Through the Ranks With William Burrows and Kirven Waters

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

WILLIAM BURROWS

Midshipman:   10 November 1799

Lieutenant:  19 March 1807

Killed in Action:   5 September 1813  Action between USS Enterprise and HMS Boxer.

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KIRVEN WATERS

Midshipman:

Lieutenant:

Died of Wounds received in Action 26 September 1815.  He received the wounds the same day that his commander, William Burrows died, 5 September 1813, so lived with his mortal wounds for two years.

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Edward R. McCall's rise through the ranks was given on December 22, 2021.

--Brock-Perry

Who Was Kervin Waters?-- Part 3: Lived Two Years Mortally Wounded

From Up the Woods site "A triple grave Eastern Cemetery, Portland, Maine.

Two years later (after the burials of Blyth and Burrows, a third grave was opened, and a teenaged midshipman who had been one of the Enterprise's ten wounded, was buried next to the ship's commander, Kervin Waters,

He had been to grievously wounded in the battle to continue his naval service.  Never to recover,  he suffered in considerable distress for two years before succumbing to his wounds.

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On September 7, 1813, Lt. EDWARD McCALL reported in his after action report that Midshipman Kervin Waters was mortally wounded.

--Brock-Perry

Some More on the HMS Boxer and USS Enterprise-- Part 2: The Battle and Burials

When the two brigs opened fire, Samuel Blyth exclaimed, "Great God, what shots!" an instant before he was  killed in the first shots of the battle.  Moments later, while helping his crew run out a carronade, a musket ball tore through Burrows' thigh, a fatal wound, but he stayed on deck.

The fierce contest ended in 30 minutes.  Command of the Enterprise devolved to Lieutenant Edward McCall.  (I have been writing about him this last week in my Cooter's History Thing blog about the USS McCall (DD-28) named after him.  I will also be writing about the second USS McCall (DD-400) in my Tattooed on Your Soul:  World War II blog this week.)

While, on board the HMS Boxer, Lieutenant  David McGrery had assumed command of that badly cripple ship.  Towards that end, he described his new command as a complete wreck, with three feet of water in the hold.  The flags on the mainmast had been shot away, but the colors that had been nailed to the foremast were still there.

McGery surrendered the Boxer and was towed to Portland by the Enterprise.

Newspapers in the United States rejoiced  in "another brilliant naval victory."  

After two days of planning in Portland, an impressive state funeral was held for the two commanders, who were buried side-by-side in Portland's Eastern Cemetery.  They remain there to this day.

--Brock-Perry

Battle Between USS Enterprise and HMS Boxer-- Part 2: Both Commanders Died

The two ships finally met off Monhegan, where spectators from the local area had flocked to the shoreline to watch.  Within very close range, the two ships opened fire.  Captain Blyth of the HMS Boxer was killed  when an 18-pounder shot cut him in half.

Just minutes later, Burrows was hit by a canister that tore through his leg and lodged in his groin.  He refused to be carried below until the battle was over and the Boxer had surrendered.

For half an hour, the two ships pounded each other until their masts were broken and hanging overboard and their rigging was shot away.

As the Enterprise was maneuvering for  a killing rake,  the surviving lieutenant on the Boxer, unable to strike the colors because they were nailed to the mast, hailed the Enterprise and said he was striking the colors.

Only the HMS Boxer's quarterdeck guns were still manned (under the direction of the purser).  When offered Blyth's sword, Burrows declined it and requested that it be sent to the dead man's family.  He died a short time later and command of the Enterprise was handed over to Lt. Edward McCall who took the two battered ships and their complement of dead and wounded into nearby Portland, Maine.

Quite the Battle.  --Brock-Perry

Battle Between USS Enterprise and HMS Boxer-- Part 1

From the Mariners' Museum and Park site.

A Commemorative Medal Replica.

The obverse features a right-facing head and shoulders bust of the lieutenant.

On the morning of September 5,  1813, as the USS Enterprise approached Pemaquid Point on the coast of Maine, Lt. William Burroughs spotted the Royal Navy's brig HMS Boxer in the bay.  Upon spotting the Enterprise, the Boxer fired her guns to summon her shore parties back on board.

Quickly weighing anchor, the Boxer headed for the Enterprise.  The two brigs were fairly evenly matched, with the Enterprise slightly stronger having  fourteen 18-pounder carronades to the Boxer's ten.  As the two ships maneuvered towards each other, the Boxer's Captain, Samuel Blyth, had the ship's colors nailed to the mast and said that they would "never be struck" while he was still alive.

