The British Privateer Dart

From Wikipedia.

Operated out of St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, and took 11 prizes on two cruises over a five month period. The Dart had originally been the American vessel Actress which was captured on July 18, 1812, by the HMS Spartan and taken to St. John and auctioned.

The new owners changed the name to Dart and made it a privateer and operated until captured by the U.S. Revenue Cutter Vigilant on October 22, 1813 (my sources list the capture as Oct. 4th, so I am not sure of the actual date).

After its capture, the Dart was turned over to its original owners when it was the Actress.

--Brock-Perry

A Big Thanks to the Vigilant

From the October 21, 1813, (Middlebury, Vt.) Columbian Patriot. Earlier this month, I wrote about the capture of the British privateer Dart by the U.S. Revenue Cutter Vigilant on Oct. 4, 1813.

I found this big thank you from a period newspaper: "Captain Cahoone, with the volunteers under his command, deserve the highest credit for for the spirit and promptitude with which this affair was conducted, and it is of utmost import once, as it is probable she [Dart] would, but for this, have been almost a constant visitor during the ensuing season, when the mischief she would have done is incalculable."

Thanks, Vigilant.

--Brock-Perry

The War in Real Time: Vigilant Captures Dart 200 Years Ago-- Part 3

The Vigilant refloated the Little Francis and towed it back to port.

The Vigilant remained in service until May 13, 1842, when it was decommissioned and sold at auction.

To the present, there have been 12 cutters named Vigilant.

Now the 210-foot Reliance class cutter Vigilant is homeported at Cape Canaveral, Florida, where it is primarily involved in counter-drug and alien immigrant operations.

There is a painting of the Vigilant-Dart fight off Block Island by Walter Jones.

--Brock-Perry

The War in Real Time: Vigilant Captures the Dart 200 Years Ago Today-- Part 2

On January 25, 1812, John Calhoun was commissioned as a master (captain) in Rhode Island and received command of the Vigilant.

On October 4, 1813, the Vigilant sailed out of Newport, Rhode Island, seeking the British privateer Dart. On board were 28 additional sailors. The Vigilant caught up with the Dart and opened fire. It came alongside, boarded and seized the ship. This was the last armed boarding by a revenue cutter during the Age of Sail.

Then on October 26th, the Vigilant captured a British schooner carrying a cargo of wood.

On June 2, 1814, it towed the fire-damaged brig St. Francis into Newport. It had been en route from St. Bart's with a cargo of molasses and sugar when it had been run ashore by the HMS Nimrod who then torched it.

--Brock-Perry

The War in Real Time: Vigilant Captures the Dart 200 Years Ago Today-- Part 1

From the U.S. Coast Guard site, Revenue Cutter Vigilant.

Two hundred years ago today, the U.S. Revenue Cutter Vigilant captured the British privateer Dart off Rhode Island.

The U.S. Revenue Service, the forerunner of the U.S. Coast Guard, was just 22 years old when the War of 1812 began. The revenue cutter Vigilant was one of its newest ships and the third ship to carry the name.

It was built and equipped by shipbuilder Benjamin Marble of Newport, Rhode Island, for $8,500.

The revenue service bought it August 21, 1812, and the ship was noted for its quickness, maneuverability and was lightly manned with just a crew of seventeen.

--Brock-Perry

October 1813 Timeline-- Part 1

New Month, New Timeline. Most of these are from the excellent Canadian site, "Historic Places.Can. What was going on 200 years ago this month in the War of 1812:

OCTOBER-- British reinforcements arrive at Quebec City, Lower Canada.

OCTOBER 1ST-- Skirmish at Chateauguay, Lower Canada.

OCTOBER 2ND--Group of 133 ex-slaves from the Chesapeake Bay area arrive in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

OCTOBER 4TH--Action at McGregor's Creek, Upper Canada.

OCTOBER 4TH-- American revunue cutter Vigilant captures privateer Dart off Rhode Island.

--Brock-Perry