Jesse Elliott, USN-- Part 5: Honors and Major Controversy

HONORS

On January 6, 1814, both Perry and Elliott received Congressional Gold Medals and the Thanks of Congress.  This was in recognition of the first-time ever capture of an entire British squadron at the Battle of Lake Erie.  In addition, each man received an equal portion of the prize money ($7,140 apiece)  

In recognition of Perry's position as commodore of the squadron, Congress gave him an extra $5,000.  This became a bone of contention with Elliott.

CONTROVERSY

Even before the medals were awarded, Elliott and Perry became embroiled in a 30-year battle over their respective conduct and fault in the battle.  This extended even beyond Perry's death in 1819.  Perry claimed that Elliott had failed to offer timely support; Elliott decried there was a lack of communication and signals on Perry's part.

In 1818, Perry drew up a list of charges against Elliott, but was evidently dissuaded by the Secretary of the Navy against formally filing them.

And it still wasn't over, even in death.

--Brock-Perry

Things You Didn't Know About Oliver Hazard Perry-- Part 6

In 1814, Perry received a Congressional Gold Medal, the Thanks of Congress, and a promotion to the rank of full captain for his efforts at the Battle of Lake Erie.

He died at the age of 34 from yellow fever.  Six years after his victory at the Battle of Lake Erie, Perry succumbed to  yellow fever near Trinidad while at sea on a diplomatic mission to Venezuela on behalf of the United States.

The Navy has honored Perry by naming several ships and classes of ships after him.  As early as 1843, there was a USS Perry.  Four have been destroyers and one was a guided missile frigate.

--Brock-Perry

Edward McCall, USN-- Part 2: The Congressional Gold Medal

Promoted to captain 3 March 1835, he died at his home in Bordentown, New Jersey, 1  August 1853.

Two ships have been named  USS  McCall after him.

EDWARD McCALL's CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL CITATION

"That the President of the United States be requested  to present to the nearest male relative of lieutenant  William Burrows, and to lieutenant  Edward R. McCall of the brig Enterprise, a gold medal with suitable emblems and devices; and a silver medal with like emblems and devices to each of the commissioned officers of the aforesaid in testimony of the high sense entertained in the conflict with the British sloop Boxer, on the fourth of September, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirteen.

"And the President  is also requested to  communicate to the nearest male relative of lieutenant Burrows the deep regret which Congress feel for the loss  of that valuable officer, who died in the arms of victory, nobly contending for his country's rights and fame."

--Brock-Perry

Edward McCall, USN-- Part 1: USS Enterprise vs. HMS Boxer

From Wikipedia.

I am writing about the USS McCall (DD-400) in my Tattooed on Your Soul: WW II blog.  This was the second U.S. Navy destroyer named after Edward McCall who served and gained honors during the War of 1812.

EDWARD R. McCALL

Captain Edward R. McCall (5 August 1790 - 1 August 1853) was an officer  in the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812.  He was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.

Born in South Carolina, he was appointed midshipman 1 January 1808.  Appointed acting lieutenant on the brig USS Enterprise 16 October 1811, he took command of that ship during action with the HMS Boxer 5 September 1813.  

Early in that action the Enterprise's captain, Lieutenant  William Ward Burrows II was mortally wounded.

In acknowledgement of the victory over the Boxer, McCall received the Thanks of Congress and a Congressional Gold Medal.

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Jones, USN-- Part 3: A Victory Then a Loss

As the two vessels continued to close, the Wasp collided with the bowsprit of the HMS Frolic.  Jones immediately ordered his men to board the Frolic, where they overwhelmed the British crew and captured the ship.

It was all over in 45 minutes.  Out of110 sailors aboard the Frolic, 90 had been killed or seriously wounded.  The Americans suffered only five killed and five wounded.

The victory over the Frolic was complete, but just then the sails of another ship were seen, which turned out to be the HMS Poictiers, a 74-gun British ship-of-the-line, appeared on the horizon.

Under normal circumstances. Jones' ship could easily outsail the slower, more powerful Poictiers; but the rigging of the Wasp was in tatters.  After the Poictiers fired a warning shot at the smaller American vessel, Jones was forced to surrender.

