On Gunboat No. 139, a master's mate from the USS Constellation was killed by a cannonball. Several of the other boats reported wounded as well as damaged oars and rigging.
Norfolk residents were awakened by this dawn battle and went to the waterfront to watch the action.
Having regular Navy men on the gunboats made a big difference in their handling and firing. (Evidently, the gunboats were usuallu manned by militia.)
Captain Joseph Tarbell broke off the action at 6 a.m..
On the British side, one Royal Marine was killed and several sailors wounded. American newspapers reported 70 casualties. The HMS Junon had several hull hits and its sails and rigging cut up. Its commander, James Sanders ordered a pursuit, but the American gunboats got over the shoals and the British ship stopped.
--Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
Showing posts with label HMS Junon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HMS Junon. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Battle Off Newport News Point-- Part 3
Meanwhile the HMS Junon had become separated from the other British ships by a mile. On the 19th, Cassin sent his gunboats out again, this time under the command of Captain Joseph Tarbell.
The gunboats split into two divisions and struggled against squalls, adding hours to the operation. By the next morning, Tarbell was 3/4 mile from the Junon and opened fire, hitting the British ship four times in its hull. The British ship was caught completely by surprise.
It slipped its cable to escape, but became becalmed, but the wind returned, turning the tables and the rest of the British fleet began sailing to aide the Junon. The gunboats were outgunned, but fought on valiantly for more than an hour.
One American said his boat was hit three times and he counted "six or seven hundred shot" from the enemy guns.
--Brock-Perry
The gunboats split into two divisions and struggled against squalls, adding hours to the operation. By the next morning, Tarbell was 3/4 mile from the Junon and opened fire, hitting the British ship four times in its hull. The British ship was caught completely by surprise.
It slipped its cable to escape, but became becalmed, but the wind returned, turning the tables and the rest of the British fleet began sailing to aide the Junon. The gunboats were outgunned, but fought on valiantly for more than an hour.
One American said his boat was hit three times and he counted "six or seven hundred shot" from the enemy guns.
--Brock-Perry
Monday, September 8, 2014
Battle Off Newport News Point-- Part 1
From the June 19, 2013, Hampton Roads (Va.) Daily Press "War of 1812: Gunboats attack off Newport News Point" by Mark St. John Erickson.
Just one British ship of the line with 74 guns in Chesapeake Bay and even that had more firepower than all the American batteries defending the Elizabeth River. At peak strength, the British had nearly a dozen of these ships as well as frigates, sloops and smaller ships. Altogether there were nearly 100 British warships for the Americans to fight.
The small American fleet had 20 gunboats and the 38-gun frigate USS Constellation.
The frigate HMS Junon, 38 guns, ran aground and, seeing a target of opportunity, 15 gunboats left the James River on the night of June 19, 1813, using oars.
The small gunboats were ordered by President Thomas Jefferson and modeled after the small North African gunboats that had captured the frigate USS Philadelphia off Tripoli in 1803.
--Brock-Perry
Just one British ship of the line with 74 guns in Chesapeake Bay and even that had more firepower than all the American batteries defending the Elizabeth River. At peak strength, the British had nearly a dozen of these ships as well as frigates, sloops and smaller ships. Altogether there were nearly 100 British warships for the Americans to fight.
The small American fleet had 20 gunboats and the 38-gun frigate USS Constellation.
The frigate HMS Junon, 38 guns, ran aground and, seeing a target of opportunity, 15 gunboats left the James River on the night of June 19, 1813, using oars.
The small gunboats were ordered by President Thomas Jefferson and modeled after the small North African gunboats that had captured the frigate USS Philadelphia off Tripoli in 1803.
--Brock-Perry
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)