Naval Officers Dueling: An "Honorable" Way to Die? The End of Hassard Stackpoole

From New London County Historical Society "Dueling Frigates."

The last ten posts were about ship-to-ship duels.  This one is about man-to-man duels and how two naval officers, one British and one American, lost their lives in duels.

Two of the officers mentioned in the earlier posts this month, not only lived by the dueling code of honor, but also died by it.

Captain Hassard Stackpoole of the Royal Navy's HMS Statira held a four year grudge against Lieutenant Thomas Cecil of the HMS Argo, who had said that Stackpoole "drew a long bow" (lied or exaggerated).  Three months after the frigate, sloop-of-war challenge at New London,  Stackpoole and Cecil met on a beach in Port Royal, Jamaica, in April 1814, and the crack shot Stackpoole was felled by Cecil.

--Brock-Perry

Dueling Frigates-- Part 8: There Will Be No Frigate Duel

Then it was Sttephen Decatur's turn to balk:  "But sir, if the [HMS] Statira is to avail herself alone of this concession [ of adding crew], it must be obvious to you and everyone,that should I be yielding to you an advantage I could not excuse to my government; and in making the crew of the Macedonian in any degree equal to such a conflict I should be compelled to break up the crews of this ship and the Hornet, and thus render a compliance with my orders to proceed to sea utterly impracticable."

Like Hardy, he saved face for his subordinate:  "You will have the goodness, sir, to inform Capt. Stakpoole that his letter was shewn to Capt. Jones according to his request, that Capt. Jones is  is extremely desirous of  that a meeting should take place between the Statira and Macedonian, but it is controlled by me for the reasons I have stated."

Of interest, both Decatur and Stackpoole were later killed in duels.

--Brock-Perry

Dueling Frigates-- Part 5: Setting Up a Frigate Duel

However, after the American single ship-to-ship victories in 1812 greatly embarrassed the Royal Navy, the British Admiralty ordered its captains not to engage the enemy ship-to-ship.  To comply with this order, Sir Thomas Hardy stated that he would not permit such action if the challenge were issued by a British commander.

On January 17, 1813, Decatur dispatched Captain James Biddle of the Hornet to issue an invitation to Hardy reading:  "If  Mr. Moran's statement be correct, it is evident that Captains Hope and Stackpoole have the laudable desire of engaging with their ships, the United States and the Macedonian.  --We, Sir, are ready and equally desirous  for such a meeting forthwith."

Hard turned the matter over to his captains, and Captain Hassard Stackpoole of the HMS Statira immediately replied:  "It will afford her Captain, officers and crew the greatest pleasure to meet Capt. Jones in the Macedonian to morrow, next day, or whenever such a meeting may better suit his purpose, let him only be pleased to appoint the day and place; say six or ten leagues [18 to 30 nautical miles] south on Montaug Point, or further if he pleases."

--Brock-Perry

Captain Hassard Stackpoole

Fron the Three Decks Site.

HASSARD STACKPOOLE

British nationality.  First and last known service in Royal Navy:

February 8, 1795 to April 28, 1814.  Killed in a duel.

RANKS

Lieutenant Feb. 8, 1795

Commander March 12, 1800

Captain  April 29, 1802

COMMANDS

March 1800 to July 21, 1801  HMS Iphigenia (16 guns) Commander and commanding officer.

1802 to April 29, 1802:  HMS Alonzo  (18 guns)  Commander and commanding officer.

April 1809 to August 1809:  HMS Phoebe  (36 guns) Captain and commanding officer

1811 to April 28, 1814:  HMS Statira  (38 guns)  Captain and commander.

--Brock-Perry

Captain Hassard Stackpoole, Royal Navy

From the New London (Ct.) County Historical Society  "British Royal Navy Figures."

HASSARD STACKPOLLE (1769-1814)

Born in Limerick, Ireland, and joined the HMS Termagent in 1783.  He was promoted to lieutenant in 1795 and was in command of the HMS Iphagenia when she burned  at Egypt in 1801.

