Henry Alexander Scammell Dearborn-- Part 1: Son of Sec. of War Henry Dearborn

While I was researching John A. Winslow in my Civil War Navy blog, I found he was buried in Forest Hills Cemetery in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.  (He sank the Confederate commerce raider CSS Alabama.  While looking at that cemetery's notable burials, I came across this man.

From Wikipedia.

March 3, 1783 to July 29, 1851.

Soldier, lawyer,  author and statesman.  First president of Massachusetts Horticultural Society, member of the Society of Cincinnati and author of many books.

I came across that he was a brigadier general.

He was the son of Secretary of War and Major General Henry Dearborn, studied law, admitted to the bar and practiced law in Salem, Mass. and Portland, Maine.

--Brock-Perry

So, What Was a 24-Pdr. Shifting Grenade Gun?

From the same source.

Also on the USS Constitution, besides the 4 Chambers repeating guns was one 24-pdr. shifting grenade gun.

This apparently was a British weapon captured by the United States.

The gun was a Congreve "shifting grenade."

Sixty-six shifting grenade guns were found on the British brig "Stranger" enroute from England to Kingston, Jamaica where they were to be used in arming two new frigates being built there.  The "Stranger" was captured by privateer "Fox" out of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

A prize crew took it to Salem, Massachusetts, in late September 1814 where they told the U.S. Navy about them.

Not much was known about them, but on February 20, 1815, Captain Stewart and the USS Constitution defeated the HMS Cyane and HMS Levant.  Captain Fox of the Cyane wrote that he saw two of these guns on board the American ship.

Unfortunately, a quick look produced no other information on "shifting grenade" guns.

--Brock-Perry

Marblehead in the War of 1812-- Part 2: Fortifying

Both the USS Essex and USS Constitution had many sailors from Marblehead in their crews as did privateers from Salem.

There was a distinct danger to Marblehead from the sea.  It was decided at a Town Meeting to reinforce the arsenal and Fort Sewall at the mouth of the harbor which had been neglected and falling into disrepair ever since the Revolution.

To protect Little Harbor, Fountain Park was fortified with a battery of cannons as designated as Fort Washington.

A 42-pounder was placed at Skinner's Head (now Glover's Landing).  Smaller cannons were placed at Goodwin's Head and Gilberts Heights.  Guards were stationed at Marblehead Neck.

--Brock-Perry