Regardless of the loss of his ship, Congress presented Jones with a gold medal for his action.

The Delaware native served four more decades in the U.S. Navy.

Jones had weathered a turbulent childhood and failure in several occupations before ge found himself a home in the Navy.

--Brock-Perry

Naval Hero Jacob Jones

From the November 5, 2019, Cape Gazette (covering Delaware's Cape region)  "Historical Society to present Jacob Jones program Nov. 8."

Retired Navy officer, will present "Jacob Jones: His Life in Lewes During the Revolution" at the Lewes History Museum.

He was just five years old when five ships of the newly-formed Continental Navy sailed into Lewes in early 1776, but their activity stirred him to make himself a career in the Navy.  And, he became a hero in the War of 1812, receiving a gold medal from Congress for action off the Coast of North Carolina.

Jones spent his early life living at the Ryves Holt House on the corner of second and Mulberry streets in downtown Lewes. It is believed to have been built in 1665 and it is the oldest house in Lewes still on its original foundation.

Battle of Fort Stephenson-- Part 5: Honors and Reburial

Once the British and General Proctor were defeated at Fort Stephenson, he withdrew back to Fort Detroit, with the Americans under Gen. Harrison following closely.  Shortly after Fort Stephenson, Commodore Perry would defeat the British fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie near Put-In-Bay.

The Americans now had complete control of Lake Erie and British prospects of supplies and reinforcements essentially ceased.

For his exploit, despite disobeying orders, George Croghan was brevetted to lieutenant colonel by the President of the United States.  In 1835, the U.S. Congress awarded him the Gold Medal.  later, he was made Inspector general with the rank of colonel.

During the Mexican War, he served with General Taylor.  Two years later, he died in New Orleans.  In 1906, he remains were disinterred from his family plot in Kentucky and  moved to Fremont, Ohio (site of Fort Stephenson) and placed in a special crypt at the base of the Soldiers' Monument honoring Fremont's veterans and specifically the Battle of Fort Stephenson, 1813.

--Brock-Perry

James Miller-- Part 2: The Hero of Lundy's Lane"

James Miller joined the 4th U.S. Infantry in 1808.  In 1811, he fought the Indians at Vincennes, Indiana where he was promoted to colonel.

In May 1812, he was posted to Detroit and commanded the American forces at the Battle of Maguaga.  He was taken prisoner at the surrender of Detroit and later exchanged.

In 1814, he was the commander of the 21st I.S. Infantry and led his men in the capture of British artillery at the Battle of Lundy's Lane where his "I will try sir" comment became famous.  He came away from the battle with the name "Hero of Lundy's Lane."  For his service there, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and brevetted to brigadier-general.

--Brock-Perry

Watch Hill Light, Rhode Island-- Part 2: Other Wrecks

In 1827 a rotary light was installed.  The lighthouse operated until 1855 when it closed due to severe erosion.  It was moved further inland away from the edge of the bluff and a new 45-foot lighthouse was built.

The steamer Metis crashed aground off Watch Hill in 1872, killing 130 people.  Lighthouse keeper Captain Jared Starr Crandall received a Congressional Gold Medal for his actions in rescuing survivors.  After his death, his wife, Sally Ann (Gavitt) Crandall, became the first  female lighthouse keep in the country.

A U.S. Life-Saving Service station was built next to the lighthouse and operated until the 1940s.  It was destroyed in 1963.

In 1907, the steamer Larchmont collided with a schooner 4 miles from the lighthouse, killing 200.  The hurricane of 1938 caused severe damage to the structure.  The light was automated in 1986 and leased to the Watch Hill Light Keepers Association.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Stephenson-- Part 1: Built By Mills Stephenson

From Touring Ohio Sites.

Colonel Mills Stephenson sited and built the fort in June 1812 on the western side of the Sanduskey River.  Following the trend of the day, he named the fort after himself.  It was built by Ohio militiamen.

After his great victory at the fort, George Croghan was brevetted to the rank of lieutenant colonel by the president.

In 1835, Congress awarded Croghan the Congressional Gold Medal.

