The Commodore Harty referred to on Tuesday was most likely Sir Thomas Hardy (1769-1839) who served off the New England coast during the War of 1812. He fought in the Napoleonic Wars and was at the battle of Trafalgar with Nelson before being sent to North America.
A 74-gun British warship was considered a 3rd Rate Ship-of-the-Line, not a frigate which usually didn't have more than 50 guns.
After Trafalgar, Hardy commanded the 3rd rate ship-of-the-line HMS Triumph and later the 3rd rate ship-of-the-line HMS Ramillies. Most likely the ship off Sandwich was the Ramillies.
Hardy led the fleet that escorted the Army which captured significant portions of coastal Maine, then part of Massachusetts, including Fort Sullivan, Eastport, Machias, Bangor and Castine.
On 10 August 1814, a storming party from the Ramillies was defeated at Stonington Burrough.
--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 Sandwich Massachusetts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sandwich Massachusetts. Show all posts
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Update on the Sandwich Beach Story from Yesterday
In yesterday's blog I mentioned that the story oft-told as to why Sandwich, Massachusetts, was not attacked by the British during the War of 1812 was because they thought a brick yard by the shore was a fort. It further related that a British 74-gun frigate, the HMS Commodore Harty, had been "scared" off by the fort.
I was using the facts from the article and was somewhat dubious as to the ship. First, the British didn't name their warships after a person. Most likely, the Commodore Harty was the ship's commander. Also, a 74-gun ship would be a ship-of-the-line, not a frigate.
--Brock-Perry
I was using the facts from the article and was somewhat dubious as to the ship. First, the British didn't name their warships after a person. Most likely, the Commodore Harty was the ship's commander. Also, a 74-gun ship would be a ship-of-the-line, not a frigate.
--Brock-Perry
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Sandwich Beach Erosion in Massachusetts Reveals War of 1812 Past
From the November 24, 2014, Boston Globe by Billy Baker.
There has been a theory as to why Sandwich escaped damage during the War of 1812. And that had to do with a silly mistake by the British.
Today, beach erosion is revealing artifacts that cast a light on this theory.
During the War of 1812, an English frigate of 74 guns named the Commodore Harty was going up and down the coast offering communities the option of paying or being fired upon. When it passed by Sandwich, it saw a brickyard that had once stood on Town Neck, mistook it for a fort and steered clear.
The workers going about their jobs were mistaken for soldiers.
A lot of old bricks have been revealed at the site by this beach erosion.
A Brick By Any Other Name. --Brock-Perry
There has been a theory as to why Sandwich escaped damage during the War of 1812. And that had to do with a silly mistake by the British.
Today, beach erosion is revealing artifacts that cast a light on this theory.
During the War of 1812, an English frigate of 74 guns named the Commodore Harty was going up and down the coast offering communities the option of paying or being fired upon. When it passed by Sandwich, it saw a brickyard that had once stood on Town Neck, mistook it for a fort and steered clear.
The workers going about their jobs were mistaken for soldiers.
A lot of old bricks have been revealed at the site by this beach erosion.
A Brick By Any Other Name. --Brock-Perry
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