He was promoted to captain in 1802.  While serving on the HMS Tonnant in 1810, Lieutenant Thomas W. Cecil remarked that Stackpoole  "drew a long bow" (lied).

Stackpoole was in command of the HMS Statira by 1811 and served off New London 1813-1814, and was involved in setting up and arrangement for a "duel" between the former sister ships USS Macedonian  (former HMS Macedonian) and Statira in January 1814.

That didn't come to pass.

Stackpoole later encountered Lt. Cecil (from the HMS Tonnant) in Jamaica and challenged him to a duel.  The usually sure-shot Stackpoole  was killed by Cecil (who had no dueling experience) in one of the most notorious examples of dueling in the British Navy.

--Brock-Don't-Shoot Perry

Hassard Stackpoole? Captures American Brig Federal 1814 or 1812

I found a source that related the following information:

September 17, 1814,  HMS Acasta , 40 gun fifth rate frigate, Captain Alexander Robert Kerr and HMS Statira, 38-gun Lively Class fifth rate frigate commanded by Captain Hassard Stackpoole, captured American brig Federal commanded by Samuel Swan , Jr..

The Federal was 115 tons and sailing  from Africa to Boston with a cargo of ivory, cam wood, coffee.

Another site lists the date as being September 17, 1812, which is probably correct as Hassard Stackpoole was dead by September 17, 1814, killed in that duel 28 April 1814 that I mentioned in my last post.

--Brock-Perry

Captain Hassard Stackpole Later Killed in a Duel

I mentioned that Captain Hassard Stackpole commanded the HMS Statira at the action of Alewife Cove in the last post.

I looked him up and found that he was later killed in a duel with another British officer.

The duel took place on 28 April 1814, between Stackpole, commander of the Statira and Lt. Thomas Walbeoff Cecil of the HMS Argo.  This  duel grew out of something that had happened on the HMS Tonnant, when Cecil had served with Stackpole.

Stackpole was still the commander of the HMS Statira at the time.

--Brock-Perry

Cannonballs Flew Near Alewife Cove-- Part 3

The fighting carried on for much of the day and local commanders General Burbeck, Commodore Decatur and Captain Jones came to observe.

It was estimated that between the frigate Statira and the sloop of war HMS Loup Cervier, 20 broadsides were fired on the American defenders on the beach who were fully exposed to the fire, but they miraculously suffered no casualties.

The Gazette mocked that "the plowing Stackpole [Captain Hassard Stackpole of the HMS Statira] gave to Roger's land is a fair offset to the holes he has made in his barn, crib and back-house."  Evidently, the Americans had had some rather nasty run-ins with Stackpole.

--Brock-Perry

Cannonballs Flew Near Alewife Cove, Ct.-- Part 2: The Fight

The Gazette reported that:  "A few inhabitants immediately assembled and from an adjacent wall so annoyed the marauders that they abandoned the vessel as soon as they could put fire to her."

According to the journal of Sylvanus  Griswold, ten men left the church service in New London and ran to Fort Trumbull, and "took two smart field pieces & hastened to the scene of Action & drove the three barges off."

A half hour of firing from both sides ensued as American reinforcements arrived.  Some of the locals boarded the vessel to try to retrieve what they could, but were driven off when the frigate Statira approached and fired two or three broadsides at the burning vessel.

--Brock-Perry

HMS Canso-- Part 1: Formerly An American Privateer

From the Feb. 2014 entry on HMS Statira.

From Wikipedia.

The HMS Canso was originally the American Letter of Marque schooner Lottery, launched in 1811. and captured by the British in 1813.  The Royal Navy took her into service for the duration of the War of 1812 and it served for awhile afterwards.

93 feet long, 23.8 foot beam, armament 16 guns. (though armed with just six 12-pounder carronades when captured)

Sailed under a letter of marque  dated 24 July 1812 with a crew of 30 under the command of  John Southcomb.     She captured one prize that proved to be of so little worth that it was released.  She captured a brig on her way back to Baltimore where she remained until February 1813.

