Captain William Henry Allen, Rhode Island Naval Hero-- Part 3

Next, William Allen was given command of the brig USS Argus, a two-masted, 95 1/2 foot ship mounting eighteen 24-pounders and two 12-pdr. guns.

Naval historian Ira Dye, in his book, "The Fatal Cruise of the Argus: Two Captains in the War of 1812," wrote that Allen sailed his ship to the British Isles and in the summer of 1813, attacked 20 vessels, burning, sinking and destroying all but two.  This was more victims than any other U.S. ship of its size during the War of 1812.

On August 14, 1813, the Argus fought the much larges HMS Pelican under the command of Captain John Maples.  The Argus was beaten and 97 prisoners captured.  Twelve Americans were killed and Allen was badly wounded, but didn't die until four days later.

He was given a huge military funeral in Plymouth, England, and buried at St. Andrew's Churchyard.

Allen's family wanted the body brought back to Rhode Island like Perry's body was brought back from Trinidad in 1826.

--Bock-Perry

USS Argus

On the timeline I mentioned the USS Argus being captured by the HMS Pelican on August 14, 1813. I had never heard of the ship so further research was necessary.

From Wikipedia.

The Argus was a brig built in Boston and launched in 1803 with 142 crew and mounting 18 guns. Its first commander was none other than Stephen Decatur. It participated in the First Barbary War, the Blockade of Tripoli and Battle of Derna.

During the War of 1812, it broke through the blockade of New York 18 June 1813, with orders to bring William H. Crawford to his post as ambassador to France. After the Argus did that, it began to raid British shipping off the coast of Britain.

It captured 19 ships and caused the sloop HMS Pelican to set off in pursuit.

On August 13, 1813, the Argus took its last two prizes, one of which had wine. Reportedly, the Argus' crew fully imbibed before the vessel was burned. The Pelican was close enough to spot the smoke and closed in for action.

The next day, the two ships traded broadsides for 45 minutes before the Argus surrendered shortly before being boarded.

--Brock-Perry

Timeline for August 1813-- Part 2: British Recapture Fort George

AUGUST 10TH:

USS Prowler and USS Julia captured by British fleet on Lake Ontario. Raid on St. Michaels, Maryland Armistice in Europe ends.

AUGUST 12TH:

Austria declares war on France. (It was much better for the British to be tied up in Europe than able to concentrate complete attention on the U.S..

AUGUST 14TH:

USS Argus captured by HMS Pelican.

AUGUST 24TH:

British recapture Fort George.

--Brock-Perry