--Brock-Perry

George Croghan, "Boy Major" of the War of 1812-- Part 1: Famous Relatives

From Wikipedia.

In the last post, I mentioned that one of the streets around the town square of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was named for George Croghan who was a War of 1812 veteran.  I did some more research on him.

November 15, 1791 to January 8, 1849.  American soldier.

Recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal.  He had two famous uncles on his mother's side, Lucy Clark.  One was William Clark (of Lewis & Clark Expedition fame) and the other was George Rogers Clark (Revolutionary War).

His father was William Croghan who fought in the American Revolution.

George Croghan studied at William and Mary College in Virginia and joined the Army after graduation in 1810.

--Brock-Perry

Eleazor Wheelock Ripley-- Part 3: War of 1812

Eleazor Ripley was wounded at York and also participated in the battles of Sacketts Harbor and Crysler's Farm.

In April 1814, he was promoted to brigadier general and commanded the Second Brigade of Major general Jacob Brown's Left Division in the Niagara Campaign.  At the Battle of Lundy's Lane, his brigade captured and held British cannons until the Americans could withdraw.  However, Brown accused Ripley for losing those guns.  Ripley demanded and got a court martial to clear his name.

He briefly commanded Brown's division during the Siege of Fort Erie after Brown had been wounded at Lundty's Lane, but he was replaced by Brigadier general Edmund Pendleton Gaines.

Ripley was conspicuous in the repulse of the British assault on Fort Erie on August 16 and the American sortie from the fort on September 17, 1814, where he was wounded again.  he was awarded the Congressional Gold medal for his action at Fort Erie.  This was the precursor of the Medal of Honor.

Ripley later moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1815 and left the Army in 1820.

--Brock-Perry

Thomas Macdonough After the Battle of Lake Champlain-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Thomas Macdonough was born in 1783.  His victory at the Battle of Lake Champlain on September 11, 1814, not only stopped the British incursion on that lake, but, with their retiring to Canada, also eliminated any land claims in New York state that they might have presented at the Treaty of Ghent peace negotiations.

For his success, he was promoted to captain and awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

The State of New York also gave him a thousand acres of land in Cayuga County and Vermont gave him another 100 acres, making him a wealthy man.

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Cassin, USN

From Wikipedia.

Stephen Cassin (1783-1857)

Earlier, I wrote about his father, John Cassin, and was wondering if the destroyed so massively damaged at Pearl Harbor had been named after him.  It wasn't, but it was named for Stephen Cassin.  Stephen Cassin also fought during the War of 1812.

Became a U.S. Navy midshipman in 1800.  Served on the USS Philadelphia in the West Indies and later participated in the Quasi-War with France.

Commanded the USS Ticonderoga at the Battle of Lake Champlain and was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for bravery at it.  Gold medals were also given to Captain Macdonough and Captain Robert Henley.

Served on the USS Peacock and the West Indies Squadron battling pirates.  Between September 28-30, 1822, he captured five pirate vessels.

Buried in Washington, D.C. and later moved to Arlington National Cemetery and buried at Section W. Div. Site Lot 299.  His wife, Margaret Cassin died June 14, 1830 and is buried beside him in lot 298.

Two U.S. Navy destroyers have been named for him and Fort Cassin in Vermont as well.

--Brock-Perry

Peter Buell Porter

From Wikipedia.

PETER BUELL PORTER

(August 14, 1773-March 20, 1844) American lawyer, soldier, politician and U.S. Secretary of War. Graduated Yale College in 1791. Moved to Black Rock, New York, in 1809 and elected to Congress where he was a leading War Hawk. From 1810-1816 was a member of the Erie Canal Commission.

In the War of 1812, he was quartermaster general of New York State Militia. In 1812, he participated in and became a major critic of Alexander Smyth's botched invasion of Upper Canada. This led to the famous duel between the two. Neither hit their opponent.

Porter later raised and commanded a brigade of New York militia and he was presented with a Congressional Gold Medal for his conduct at the Battle of Chippewa, Battle of Niagara and the Battle of Erie.

His son, Colonel Petere A. Porter gained recognition, but died at the Battle of Cold Harbor during the Civil War.

--Brock-Perry