On 8 February 1813, the Lottery was captured by nine boats and 200 men in Lynnhaven Bay (on the Chesapeake Bay).  It was quite a bloody fight.

--Brock-Perry

HMS Statira-- Part 3

JUNE 26TH, 1813: The Statira and Martin (The Two) capture the American ship Carl Gustoff

JULY 1-2ND: The Two capture and destroy three sloops

JULY 22ND: The Two arrive at Halifax from the Chesapeake Bay

AUGUST 13TH The Statira captures the schooner Petty

AUGUST 24TH: Statira captures schooner Espoz y Mine

SEPTEMBER 1, 1813: The Statira and Nymphe arrive at Halifax after cruise.

OCTOBER 29TH: Departs Halifax

JULY 13TH 1814: Arrives Portsmouth, England, from Jamaica

OCTOBER 16TH: Left Portsmouth

OCTOBER 25TH: Ordered to join convoy to North America

NOVEMBER 1ST 1814: Sails for America.


FEBRUARY 26, 1815: Sank off Cuba.

A Busy Ship-- Brock-Perry

HMS Statira-- Part 3

The Three refer to the HMS Statira, HMS Martin and HMS Spartan.

JUNE 6:  The Three capture the American brig Hetty.

JUNE7:   The Three recapture the American brig Hero and capture the American schooner Bella.

JUNE 10: The Three capture Spanish schooner El Carmin.

JUNE 14: The Three capture the ship Gustoff.

JUNE 15: The Three capture the American schooner Farmer.

JUNE 17: The Three capture an American schooner.

Not surprisingly with all these prizes, on JUNE 20th the Spartan left for Halifax, leaving the Statira and Martin to operate off the Delaware coast.

A Successful Cruise. --Brock-Perry

HMS Statira-- Part 2

From 1 June 1813 to 20 June 1813, the Statira was with the HMS Spartan, a sister ship, and HMS Martin in a very successful operation. I will refer to them as "The Three" to save some typing.

1 JUNE: The Three capture the American brigs Valador and Fanny.

CIRCA 2 JUNE: The Three capture sloops Express, Dispatch, Betsy, Caroline, Priscilla, Morning Star, Sally, Sarah, Ploughboy, George and brig Commerce and the Potuguese brig Flora. (Not a nad day's work and lots of prize money, no doubt).

3 JUNE: The Three capture the brig Fanny. (Possibly a mistake as they captured a brig named Fanny two days earlier.)

4 JUNE: The Three capture the Portuguese brig Carlotta.

5 JUNE: The Three capture the Portugueses brig Flor de Lisbon. (I'm figuring perhaps Portugal was at war with Britain over in Europe or perhaps the Potuguese ships were ignoring the blockade.

Nice Haul on the Second. --Brock-Perry

HMS Statira-- Part 1

From the Naval Database site. Continued from Lively-Class Part 3 from Feb.5th.

In mid 1810, it was the flagship of Sir Alexander Cochrane, who would later gain fame for his operations off the U.S. coast during the War of1812.

In mid-1812, it was chased by a U.S. squadron under rhe command of Commodore Rodgers. 11 August 1812, it captured the American privateer Buckskin. On February 8, 1863, boats from the Statira and others in Lynhaven Bay chased and captured the American privateer schooner Lottery which later served the British Navy as the HMS Canso.

In March 1813, armed U.S. schooners Arab, Lynx, Racer and Dolphin escaped into Virginia's Rappahannock River and boats from the Statira captured them. The Racer and Lynx later became the HMS Shelburne and Musquedobit.

More to Come. --Brock-Perry

British Lively-Clas Frigates-- Part 3: HMS Statira

This one was accidentally listed as the HMS Satira in the Wikipedia article.

The HMS Satira was launched in 1807 and accidentally wrecked off Cuba in 1815. The Wreck Site says that in 1815, the Statira was commanded by Captain Swaine and sailing with a convoy from Bermuda to Ile Dauphin to join Sir Alexander Cochrane in February 1815.

It struck an uncharted rock off Cuba on February 26th and sank within 30 minutes, but all aboard were saved.

--Brock-Perry