MASTER: On December 30, 1811, Samuel Travis received a commission as a revenue cutter master by the Commonwealth of Virginia and took command of the cutter Surveyor. Earlier, he had been commissioned a 1st mate for Virginia on August 27, 1807, and began serving after the Surveyor's commissioning.
As master, his officers included John Hebb, first mate; William Phippen, second mate; and William L. Travis, third mate. I have to wonder if the third mate was related to Samuel? Also, was there some relationship with the Alamo's commander?
After his capture on the Surveyor, there is no record of him serving as the master of a revenue cutter. I wasn't able to find a burial site for him on Find-A-Grave.
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 Revenue Cutter Surveyor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Revenue Cutter Surveyor. Show all posts
Saturday, July 5, 2014
USRC Surveyor, 1807-- Part 1
From the United States Coast Guard History Program.
SURVEYOR, 1807
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
MASTER SAMUEL TRAVIS
Builder: Robert Parsons, Baltimore, Md.
Rig: Schooner
Length: 68 feet
Beam: 19 feet
Displacement: 75 tons
Commissioned: 1807
Disposition: Captured by the British, 1813 Complement: 25
Armament: six 6-pounder cannons
--Brock-Perry
SURVEYOR, 1807
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
MASTER SAMUEL TRAVIS
Builder: Robert Parsons, Baltimore, Md.
Rig: Schooner
Length: 68 feet
Beam: 19 feet
Displacement: 75 tons
Commissioned: 1807
Disposition: Captured by the British, 1813 Complement: 25
Armament: six 6-pounder cannons
--Brock-Perry
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Revenue Cutter Surveyor and Samuel Travis-- Part 2: Its Capture
On December 30, 1811, Samuel Travis received his commission as a revenue cutter master for the Commonwealth of Virginia and he commanded the ship until 1813.
Revenue cutters at Savannah, Norfolk, Charleston, New York City, Portsmouth (NH), Wilmington (NC) and Wilmington (Del.) were put on war-footing after the U.S. declaration of war in June 1812. They were to assist the small U.S. Navy.
On July 4, 1812, the Surveyor captured a British brig bound from Jamaica..
On June 12, 1813, a large British boarding party off four barges from the 32-gun frigate Narcissus captured the Surveyor, Travis and most of its crew while it was anchored off Gloucester Point near Yorktown, Virginia.
Travis returned to Norfolk, Virginia, on August 7, 1813, after being paroled at Washington, North Carolina. No record of him as a revenue cutter master after that have been found.
The Surveyor served in the British Navy after its capture, but its fate is not known.
Story of a Boat and Its Commander. --Brock-Perry.
Revenue cutters at Savannah, Norfolk, Charleston, New York City, Portsmouth (NH), Wilmington (NC) and Wilmington (Del.) were put on war-footing after the U.S. declaration of war in June 1812. They were to assist the small U.S. Navy.
On July 4, 1812, the Surveyor captured a British brig bound from Jamaica..
On June 12, 1813, a large British boarding party off four barges from the 32-gun frigate Narcissus captured the Surveyor, Travis and most of its crew while it was anchored off Gloucester Point near Yorktown, Virginia.
Travis returned to Norfolk, Virginia, on August 7, 1813, after being paroled at Washington, North Carolina. No record of him as a revenue cutter master after that have been found.
The Surveyor served in the British Navy after its capture, but its fate is not known.
Story of a Boat and Its Commander. --Brock-Perry.
Revenue Cutter Surveyor and Samuel Travis-- Part 1
On July 1st, I wrote about Samuel Travis, while a prisoner on a British ship at the Battle of Craney Island on June 22, 1813, as reporting that an American shell had cut off the feet and legs of almost one entire British barge crew.
A follow up on him and his ship.
From the US Coast Guard site.
There is a painting of "The Capture of the [Revenue Cutter] Surveyor, 12 June 1813"; a watercolor by Irwin John Bevan at the Mariners Museum collection. It is incorrectly, however, shown flying the national ensign where, as per Treasury Department regulations, it would have flown the Revenue ensign.
The schooner was built by Robert Parsons, in Baltimore, Maryland and was 68 feet long, 19 foot beam, 6 foot draft, 25 man crew and carried six 6-pounder cannons. It was commissioned in 1807.
More to Come. --Brock-Perry
A follow up on him and his ship.
From the US Coast Guard site.
There is a painting of "The Capture of the [Revenue Cutter] Surveyor, 12 June 1813"; a watercolor by Irwin John Bevan at the Mariners Museum collection. It is incorrectly, however, shown flying the national ensign where, as per Treasury Department regulations, it would have flown the Revenue ensign.
The schooner was built by Robert Parsons, in Baltimore, Maryland and was 68 feet long, 19 foot beam, 6 foot draft, 25 man crew and carried six 6-pounder cannons. It was commissioned in 1807.
More to Come. --Brock-Perry
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
British Get Surprised at Craney Island-- Part 5
Captain Samuel Travis of the captured revenue cutter Surveyor was a prisoner on board a British ship and later reported that one shot from the Americans cut off of the feet and legs of almost one entire barge crew.. Another source lists British losses at 71.
The British fleet retired and never attacked Norfolk again.
There will be activities June 22-13 commemorating the American victory. There will be tours and exhibits at Fort Norfolk as well as re-enactors, flag raising, patriotic music at High Street Landing and the pealing of church bells.
--Brock-Perry
The British fleet retired and never attacked Norfolk again.
There will be activities June 22-13 commemorating the American victory. There will be tours and exhibits at Fort Norfolk as well as re-enactors, flag raising, patriotic music at High Street Landing and the pealing of church bells.
