So, Who Are the Sailing Masters of 1812?

From same source as last post.

"The Burning of the Ships" commemoration planned for tomorrow in Essex, Connecticut sounds like it is primarily an effort by a group who call themselves Sailing Masters of 1812.

So, who are they?

The purpose of the Sailing Masters of 1812 is to perpetuate the art and performance of  ancient fifing  and drumming and to commemorate the role of Essex in the War of 1812.  It is a nonprofit organization for historical and educational purposes.

The corps has adopted the uniform of a U.S. Navy Sailing Master, a warrant officer ranked between a midshipman and lieutenant.

The Corps performs on wooden fifes and rope tension snare and bass drums., and its repertoire includes period tunes and music from the fife and drum tradition.  These include  nautical and military tunes as well as historic songs.

--Brock-Perry

Historical 'Burning of the Ships' To Be Celebrated in Essex, Connecticut Saturday

From the Essex Patch by Karena Garrity.

On Saturday, May 8, a 2 pm, the annual Burning of the Ships in downtown Essex will be commemorated with a special ceremony  and a parade.

Pandemic precautions canceled last year's commemoration, but they are on again this year, though in a smaller format.

The Sailing Masters of 1812 hold the event to mark a British raid on April 8, 1814.  It was the largest loss for the U.S. Navy in a single event until Pearl Harbor in 1941.  In the end, the British destroyed 27 American ships.

This 2021 event is still under virus precautions so will be smaller with just a single drum and fife corps instead of multiple ones in the past.

The Sailing Masters of 1812 will parade  from the town landing onto the Connecticut River Museum grounds where there will be an hour-long ceremony.

--Brock-Perry

Essex's Annual Burning of the Ships Day-- Part 2

The British Raid and the resulting Burning of the Ships is not in most history books.  (I had never heard of it before I began this blog.)

During the War of 1812, private merchant vessels became a part of the Connecticut Privateer Fleet.  This enabled them to capture and auction off British ships and their cargoes and became a highly profitable undertaking for the captains and owners.

Of course, this did not please the British who set out to punish the American privateers..  In April 1814, the British learned that many of the Connecticut Privateer Fleet were operating out of Essex Harbor and a company of Royal Marines on longboats set out from the fleet for a sneak attack on the Americans.

The Essex townspeople put up opposition but were outnumbered and outgunned.  The British burned all the ships they found in the harbor as well as ones being built in the vicinity.  They did take two ships with them, but these grounded and were also burned.  On their way back down the Connecticut River, Americans set up some cannons and there was a brief engagement, costing the British two deaths, but rthey got by and returned to their ships.

There will be a parade which will end at the Connecticut River Museum, where the British landed.  Speeches and re-enacting will follow.

--Brock-Perry

Essex's Annual Burning of the Ships Day-- Part 1

From the May 9, 2017, Zip 06.com  "Essex's Annual Burning of the Ships Day Commemorates Historic Event on May 13" by Jenn McCulloch.

The Reenacting group Free Men of the Sea will be on hand to recreate life in Essex during the War of 1812.

Over 200 years ago, the British burned nearly 30 ships in Essex Harbor, Connecticut, and in the surrounding area.  This will be commemorated on May 13 in Essex from 1 to 4 p.m..  The event is cohosted by the Connecticut River Museum and Sailing Masters of 1812.

--Brock-Perry

1814 British Raid on Essex, Ct.: More US Ships Lost Than at Pearl Harbor

From the April 5th East Haddam (Ct) Haddam Patch by Philip R. Devlin.

Most War of 1812 action in Connecticut took place in and around Long Island Sound.  The American attempt to blow up a British ship in New London Harbor caused a British retaliatory attack against Pettipaug Point, today's Essex, Ct..

To free Commodore Stephen Decatur's squadron from British blockade, a barge steered toward the HMS La Hogue with a torpedo deployed on the front, but the hauling line got tangled in the ship's anchor line and the torpedo blew up prematurely causing no damage.

The next day, some Americans in a small skiff were captured and agreed to lead the British to Pettipaug Point.  On April 8, 1814, 220 British soldiers went 6 miles up the Connecticut River.  A deal was struck whereby homes would be saved, but 28 American ships were torched and two were taken.

Essex still celebrates the "Burning of the Ships"  the second Saturday in May.

Something I Didn't Know.  --Brock-Perry