Midshipman Richard Dale-- Part 1: Father Was a U.S. Navy Commodore

From Find A Grave

RICHARD SOUTHERLAND SALE

BIRTH:  1795

DEATH:  22 February 1815 (aged 19-20)

BURIAL:  St. Peter's Church Graveyard, Bermuda.

Midshipman Richard Dale who was the last victim of the War of 1812.

Midshipman Richard Southerland Dale was the oldest son of Commodore Richard Dale from  Philadelphia, who was 20 years old when he lost his leg after his ship, the President engaged a British warship in the 1815 war between Britain and the United States.

His father fought in the American Revolution and was second in command of the USS Bon Homme Richard in its famous fight against the HMS Serapis.  That ship's commander, of course, was none other than John Paul Jones.

--Brock-Perry

Midshipman Richard Dale: The Last American Death in the War of 1812

From Bermuda Historic stories:  A last casualty of the War of 1812 by Dr. Edward Cecil Harris.

On Christmas Eve 1814, the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent that ended the War of 1812, but that news took several months to reach the North America.   At sea on Jan. 15, 1815, off New York City the British vessel HMS Endymion captured the USS President.

One of the Americans, however, Midshipman Richard Dale Jr., was severely wounded and had his leg amputated.  He died at Bermuda a month later and was buried at St. Peter's Church in St. George's.

In 1932, a young Bermudian, Scarritt Adams, serving in the U.S. Navy,  came upon Richard Dale's inscribed gravestone and decided that his passing should be commemorated by the United States and Bermuda.

Thus began the "Midshipman Dale Ceremony."

--Brock-Perry

Dueling Frigates-- Part 6: Duel Turned Down

It was Decatur's thought that which ever American frigate fought the British one and won, she would be able to escape out to sea as the rest of the British fleet would be held back from chasing in the name of good sportsmanship.

Although the HMS Endymion was the largest and most heavily armed of the British frigates, Thomas Hardy decided not to put her in play as he was afraid it couldn't match the USS United States' fire power and he informed Decatur:  "I must consider it my duty (tho very contrary to the wishes of Captain Hope) to decline the invitation on his part."

But, speaking with naval etiquette, he continued:  "The Captains of His Britannic Majesty's ships under my orders, as well as myself, cannot too highly appreciate the gallant spirit that has led to the communication from you, sir,  and are equally convinced that no personal feelings toward each other can ever influence a laudible ambition to add to the Naval renown of our respective countries."

Of interest, the HMS Endymion engaged the even heavier armed USS President in 1815 and was victorious.

--Brock-Perry

Dueling Frigates-- Part 4: Get Out With a Duel?

The day of the battle between the Chesapeake and Shannon off Boston, Captain Stephen Decatur of the 56-gun frigate USS United States, 38-gun frigate USS Macedonian (previously the HMS Macedonian) and 20-gun USS Hornet, into the Thames River, by New London, Connecticut.

They then found themselves blockaded there by British ships for the next six months.

Decatur tried various schemes to break out.  One of the first attempts were the blue light signals which caused him to cancel one attempt.  Then, he hit upon another scheme.

Captain Decatur was at Brown's tavern in New London, Ct., in January 1813, when Captain Nicholas Moran, a coasting ship commander, came to him and said that he had just been the "guest" aboard the HMS Ramillies, and that Captain Henry Hope of the 46-gun HMS Endymion had said he thought Decatur was afraid of an engagement between their two ships.

Moran also claimed that Sir Thomas Hardy had "remarked, that he should be delighted to see a match between the [HMS] Statira and [USS] Macedonian since they were sister ships."

In Other Word, "Duel."  --Brock-PerryDuel

British Rules of Engagement: Frigate vs. Frigate

While researching the USS President's capture, I found some discrepancy in what happened.  Had the President just engaged the Endymion or the whole British fleet?  You'd think one of our "Super Frigates" could take a regular British frigate (unless it was one of their "Super frigates" they started launching later in the war).

Obviously, one American frigate fighting a whole British squadron would not be expected to win.

But, did it fight the whole squadron?

I came across mention of British regulations requiring that equal numbers of ships being involved in battles.  The HMS Endymion was the first to engage the President.  Both ships came out of the fight seriously damaged, but Decatur knew he would then have to engage the rest of the British fleet in succession, a fight he knew he couldn't win which led to the surrender.

I'd never heard of the one vs. one ship engagement rule,. so will keep my eyes open for further mention mention of it.  But, it would seem to me you'd always want to press home an advantage like numbers superiority in battle.

And, the President was one of our capital ships and Decatur a big naval hero.

Oh, Well.  --Brock-Perry

Frigate USS President-- Part 3: Capture and British Service

Back in New York City, the President was placed under the command of Stephan Decatur, who had captured the HMS Macedonian earlier in the war.  The frigate was blockaded in New York Harbor for a year before running the British blockade of that port in January 1815.  It engaged the HMS Endymion and later the rest of the British squadron arrived and the President was forced to surrender.

It was taken into British service as the HMS President (a strange name for a British warship if you ask me)  It served until broken up in 1818.  But its design was used for the new HMS President in 1829.

--Brock-Perry

200 Years Ago: Capture of the USS President, Bombardment of Ft. St. Philip Continues

JANUARY 16, 1815:  The HMS Endymion, one of a squadron of four British frigates, captures the USS President.

JANUARY 9-18, 1815:  The Battle of Ft. St. Philip, Louisiana, continues as British fleet continues bombardment.  Eventually they gave up and left on the 18th.

--Brock-Perry

200 Years Ago: The British Chase the USS President

JANUARY 15, 1815:  The HMS Majestic and HMS Endymion lead a squadron of British frigates against the USS President, commanded by naval hero Stephen Decatur, after the American ship leaves New York City.

--Brock-Perry