--Brock-Perry
Saturday, June 22, 2013
U.S. Revenue Cutter Surveyor-- Part 2
From another U.S. Coast Guard site.
The Surveyor was 68-feet long, weighed 75 tons with a crew of 25 and mounting six 6-pounders.
One source lists the Surveyor, while still in U.S. service, capturing a British brig on July 4, 1812.
On June 12, 1813, the Surveyor was captured by four British barges from the frigate HMS Narcissus (32 guns).
On August 7, 1813, Captain Samuel Travis of the Surveyor returned to Norfolk, Virginia after being paroled by the British at Washington, North Carolina.
A little too late, but, on June 21, 1813, William Jones, Acting Secretary of the Treasury and Sec. of the Navy wrote that revenue cutters no longer of use in the Chesapeake Bay (because of the British blockade) should be no longer in service and added that someone was to "inform the officers and crew of the Surveyor that they are to consider themselvesno longer in the service of the United States." Since they were prisoners of the British, I guess they weren't.
On June 25, 1813, the British fleet landed troops at Hampton, Virginia and sacked the city. The Surveyor, now in British service, helped cover the expedition.
And, I had Never Heard of the Ship. --Brock-Perry
The Surveyor was 68-feet long, weighed 75 tons with a crew of 25 and mounting six 6-pounders.
One source lists the Surveyor, while still in U.S. service, capturing a British brig on July 4, 1812.
On June 12, 1813, the Surveyor was captured by four British barges from the frigate HMS Narcissus (32 guns).
On August 7, 1813, Captain Samuel Travis of the Surveyor returned to Norfolk, Virginia after being paroled by the British at Washington, North Carolina.
A little too late, but, on June 21, 1813, William Jones, Acting Secretary of the Treasury and Sec. of the Navy wrote that revenue cutters no longer of use in the Chesapeake Bay (because of the British blockade) should be no longer in service and added that someone was to "inform the officers and crew of the Surveyor that they are to consider themselvesno longer in the service of the United States." Since they were prisoners of the British, I guess they weren't.
On June 25, 1813, the British fleet landed troops at Hampton, Virginia and sacked the city. The Surveyor, now in British service, helped cover the expedition.
And, I had Never Heard of the Ship. --Brock-Perry
Friday, June 21, 2013
U.S. Revenue Cutter Surveyor-- Part 1
From the U.S. Coast Guard site.
A follow-up to the Bits of War entry earlier today.
June 12, 1813, just over 200 years ago now, was a rainy and foggy night and the USRC Surveyor was anchored in the York River near today's TC (Coast Guard Training Center) Yorktown in Virginia. It was manned by fifteen men and attacked by 50 British sailors and Marines under the command of Lt. John Crerie.
They approached in launches using muffled oars. Unbeknownst to them, Captain Samuel Travis of the Surveyor had been alerted to their approach and determined to resist them. Unable to bring his guns to bear, he issued his men two muskets apiece and held his fire until the enemy was close enough and opened up on them. The English climbed aboard and a serious hand-to-hand fight took place until the American crew was overwhelmed.
The Surveyor was captured. Five Americans had been wounded. British casualties were 7 wounded and 3 killed.
The following day, Lt. Crerie returned Travis' sword for his stubborn and courageous defense of his ship.
The Surveyor then served the British the rest of the war, but its fate after that is not known.
Now, You Know. --Brock-Perry
A follow-up to the Bits of War entry earlier today.
June 12, 1813, just over 200 years ago now, was a rainy and foggy night and the USRC Surveyor was anchored in the York River near today's TC (Coast Guard Training Center) Yorktown in Virginia. It was manned by fifteen men and attacked by 50 British sailors and Marines under the command of Lt. John Crerie.
They approached in launches using muffled oars. Unbeknownst to them, Captain Samuel Travis of the Surveyor had been alerted to their approach and determined to resist them. Unable to bring his guns to bear, he issued his men two muskets apiece and held his fire until the enemy was close enough and opened up on them. The English climbed aboard and a serious hand-to-hand fight took place until the American crew was overwhelmed.
The Surveyor was captured. Five Americans had been wounded. British casualties were 7 wounded and 3 killed.
The following day, Lt. Crerie returned Travis' sword for his stubborn and courageous defense of his ship.
The Surveyor then served the British the rest of the war, but its fate after that is not known.
Now, You Know. --Brock-Perry
Bits of War: Surveyor-- Craney Island
Bits of War-- New News About an Old War.
1. SURVEYOR-- Waterman's Museum in Yorktown will be commemorating the bicentennial of of the June 12, 1813, battle between the U.S. Revenue Cutter Surveyor and the Royal Navy in the York River, Virginia.
2. CRANEY ISLAND-- Also, Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia, will be commemorating the bicentennial of the War of 1812's Battle of Craney island (by Norfolk). It took place on June 22, 1813, when a British assault on the island that was driven off by American artillery fire.
It will be held at Fort Norfolk tomorrow, June 22nd.
Just Some News. --Brock-Perry
1. SURVEYOR-- Waterman's Museum in Yorktown will be commemorating the bicentennial of of the June 12, 1813, battle between the U.S. Revenue Cutter Surveyor and the Royal Navy in the York River, Virginia.
2. CRANEY ISLAND-- Also, Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia, will be commemorating the bicentennial of the War of 1812's Battle of Craney island (by Norfolk). It took place on June 22, 1813, when a British assault on the island that was driven off by American artillery fire.
It will be held at Fort Norfolk tomorrow, June 22nd.
Just Some News. --Brock-Perry
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