The Baltimore Fencibles-- Part 2: Privateer Interests

The Fencibles were also very actively engaged in the lucrative Baltimore privateer trade.  A large percentage of the men in this unit had large investments and time in numerous privateer vessels sailing out of Baltimore Harbor to prey on British merchant shipping.

The most notable of these was Captain Tom Boyle's ship, the Chasseur.  This ship later was widely known as the "Pride of Baltimore."

Privateers in the War of 1812 caused massive damage to the British economy, to the tune of over $40 million.  This is nearly what Britain was paying to wage a single year of military campaigns in North America at the time.

--Brock-Perry

Baltimore Fencibles at Fort McHenry-- Part 3: Not Casualties

Private Andrew Price ( ? - 11821) was AWOL during the attack.

Private Henry Stickney  (1782-1862)  Died in Mobile, Alabama

These were lieutenants at Fort McHenry during the attack:

1st. Lt.  Jesse Eichelberger  (1780-1830)

2nd Lt. Andrew Clopper   )1771-1824)

There were two privates at the battle by the name Eichelberger.  Might they be related to the lieutenant?

Private Louis Eichelberger (1791--1836)
Private William Otterbaum Eichelberg  (1793-1860)

These were sergeants and corporals at Fort McHenry:

1st Sgt. David Fulton
(2nd Sgt. John Clemm  (1780-1814) was killed)
(3rd Sgt.  Samuel Harris  (c1774-1858) slightly wounded)
4th Sgt.  William Douglas   (1791-1821)

1st Corp. John Ready (c1773-1835)
2nd Corp. Joseph A Wallace  (1786-1838)
3rd Corp. Henry Armstron
4th Corp. Ralph Smith  ( ? - 1827)

I did not do the enlisted men.

--Brock-Perry

Baltimore Fencibles Wounded at Fort McHenry-- Part 2

From Monumental .City.

Besides Lt. Clagget and Sgt. Clemm, these Fencibles were in Fort McHenry during the attack and were wounded.

Private James Granger (1788-1874)  Died near Zanesville, Ohio.  Seriously wounded.

Private James L. Hawkins  (1778-1849)  Slightly wounded.

Private Abraham Lerew   (1795- ?)  Seriously wounded

--Brock-Perry

The Baltimore Fencibles at Fort McHenry: Only Sixteen Still Alive in 1854

From the 23 September 1854 edition of the Daily National Intelligencer "A Little Matter of History."

"Soon after the commencement of the last war with England, more than forty years ago, between eighty and ninety citizens of Baltimore enrolled their names in a volunteer artillery company, called the Fencibles, and elected Jos.H. Nicholson Captain and John Barney and Nathaniel F. Williams Lieutenants.

"Being thus organized, a tender of their services was made to the General Government to be placed in Fort McHenry in case of a need as a part of its defence.  The offer being accepted, the company was ordered to the fort for drill in the year 1813, and in 1814 occupied a part of the Star Fort, and during the bombardment lost two officers killed and several of the privates wounded.

"Of the men comprising the entire company it is believed only sixteen are now living, viz.  Samuel Harris, John Barney, Walter Farnandis, Nathaniel F.Williams, Wm. Child, John F. Poor, Chas. S. Mayer, Jacob I. Cohen, Jr., Isaac Munroe, Thomas Spicer, Samuel Etting, George Douglass, Mendis I. Cohen, Philip Reigart, Wm. O. Eichelberger, Wm. S. Cooper."

--Brock-Perry

Baltimore Fencibles at Battle of Fort McHenry-- Part 1: Casualties

From The Monuments of the City (Baltimore) site.  "The Baltimore Fencibles."

Members of the Fencibles at Fort McHenry during the attack.

Lieut. Clagett (1780-1814) and Sergeant Clemm (1780-1814) of Capt. Nicholson's Volunteers.  Both killed.

3rd Sgt. Samuel Harris (c1774-1858)  slightly wounded.

Private Thomas Claggett   Not a casualty, but I am wondering if he might be related to Lt. Clagett.  I have seen Claggett/Clagget/Clagett spelled several different ways.

I have seen the name spelled Claggett and Clagett.

Lt. Levi Claggett and Sgt. John Clemm Died at Fort McHenry

Lieutenant Levi Claggett was killed at Fort McHenry on September 13, 1814.

He was a part of the Baltimore Fencibles, a militia composed of local merchants, business owners and prominent citizens of Baltimore.  Claggett was a 34-year-old flour merchant when he died.

While the British fleet was bombarding the fort, he was standing on Bastion #3.  According to eyewitness accounts, a British mortar shell hit the bastion and dismounted the 24-pounder long gun.  It broke the wheel of the cannon and the cannon fell on the lieutenant, crushing him.

Almost immediately after this, a bomb burst overhead and a piece of the shell "the size of a dollar and two inches thick" struck sergeant John Schultz Clemm in the abdomen.  He died within a matter of minutes.  It is said that friends took the piece of shrapnel out of him as a momento of the battle.

--Brock-Perry

Sea Fencibles-- Part 2: In the War of 1812

BALTIMORE

In the War of 1812, there were two companies of Sea Fencibles at Baltimore.  They were stationed at Fort McHenry and considered to be part of the garrison.

BOSTON

Boston's Sea Fncibles were formed and comprised of unemployed seamen and wealthier men.  Besides coastal defense they were involved in charitable and community work.

They never saw action, however.

Their headquarters was at the gun house near the Providence Naval Depot where they had 18-pdr. and 24-pdr. cannons for their use.  Target practice was conducted at Boston's City Point.

They disbanded at the war's end.

CIVIL WAR

There were also Sea Fencibles during the Civil War.  The Confederates had one company at Charleston, South Carolina.

--Brock-Perry

Sea Fencibles-- Part 1: The British Had Them Also At One Time

From Wikipedia.

In yesterday's post, I mentioned that the fortifications on Governors Island in Boston Harbor known as Fort Warren at the time, were manned some of the time by a group called the Sea-Fencibles.  I'd never heard of them before.

The Sea Fencibles were a naval militia established to provide a close-in line of defense and to obstruct the operations of enemy shipping and were used mostly during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars.

The British had their own Sea Fencibles during this time, but the Admiralty disbanded its Sea Fencibles in 1810.

The United States adopted a similar concept during the War of 1812 and the Civil War.

--Brock-Perry