William Jones, New Secretary of the Navy

From "Inside the U.S. Navy of 1812-1815"  

When William Jones became Secretary of the Navy, he discovered he had inherited from his predecessor, Paul Hamilton, several burdens.  One was the Navy Department's posture in regard to  the concerns of citizens for the safety of their ports and shipping with the increasing British threat as forces were transferred from Europe to North America after the fall of Napoleon.

One of his earliest was an order for the reduction in the number of gunboats in service.  He believed  This would save funds on maintenance and put available seamen to better use.  Only 50 of the approximately 150 gunboats were sufficiently serviceable to remain active; the rest would be laid up and available in case of emergency.

Of those gunboats in service, Jones assigned 15 to New York, 5 to the Delaware River, 6 to the Georgia coast and 10 to New Orleans.  Fourteen remained  active on the Chesapeake Bay (mostly  assigned to Norfolk).

But these measures did not go over very well in several cities whose citizens were not happy with the move.  This was especially in the case of New York City and its new flotilla commander Jacob Lewis.

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis & the N.Y. Flotilla: Problems with Manpower

From "Six Frigates:  The Epic Founding  of the U.S. Navy" by Ian W. Toll.

Even after New York City was in dire threat from the British, it proved to be entirely impossible to mobilize all the city's gunboats because Master Commandant Jacob Lewis could not recruit enough seamen to man them.

"Although invited not one appeared," he told Secretary Jones.  This failure "served to prove incontrovertibly that volunteers cannot be depended on."

And, it wasn't just a New York City thing.  Secretary Jones received similar reports from the flotillas at Baltimore, Norfolk and Delaware Bay.  Jones  informed Congress a few weeks later that the gunboats could not be manned because  of "the preference which Seamen naturally give to Vessels better adapted to their habits and Comfort."

Also, more likely to capture prizes which meant prize money all around.

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis & the N.Y. Flotilla-- Part 4: Torpedo Attack on HMS Ramilles

Commodore Lewis assisted a civilian  in an attempt to win that bounty as put forward by the Torpedo Act.  The civilian crew brought a small schooner loaded with foodstuffs   within range of Admiral  Hardy's flagship Ramillies.  They connected one of the barrels to a charge of gunpowder.

Lewis anticipated that the British would capture the ship and bring it alongside the Ramillies to be unloaded.  removing the barrel would trigger an explosion.

As predicted, the warship sent boats to capture the schooner.  However, winds prevented the British sailors from bring it alongside.  Instead, they unloaded  the cargo into a ship's boat.    The resulting explosion killed an officer and ten seamen.

Afterwards, British captains exercised greater caution in dealing with captured vessels.

Sneaky Americans.  --Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis & the N.Y. Flotilla-- Part 3: Lewis & Fulton on Torpedoes and Underwater Cannons

Congress  prompted experimentation to develop new weapons and methods of naval combat, passing what was called the Torpedo Act in March.  This granted one half the value of an enemy warship to an individual destroying it.

Robert Fulton and Commodore Jacob Lewis cooperated in developing torpedoes and underwater gunnery.  In the early 19th century, a torpedo was an explosive charge detonated against the side of a target.  Typically, a small vessel rammed the enemy ship below the waterline with a torpedo mounted on a forward spar.

Also, a submarine could attach the torpedo under the target underwater.

Fulton and Lewis demonstrated the potential of an underwater cannon.  They placed a hundred pounder columbiad  with a ten pound powder charge below the surface of the water.  The firing mechanism was dry inside the attacking boat while the muzzle extended into the water.  Upon firing, the cannon could drive a massive ball through three feet of solid oak at a range of six feet.

The British decision not to attack New York City precluded the use of this under actual combat conditions.

--Brock-Perry

Privateer Bunker Hill-- Part 2: HMS Belvidera

From the "The War of 1812:  A Complete Chronology with  Biographies

AUGUST 21, 1812

"The HMS Belvidera intercepts and seizes the privateer  Bunker Hill (Jacob Lewis, master), a 175-ton schooner that operates out of New York.  At the time of its capture, the Bunker Hill is carrying cargo that includes ammunition and guns, along with provisions."

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From "Publications of the Rhode Island Historical Society"

"Also arrived at New York, a British  brig from Quebec for Bermuda, a prize  to the Bunker Hill privateer of this port."

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis & the NY Flotilla-- Part 2: Who Pays for More Gunboats and Their Crews?

In February, before the British announced their blockade of New York, Secretary of the Navy William Jones had  reduced the number of gunboats in the New York Flotilla to fifteen as a cost-cutting measure.  He stipulated that Lewis could  bring the excess gunboats back into service in an emergency and have them crewed by volunteers.

When the Royal Navy squadron appeared off Sandy Hook, Lewis returned the laid off gunboats to service and requested the Navy Department to pay for the crews.  This request brought a strong rebuke from  Jones, who reminded him that he was to find volunteer crews to man the gunboats and that Lewis could be held personally responsible for any costs his actions incurred. He then ordered Lewis to take the extra gunboats out of service unless the British were to attack.

(Don't you know that Lewis hit the ceiling when told this which was most likely the reason he tried to get Secretary of State James Monroe in on his side.)

Nicholas Fish, the Federalist chairman of New York City's Committee of Defense, asked Jones to authorize the addition gunboats for which the city would pay for the crews.  Jones agreed to this compromise and told Lewis to bring up to  fifteen additional gunboats into service.

This situation was a successful example of sharing defense responsibilities between the federal and state governments.

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis & the New York Flotilla-- Part 1: Watching the British

From "New York's War of 1812: Politics, Society and Combat" by Richard V. Barbuto.

A small flotilla of gunboats defended the waters around New York City and was under the command of  Jacob Lewis, former commander of the privateer Bunker Hill, as a master commandant, but he was given the honorific title of commodore.

He kept his gunboats actively engaged with most of his gunboats near Sandy Hook.  There they could observe the enemy fleet and, at the same time, be protected by  sandbars and shoals from deeper draft and stronger British ships.

On occasion, long-range shots were traded between the two sides, but with little damage to either.

He also kept gunboats by Long Island Sound to challenge British ships approaching from there.

So, Obviously There Was a New York Flotilla That Richard Hill Belonged To During the War.  --Brock-Perry

Privateer Bunker Hill, Jacob Lewis and the HMS Belvidera

From "New York City and Vicinity During the War of 1812-15" by Rocellus Sheridan Guernsey.

"On the 22nd of July (1812), a pilot-boat built schooner sailed out of New York as a privateer called the Bunker Hill, in command of Jacob Lewis, who afterwards became known as Commodore Lewis, commander of the gunboats in New York harbor."

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From "A History of American Privateers" by Edgar Stanton Maclay.

"In the earlier part of the war Captain Hewes commanded  the privateer Bunker Hill, a schooner of six guns, which made six prizes.  She was captured while off  our coast, August 21, 1812, by the British frigate Belvidera.  As this occurred shortly after the narrow escape  of this frigate from the Captain Rodgers' squadron, the commander of the Bevidera, Captain Richard  Byron,  undoubtedly congratulated himself on his lucky capture.

"A second Bunker Hill was launched toward the close of the war."

--Brock-Perry

American Privateer Bunker Hill, Commanded by Jacob Lewis

On March 11, I wrote that Jacob Lewis had commanded the privateer Bunker Hill.

From the Three Decks. org.  American  Privateer schooner 'Bunker Hill' (1812).

Guns:  7

Commissioned:  12 July 1812

Home Port:  New York

Ship Type:  Schooner

Captured: 21 August 1812 by the HMS Belvidera  (36 guns)

Crew Complement:  60

Ship Commander:   12 July 1812-21 August 1812.  J. Lewis

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis Through the Ranks

From the Naval History and Heritage Command  Navy Officers: 1798-1900  L."

LEWIS, JACOB M.

FLOTILLA SERVICE

Master Commandant:  27 November 1812

Captain:    26 April 1814

Last appearance on Records of Navy Department, 7 January 1815.

Discharged

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis on the New York Flotilla-- Part 3: The Manpower Problem Solved

**  The New York Flotilla could have been in complete readiness right now had so many men not been enticed to service on warships or in the Lakes (Erie and Champlain where a major shipbuilding race was going on).

**  He has lost hundreds of men to warships and the lakes.

**  "I am  perfectly aware of the importance of Gun Bs so much so, that I would, suggest a plan to take from the two frigates which are and  will remain Blockaded in the Chesapeake their Crews & send them to the Lakes they will make all Canada tremble."

He suggests taking the men needed to man the new warships on Lake Champlain and Lake Erie from the crews of the two frigates blockaded in the Chesapeake Bay and not going anywhere instead of the men he needs to man his flotilla ships.

**  "I am perfectly satisfied to Command  what has always been   despised by the Navy, and this make it useful."

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis Writes Sec. of War Monroe About the N.Y. Flotilla-- Part 2

"Gunboats hitherto have been held in the utmost contempt, owing to a false prejudice the inhabitants of  this vast City now begin to believe, that the City cannot be defended without the Auxillary force of this floating defence."

He has gotten many requests from the First masters of New York ships to joining his flotilla and that he could have a hundred of them if he chose.

Plus, he feels their is a "prejudice of the Navy against G Boats" because the Navy Department means that appropriations to the gunboats mean there is less for regular warships like frigates.

"Gun Boats take the place of Frigates in the defence of harbours therefore frigates instead of being employ'd for that purpose go on the bosom of the Ocean and Cruize for Glory & pelf."

In case you're wondering, pelf means money.  In the case of frigates that would be prize money from captures of British ships and shipping. (I had to look it up myself.)

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis Writes to Secretary of State Monroe About His New York Flotilla

February 27, 1813

** "I am very desirous of possessing the confidence of the present  Secretary of the Navy as I did the late Mr. Secy. Hamilton.'  (Paul Hamilton)  The Secretary of the Navy after Hamilton was William Jones.  (Evidently Lewis did not get along with Jones very well.  At first I thought Mr. Secy. Hamilton was Alexander Hamilton.)

**  Raising and organizing crews of NY Flotilla.    Intends to make them able to fight on land as well as sea.    Wants to be able to put as many as 1000 on the shore and also be be able to "place the  flotilla in of perfect safety where the Enemy could not possibly  get at them."

**  Will train crews on landing, embarking marching, forming and "displaying  Colloms."  (columns)

**  "They shall be  amphibious Soldiers."

**  But needs  the support of the Secretary of the Navy.  (Evidently not getting it.)

**  The gunboats are  "held in the utmost contempt" by the City of New York.

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis & the New York Flotilla-- Part 2: Problems Facing Lewis

Lewis feared that his flotilla would be greatly weakened through drafts of his crews for other duties  These fears were realized when he was asked to recruit for the Lake Champlain service.  Secretary of Navy William Jones also didn't spare New York from the gunboat reduction order.

On 26 February, he was ordered to further reduce his force to fifteen  gun vessels.

Public reaction to this reduction was not very favorable.

In February 6, 1863, he wrote to Secretary Jones saying that he still needed 350 men but that the Rendezvous (place to get recruits) in New York City was closed for lack of money to pay the recruits.  "I am very much apprehensive that the Flotilla which I have the honor to Command will fall very short of that state of preparation which may be expected...."

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis & the New York Flotilla-- Part 1

From the "Naval War of 1812:  A Documentary History" by William S. Dudley.

Jacob Lewis & the New York Flotilla.

Jacob Lewis was the commander of the privateer Bunker Hill early in the war and was appointed master commandant in the U.S. Navy in 1812.  Given command of all the  gunboats and fire ships stationed at New York, Lewis accepted this new challenge and set out to immediately assess the status of his flotilla.

One of his new ships was probably Gunboat No. 47, Richard Hill's ship.

He found his new command to be undermanned and "in a pitiable State owing to the prejudice against it."  Lewis knew that he had local support because the committee for harbor defense, fearful of a swarm of British ships in the spring, exhorted the state legislature for money for defense.

Unsure of Navy Secretary Jones' support, he enlisted the support of Secretary of State James Monroe in convincing the Navy Department that gunboats used in  coastal defense freed frigates for sea duty.

Brock-Perry

So, Was There a New York Flotilla?

The gravestone of Richard Hill in Eastern Cemetery in Portland, Maine says he served during the War of 1812 on Gunboat 47 of the New York Flotilla.  In the last post I said that I have had no luck finding mention of Gunboat 47 anywhere.

A flotilla refers to a fleet or group of boats.

I also went looking for mention of a New York Flotilla.  I found plenty about a Chesapeake Flotilla.  I have written about it before.  But, at first I was having no luck with a New York Flotilla.

But, eventually I found a source that listed several American flotillas:  Baltimore, Chesapeake, Delaware, Gosport (Virginia), New York and Potomac.

I even came across the name of Jacob Lewis who is listed as the commander of the New York Flotilla.

So, there was evidently such a thing as a New York Flotilla.

But, I'd sure like to find information on Gunboat 47.

--Brock-Perry