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 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 & 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