Lt. Burroughs on the Enterprise meanwhile was busy moving his two  long 9-pound3ers from the bow to the stern, saying "we are going to fight both ends and both sides of the ship as long as the ends and sides hold together."

Brock-Perry

Edward R. McCall, USN-- Part 5: Rising Through the Ranks

Advancement through the ranks:

MIDSHIPMAN:  1 January1808

LIEUTENANT:  11 March 1813

MASTER COMMANDANT:  3 March 1825

CAPTAIN:  3 March 1835

DIED:  31 July 1853

--Brock-Perry

Edward R. McCall, USN-- Part 4: His Service in the Navy

United States Navy.  He was appointed midshipman Jan. 1, 1808, and ordered to the USS Hornet.  On 20 March 1811, he was ordered to the USS Enterprise and 16 October, 1811, commissioned lieutenant.

He was highly distinguished in the capture of the HMS Boxer after his commander  (Burrows) had fallen.

In March 1814, he was ordered to Baltimore as one of the lieutenants on the frigate Java.

In 1829, he commanded the Peacock.

--Brock-Perry

Edward McCall-- Part 3: Find a Grave

From Find a Grave.

CAPT. EDWARD R. McCALL

BIRTH: 5 August 1790, South Carolina

DEATH:  1 August 1855 (aged 62) New Jersey

BURIAL:   Christ Church Episcopal Cemetery Bordentown, New Jersey

His wife Harriet who died in 1836 and and daughter  Anna, who lived just 6 days in 1820 and second wife, Eliza are also buried there.

There are people wanting his grave stone replaced as it is no longer readable because of the ravages of time.  I'm all for it.

--Brock-Perry

Edward McCall, USN-- Part 2: The Congressional Gold Medal

Promoted to captain 3 March 1835, he died at his home in Bordentown, New Jersey, 1  August 1853.

Two ships have been named  USS  McCall after him.

EDWARD McCALL's CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL CITATION

"That the President of the United States be requested  to present to the nearest male relative of lieutenant  William Burrows, and to lieutenant  Edward R. McCall of the brig Enterprise, a gold medal with suitable emblems and devices; and a silver medal with like emblems and devices to each of the commissioned officers of the aforesaid in testimony of the high sense entertained in the conflict with the British sloop Boxer, on the fourth of September, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirteen.

"And the President  is also requested to  communicate to the nearest male relative of lieutenant Burrows the deep regret which Congress feel for the loss  of that valuable officer, who died in the arms of victory, nobly contending for his country's rights and fame."

--Brock-Perry

Edward McCall, USN-- Part 1: USS Enterprise vs. HMS Boxer

From Wikipedia.

I am writing about the USS McCall (DD-400) in my Tattooed on Your Soul: WW II blog.  This was the second U.S. Navy destroyer named after Edward McCall who served and gained honors during the War of 1812.

EDWARD R. McCALL

Captain Edward R. McCall (5 August 1790 - 1 August 1853) was an officer  in the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812.  He was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.

Born in South Carolina, he was appointed midshipman 1 January 1808.  Appointed acting lieutenant on the brig USS Enterprise 16 October 1811, he took command of that ship during action with the HMS Boxer 5 September 1813.  

Early in that action the Enterprise's captain, Lieutenant  William Ward Burrows II was mortally wounded.

In acknowledgement of the victory over the Boxer, McCall received the Thanks of Congress and a Congressional Gold Medal.

--Brock-Perry

USS McCall (DD-400), A World War II Ship (What Does This Have to Do with the War of 1812?)

So, the first thought has to be exactly why is a World War II destroyer here in a War of 1812 blog?

In my Tattooed On Your Soul: World War II blog I am writing about the USS Gridley (DD-380) which was the lead ship of her class of US Navy destroyers and fought in World War II.  This was a relatively small class of destroyers with just four ships. 

One of those other three destroyers was named the USS McCall (DD-400) which served during World War II.  This ship was named after War of 1812 naval officer Edward McCall.

There was also an earlier destroyer named after him, the USS McCall (DD-28), a modified  Paulding-class destroyer that saw service in World War I and was a part of the Coast Guard's Rum Patrol.  I'll be writing about this one in my Cooter's History Thing blog.

--Brock-Perry