A History of American Privateers-- Part 2: More Captures

The Roger's 4th prize was a brig with rum and sugar from Jamaica bound for England.

The 5th capture took place  in August was the Contract, a schooner with salt which was sent to North Carolina.

The 6th was in December, the ship L'Aimable, from Havana to England under a Spanish flag but with British property aboard.

Its 7th and last prize was the Windsor Castle, a packet from Falmouth to Halifax with two long 9-pounders and eight short guns, 9 passengers and a crew of 32.  It was sent to Norfolk.

At one point, the Roger also engaged the HMS Highflyer.

--Brock-Perry

Frigate USS President-- Part 2" The Little Belt Affair

George Washington picked the name for the ship to reflect a principle of the U.S. Constitution.

In 1811, the President was involved in the Little Belt Affair when the ship mistook the HMS Little Belt for the HMS Guerriere, which had been impressing American seamen.  There was an exchange of gunfire for several minutes, but no serious damage.  Blame for the incident was not placed, but it helped add to tensions between the United States and Britain.

The ship served in the Quasi War with France and First and Second Barbary wars.

During the War of 1812, the USS President made several extended cruises as far away as the English Channel and Norway.  It captured the armed schooner HMS Highflyer and numerous merchant ships.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Timeline: September 1813-- Part 2

SEPTEMBER 23RD-- USS President captures HMS Highflyer off New England. The President was returning from a raiding cruise off England where it captured 11 merchant ships.

SEPTEMBER 27TH-- General William Henry Harrison lands in Canada. Detroit liberated.

SEPTEMBER 28TH-- The Burlington Races, Lake Ontario, Upper Canada (Ontario).

--Brock-Perry

HMS Highflyer-- Part 2

In late May, the Highflyer had an indecisive battle with the American privateer Roger.  The Highflyer's commander, Lt. Theophilus Livery and two others were killed.

In July 11, 1813, the fleet arrived off Ocracoke Island, NC and landed troops, engaged and captured American ships.  The troops captured both Ocracoke and Portsmouth islands.

On September 23, 1813, the frigate USS President recaptured the Highflyer off Nantucket Sound by some chicanery.  The President had captured the British recognition signals and lured the Highflyer alongside and captured it without firing a shot.

However, the Americans did not take the ship into their service.

There were other ships in the Royal Navy by the name of Highflyer.  The HMS Highflyer Association doesn't have much to say about this one other than it was captured by the HMS Poictiers.

An Interesting History of a Ship.  --Brock-Perry

HMS Highflyer-- Part 1: American Privateer, British Warship

Wikipedia.

On an earlier post, I wrote about ships on the British blockade of the Chesapeake Bay and I also wrote about the HMS Poictiers.  One of the ships mentioned as being on the blockade was the HMS Highflyer.  I'd never heard of it.

The Highflyer was built in 1811 in Dorchester County, Maryland.  During the War of 1812, it carried five cannons as an American privateer and captured about ten ships before it was captured January 9, 1813, by the HMS Poictiers (which also captured the USS Wasp and Frolic) and taken into the Royal Navy.

It joined Warren's blockade fleet April 13, 1813 and soon afterwards, pursued four schooners up the Rappahannock Riverin Virginia.  When the river depth got too low for the Highflyer, boats were sent out and captured them.  Three of these were also taken into the Royal Navy.

April 28th, there was an expedition up the Elk River to destroy American ships, stores and a cannon factory at French Town.  This took until May 3rd.  On the way back, they were fired on by batteries at Havre de Grace.  A landing party destroyed the battery and most of the town.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry