Amherstburg Royal Navy Dockyard-- Part 5: Abandoned After the Battle of Lake Erie

Commander Robert Barclay's fleet met Oliver Hazard Perry's American fleet 10 September 1813 at the Battle of Lake Erie and the result was the capture of the entire British fleet.  With American control over Lake Erie and supplies cut off British land forces were forced to retreat to to Burlington Heights for supplies.

The yard was burned and abandoned in September 1813.  In 1814, a new Royal Navy Yard was established at Penetanguishene on Lake Huron.

The site of the Amherstburg Royal Naval Dockyard  was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1928.    The site has a four-sided monument featuring four brass  plaques detailing the site's historic significance and is located in a 10-5 acre park.

--Brock-Perry

The Tigress Found in 1932-- Part 2: Some Mistakes in News Story

"The TIGRESS is split fore and aft about four feet below the deck, probably as a result of ice action. The keel and stern post, deck rail and bulwarks are intact, although the greater part of the deck has fallen in.

"The ship, now battered, was a trim vessel when she was built at Fort Erie and sailed into the 1812-1814 Campaign against the British alongside the SCORPION, flagship of Admiral Perry (OK, two mistakes here).  An American victory at Put-In-Bay and the capture by the SCORPION  of the British warship CHIPPEWA elated the United States forces and they proceeded to attack the naval base at Penetang.

"Here their success was cut short, however, and the TIGRESS and the SCORPION were sent to the bottom.  (Again, this does not gel with what I have found.)

"Now they are to be raised and maintained as historical relics."

I think both ships are still underwater.

--Brock-Perry

The Tigress Found in 1932-- Part 1: Wreck in Good Shape

Continuing with John Lisle's account on Stephen Champlin which is much more information than I could find anywhere else.

Article in the July 10, 1932, New York Herald Tribune  "USS Tigress, Sunk in 1812 found intact in refloating test."

"Midland, Ontario:  From the mud-smothered bed where she has lain for 119 years, the TIGRESS,  American war vessel sunk in Penetang Bay can be raised without great difficulty, Captain Robert Carson reports.

"Captain Carson, in his survey of the point where the TIGRESS and her sister ship, the SCORPION,  are lodged at the bottom of the bay, recovered several  relics, including pokes two feet long, scuppers and iron bars.  Barnacles  as big as hen's eggs encrusted the iron, which had been softened by the soaking.  A chain, believed to have been used for securing cannon, also was brought to the surface."

--Brock-Perry

HMS Tecumseth

From Discovery Harbour site.

Built 1815 in Chippewa and transferred to Penetanguishene Bay Naval Shipyard to protect against Americans.  It was one of two warships located at the shipyard.  It eventually rotted and was reported sunk.

The remains were raised in 1953 and left outside until moved into the Discovery Harbour Centre where to today it is in a climate-controlled environment.

A replica of the ship is outside and is 124-feet long with a 70-foot deck and 24-foot beam, 150 tons.

--Brock-Perry

USS Tigress-- Part 5: After the War

Both the HMS Surprise (USS Tigress) and HMS Confiance (USS Scorpion) served with the Royal Navy until the end of the war and since there were no other American vessels on Lake Huron, gave the British Navy superiority.

They were laid up after the war and allowed to sink at their moorings in the Grand River.

One of the wrecks was recovered from the Penetanguishene Bay in 1953 was not the Tigress as thought, but the HMS Tecumseth which is now the Tecumseth Center at the north end of Discovery Harbor,

--Brock-Perry

John Dennis, Master Shipbuilder-- Part 4: After the War

In 1814, he was approached to build gunboats at Penetanguistene but declined saying he would have too big of a problem finding skilled workmen for a post that far out on the frontier.

He spent the rest of his life at York, Upper Canada (today's Toronto).  During the that time, he acquired much property, continued to build ships and got involved in politics.

--Brock-Perry

Ontario's Highway 93: Penetanguishene Road

From Wikipedia.

King's Highway 93, provincially maintained in Ontario is located entirely in Simcoe County, all 14.9 miles of it.

It follows the Penetanguishene Road, an early colonization road built to connect Lake Simcoe and Georgian Bay.  It provides an overland route from Lake Huron to Lake Ontario via Yonge Street.

Prior to 1993, it was nearly 15 kilometers longer.

The Penetanguishene Road was built between 1814 and 1815 to the naval station established at Penetahnguishene.  Prior to that this base had been called the Penetanguishene Military Post.

It was surveyed in 1808 by Samuel Wilmot.  After the British capture of Fort Michilimackinac in 1812, there was a need for supplies.  The decision to cut the road was made in November 1814 by General Gordon Drummond and completed the following spring, but too late for use during the war.

--Brock-Perry

Discovery Harbour, Ontario: "The Blood Boat"

Now located at the site of the Penetanguishene Navy Yard on Lake Huron has several replicas of War of 1812-era warships to explore.

HMS BEE is a full-scale replica 79-foot supply schooner that was stationed at the navy base from 1817-1830.

The HMS TECUMSETH is also a full-scale replica. The 124-foot ship was built at Chippewa in 1815 and transferred to Penetanguishene Navy Yard in 1817. The original Tecumseth rotted and sank by 1828. Its remains were raised in 1953 and are on display.

They also have a 19-foot JOLLY BOAT called "The Blood Boat." It is a general purpose boat used by the Royal Navy during the era. These boats were often used to procure fresh meat and that is how they earned the name "Blood Boat."

--Brock-Perry

Penetaguishene Bay Naval Shipyard

From Discovery Hatbour Site.

In 1812, the British command in Canada decided that it was imporatnt to build and outpost and shipyard at Penetanguishene Bay on Lake Huron.

It was established late in the war in 1814. On November 12th, Lt. Newdigate Poyntz, Royal Navy, surveyed the harbour and decided to build a 36-gun frigate with equipment shipped from Kingston.

In December, the Canadian Fencibles and militia began work on a road to it. But, after news of peace arrived March 10, 1815, work on the frigate ended.

Britain still needed naval a presence on Lake Huron, though, and two 124-foot transport ships, the HMS Tecumseth and HMS Newash were built. After the Rush-Bagot Agreement was signed, limiting the size and armament of warships on the Great Lakes, these two ships were decommissioned and placed in ordinary.

In 1820, it had over 70 personnel and its captain, Samuel Roberts, had fought Americans in Virginia, Baltimore and New Orleans. The assistant surgeon of the base, Clement Todd, had received a wound at the Battle of Lake Champlain.

Never Heard of It. --Brock-Perry