Orleans and was killed while in service.
--Brock-Perry
Along the around the globe voyage, the USS Potomac became the first U.S. Navy ship to host sitting royalty, when the king and queesn of Hawaii came aboard.
When Downes arrived in Valparasio Chile, Jeremiah N. Reynolds came aboard. He was an American explorer and author and served as Downes' personal secretary for the trip and wrote a book about his experience, "The Voyage of the United States Frigate Potomac."
Downes' sea service ended with this cruise.
On returning home, Downes was severely criticized for his actions in Sumatra, but President Jackson defended his actions, saying that what he did there would deter future aggression by the Malays. However, that didn't come to pass because in August 1838, another American merchant ship, the Eclipse, was attacked. The United States responded with what is called the Second Sumatran Expedition.
From 1837 to 1842, and again from1850-1852, he commanded the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston Harbor. He died there on August 11, 1854.
--Brock-Perry
Downes took command of the USS Macedonian in 1818 and set out on a three year show of American power to South America and beyond. On this trip he decided to make some money giving protection, passage and banking to pirates, privateers and others. He became quite rich from this. I am surprised he was able to keep his rank in the Navy for doing this.
Regardles of this other stuff, John Downes became commodore of the Mediterranean Squadron and from 1828-1829, commanded the USS Java.
From 1832-1834, he commanded the Pacific Squadron. In 1832, he went to the coast of Sumatra in the USS Potomac to avenge the attack on the American merchantman Friendship, of Salem, Massachusetts. He attacked four Malay forts, killing all their defenders and then bombarded a village until it caught fire.
He then took the Potomac on an around the world voyage, becoming the second American vessel to circumnavigate the globe. (The first was the USS Vincinnes, commanded by William B. Finch.)
--Brock-Perry
Among the prizes taken by the USS Essex was the whaler Atlantic. Captain Porter fitted it out as a cruiser and classified it as a sloop-of-war with twenty guns and named her Essex Junior. The ship was placed under the command of Lieutenant Downes. The Essex and Essex Junior were both captured at the same time on 28 March 1814.
Downes was promoted to master commandant in 1813 and two years later commanded the brig Epervier in the squadron under the command of Stephen Decatur against Algiers. On June 17, 1815, he assisted in the capture of the Algerian frigate Mashouda. Two days later, the Eperviere and three smaller vessels captured the Algerian brig Estedio off Cape Palos.
After the conclusion of peace with Algiers, Decatur transferred Downes to his ship, the USS Guerriere.
Downes also served on the Ontario and Independence before becoming a captain in 1817.
--Brock-Perry
From Wikipedia.
Commodore John Downes (December 23, 1784-August 11, 1854) was a career naval officer, whose service covered the first half of the 19th century.
John Downes was born in Canton, Massachusetts, on December 23, 1784. He served as acting midshipman from September 9, 1800, and was appointed midshipman from June 1, 1802. He rendered distinguished service during the First Barbary War in 1804 on the frigate Congress and distinguished himself again on the frigate New York in a boat attack upon Tripolita feluccas (a type of ship).
In March 1807, he was made a lieutenant and served as executive officer for Captain David Porter on the USS Essex during her cruise in the Pacific during the War of 1812.. In an action off James Island (in the South Pacific) Downes was in command of the sloop Georgiana during the capture of three British whalers.
He also participated in the action off Charles Island (Galapagos Islands) before sailing to Nuku Hiva to assist in building America's first base in the Pacific Ocean.
--Brock-Perry
From Find-A-Grave
War of 1812 naval officer.
BIRTH: December 1784, Canton, Massachusetts
DEATH: 11 August 1854, Charlestown, Massachusetts
BURIAL: Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts
*******************************
From U.S. Navy Officers 1798-1900.
Midshipman: 1 June 1802
Lieutenant: 6 March 1807
Master Commandant: 24 June 1813
Captain: 5 March 1817
Died 11 August 1854
--Brock-Perry
