The First Battle of Sackets Harbor-- Part 5: An American Victory

Near the end of the battle, the flagship of the British ships, the Royal George,  was hit by a 24-pdr shot in its stern and it went through her, killing eight and doing much damage.

The British fleet withdrew and the American band struck up "Yankee Doodle" and three victory cheers rose up.

On July 24, 1812, General Jacob Brown attributed the American victory to Woolsey, Bellinger and Camp.  He gave special regards to the crew of the 32-pdr.  One of them was Julius Torry, a black man known as Black Julius.

The American Battlefield Trust and its partners have bought 25 acres of the battlefield.  This must be Horse Island.

--Brock-Perry

Kingston's Fort Henry-- Part 2: Involved in the Royal George Fight

From Wikipedia.

At the beginning of the War of 1812, local militia erected a blockhouse and battery at Point Henry, Kingston.  On November 10, 1812, the battery was involved in turning away several American warships attacking the Provincial Marine sloop Royal George as it was taking refuge in Kingston Harbor.

Because of this, it became evident that a stronger fortification was needed and the militia and regular army began a more permanent fortification in 1813.  It was one of several defensive structures built in and around Kingston during the war.

In 1820, Fort Henry consisted of earth and stone ramparts, demi-bastions, redans, ditches, magazines, barracks, signal towers and support batteries.

It was determined that a much strong fortification was needed.

--Brock-Perry

List of Ships Built at Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Buffalo- gunboat, 1792
Catherine--gunboat, 1792
Sophia-- gunboat, 1792

Swift-- gunboat, 1792
HMS Speedy, 1798
HMS Royal George, 1809

HMS St. Lawrence, 1814
HMS Prince Regent, 1814
HMS Princess Charlotte

HMS Duke of Gloucester
HMS Earl of Moira-- brig, 1805
HMS Sir Sidney Smith-- schooner 1806.

More to Come. --Brock-Perry

Kingston's Royal Navy Dockyard-- Part 2: Ships Built There

HMS DUKE OF GLOUCESTER: Built 1807. A six-gun schooner captured by the Americans 27 April 1813.

HMS ROYAL GEORGE: Built 1809. A 21-gun sloop. In March 1812, it was the largest warship on Lake Ontario. On 9 November 1812, it was attacked by a seven-ship American fleet, but managed to escape back to Kingston. It was renamed Niagara in 1814.

HMS GEORGE PREVOST: Built 1813. A 21-gun schooner renamed Wolfe in 1813. Altered to a brig and renamed the Montreal in 1814.

---Brock-Perry

The USS Oneida-- Part 3

From Wikipedia.

The Oneida was a brig mounting sixteen 24-pdrs and with a crew of 100.  On June 5, 1812, before the declaration of war, the Oheida captured the British schooner Lord Nelson while enforcing the Embargo Law.  (This ship became the USS Scourge.)

On July 19th, the British squadron sailed into Sacket's Harbor to recapture it.  The Oneida anchored in position to rake the enemy ships and mounted guns from the other side on shore into a battery.  After a two hour battle, the British ships withdrew.

Then, it became a major antagonist of the HMS Royal George, the two most-powerful ships on Lake Ontario.

On November 8, 1812, it sailed out of Sacket's Harbor under the command of Commodore Isaac Chauncey, to intercept a British ship carrying supplies to Kingston.  It, and the American fleet, chased the Royal George into the Bay of Quinte where they lost sight of the British ship.  The Americans found the Royal George the next day and cannon fire was exchanged, but a gale ended the battle and the Royal George escaped again.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry

The HMS Royal George

This date 200 years ago, the HMS Royal George escaped from an American fleet.  Again, I had never heard of this ship, even though it it was the largest ship on Lake Ontario, mounting twenty guns and  with a crew of 200.  On this date in 1812, it managed to escape from a seven-ship American fleet into Kingston.  In 1814, it was renamed the HMS Niagara and sold in 1827.

Of interest, June 30 and July 1st, 2012 there was a re-enactment of the flight of the Royal George held from Bath, Ontario to Kingston.  Ironically, the role of the Royal George was played by the brig USS Niagara.

The Royal George was one of the ships of the Provincial Marine based in Kingston along with the HMS Wolfe, HMS Duke of Gloucester, HMS Earl of Mora and Governor Simcoe.

Giddy-Up Boat and Go.  --Brock-Perry