From the Encyclopedia of North Carolina.
I found this huge book at Books-A-Million in Goldsboro, NC, a few days ago for just $5. I've been enjoying looking through it where I found the article about the privateer Wasp and its captain, Johnston Blakely (which I had never heard of before) and the CSS Wilmington ironclad (which is in my Running the Blockade blog).
During the War of 1812, US fortunes were down when North Carolina heard about the captures of the British sloops Reindeer and Avon by the Wasp in the summer of 1814. I was wondering why the Wasp would be in this book until I found out its commander, Captain Blakely, was a Wilmington resident, and to honor him, on December 7, 1814, the General Assembly voted to present him a superb sword on his return.
Unfortunately, that never came to be as the Wasp and all aboard was lost sometime after Oct. 9, 1814. The General Assembly waited until the end of December 1816 to find out his fate and finally determined to deliver the sword to his widow, Jane Blakely, who they located in Boston.
Something Else. --Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
Showing posts with label Privateer Wasp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Privateer Wasp. Show all posts
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The Privateer Wasp Carries the War to Europe-- Part 2
The Wasp departed for the Spanish coast on August 27, 1814 and soon spotted a ten-ship convoy guarded by a 74-gun ship-of-the-line. The Wasp was able to cut one out, the Mary, and burn it. A second ship, the Avon, fell out of line and after a 47 minute fight, the ship surrendered. But, before the Wasp's crew could board, other convoy ships returned and forced the American ship to retreat.
Three weeks later the ship captured three more prizes and one was sent to Savannah. Sadly, after that the Wasp disappeared sometime after Oct. 9, 1814, and was never seen again.
Not Always a Successful Story. --Brock-Perry
Three weeks later the ship captured three more prizes and one was sent to Savannah. Sadly, after that the Wasp disappeared sometime after Oct. 9, 1814, and was never seen again.
Not Always a Successful Story. --Brock-Perry
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The Privateer Wasp Carries the War to Europe-- Part 1
From the Encyclopedia of North Carolina.
The privateer Wasp was a sloop commanded by North Carolinian Capt. Johnston Blakely and mounted 20 carronades and 2 long 12-pounders built in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
Blakely hired a crew of 173 and received orders to sail May 1, 1814, and inflict damage to British shipping in western Europe and then attack English allies along the Spanish coast and return to New Orleans. He was to destroy all prizes inswtead of depleting his crew to sail them back. Under no circumstances was he to engage British warships.
From May to July 6, the Wasp destroyed six commercial vessels. One, the Reindeer, put up a fight and damaged the privateer., causing it to limp into the French port of L'Orient.
More to Come. --Brock-Perry
The privateer Wasp was a sloop commanded by North Carolinian Capt. Johnston Blakely and mounted 20 carronades and 2 long 12-pounders built in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
Blakely hired a crew of 173 and received orders to sail May 1, 1814, and inflict damage to British shipping in western Europe and then attack English allies along the Spanish coast and return to New Orleans. He was to destroy all prizes inswtead of depleting his crew to sail them back. Under no circumstances was he to engage British warships.
From May to July 6, the Wasp destroyed six commercial vessels. One, the Reindeer, put up a fight and damaged the privateer., causing it to limp into the French port of L'Orient.
More to Come. --Brock-Perry
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