American Privateer Anaconda-- Part 6: After the Battle

The privateer (the Anaconda)  is one of the finest brigs ever seen -- the officers treated us with great politeness -- were bona fide Americans -- but the crew, I am sorry to say, , who were mostly Englishman, were the greatest blackguards ever seen, and  I verily believe would have given us no quarter.

Captain Quick (the commander of the Express) observes,  that the greatest bravery was displayed by his handful of men.  Upwards of 200  shot struck the Express; five 12-pound shot went through one side, and lodged in the other.

Indeed, Capt. Shaler of the Anaconda, says in his letter to the Agent  for American prisoners in Plymouth:  "Captain Quick had his ship almost shot away from under him, my vessel being so superior to his, mounting 18 long nines and twelves, and manned by 120 men."

--Brock-Perry

American Privateer Anaconda-- Part 5: After the Surrender

The enemy (the American privateers) now employed themselves in exchanging  the ship's company and rummaging the Express, taking on board the Anaconda the bullion, to the amount of 20,000 (British) pounds and, in fact, everything that could be got at, and that was valuable.

After rummaging the ship fore and aft, and finding her a complete wreck, the Captain of the packet gave us our choice to remain in the latter, or the Express,  and get into what port we could, offering to stay by us till the next morning, to ascertain our safety.

We quitted the privateer with 27 days of water on board, and got into Juan Fernandes.  The carpenters being employed in looking after shot holes, discovered pieces of iron, from 14 to 18 inches long, sticking to the bottom; and getting two men from shore to dive found them to be langridge fired by the enemy.

--Brock-Perry

American Privateer Anaconda-- Part 4: The Express Surrenders

Continuing with the capture of the packet ship Express.

A consultation was held, when it was advised to strike the colours to preserve the lives of the brave crew of the Express, and the mail was thrown overboard.  The water was now increasing very fast; one of the pumps was disabled by a shot; the vessel scuttling by the head, and expecting her to go down -- the ensign was hoisted re-versed, a signal of distress to the enemy.

The boats of the privateer came to our assistance.  The carpenter and his crew  proceeded in plugging the holes and reducing the water.

We now found our opponent to be the American private brig of war Anaconda from New York, last from Boston -- out 75 days -- this her first capture -- mounting 18 long nines and twelves, with 120 men.

--Brock-Perry

American Privateer Anaconda-- Part 3: Capture of the Express

At day-light the next morning, finding her too close on us,  shewed our colours, and gave her a stern-chase gun on which she shewed Spanish colours; but on giving her a second, she hoisted American colours, and a running fight was kept up till a quarter before seven.

At this time she ranged upon our weather quarter, and brought us to close action, which we maintained with spirit until eight, when we found our ship to be quite unmanageable, our sails cut to pieces, the fore and main-masts shot through,  maintop-mast completely gone, and the whole of our yards badly wounded-- all our standing and running rigging cut to pieces, momentarily expecting the masts to go by the board-- four of our starboard guns, out of six, dismounted-- many shot between wind and water, and three and a half feet of water in the hold.

In Other Words, the Express Was Pretty Well Cut Up.  --Brock-Perry

American Privateer Anaconda-- Part 2: Capture of the British Ship Express

I am not sure if the Anaconda captured a ship named the Express or Express Packet, packet being the name of a particular kind of a ship.  I now find out the ship's name was just the Express.

The site says the capture took place on January 4, 1813.

This account is taken from the Glasgow Herald from 31 May 1813.

The following account of the action between the Express packet and the American privateer Anaconda, has been transmitted by an officer of the packet:

The Express packet sailed from Rio de Janeiro on the 23rd of March, and on the 1st of April was chased by a brig of war.  When she first hove in sight she was on our weather beam, with studding sails out,  running down on us.  She continued the chase a few hours, when, the wind freshening, she dropped a little a-stern, hauling her wind on the other tack, hoisting English colours, and firing a gun, which we were not long in answering, as we had one primed in readiness.

During the chase, we made the private signal, which the privateer could not answer.

(The April 1, 1813 date the two ships encountered would make the site's date incorrect. Private signals must have been a ploy used so British ships could determine if another ship was friend or foe, especially since American privateers might, as in this case, hoist an English flag to fool them.)

--Brock-Perry