Commodore David Conner, USN

I listed some naval officers who were in the War of 1812 in my last post.  David Conner is one of them.  I'd never heard of him before.

From the Naval History and Heritage Command.

DAVID CONNER (1792-1856)

He was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1792 and became a midshipman early in 1809 and served on the frigate USS President for the next several years.  In 1811, he joined the sloop USS Hornet, serving in her during the War of 812 except for a time as a prisoner of war early in the conflict.

He participated in  the Hornet's two most significant combat actions, that with the HMS Peacock in February 1813 and the March 1815 capture of the HMS Penguin.

He received a promotion to lieutenant in July 1813.

--Brock-Peerry

This Month in War of 1812: Forts Meigs and George, York and USS President

From the 2023 American Battlefield Trust May calendar.

MAY 1, 1813

**  Siege of Fort Meigs, Ohio.

MAY 1, 1813

**  American forces evacuate York, Upper Canada.  (Toronto today).

MAY 3, 1813

**  Burning of Havre de Grace, Maryland.

MAY 16, 1811

**  The American frigate USS President fires on British sloop HMS Little Belt.

MAY 27, 1813

**  Engagement at Fort George.

MAY 29, 1813

**  Battle of Sacketts Harbor, New York.

--Brock-Perry

Captain Thomas Gamble in the War of 1812

From the same source as the previous post.

GAMBLE, THOMAS (For previous record see War with Tripoli)--  Midshipman; on Frigate "Essex," 1806; transferred to merchant service. August 25,  1806, and again transferred to the same service, April 20, 1807;

Ordered to duty at New York, N.Y., August 5, 1807; ordered to duty under command of Lieutenant Melancthon T. Woolsey for service on the lakes, July 5, 1808; ordered to duty  at New York, N.Y., April 27, 1809;n  transferred to merchant service, July 10,  1809; ordered to duty under Captain John Rodgers, August 16, 1809;

Lieutenant, April 27, 1810; on Frigate "President," Captain John Rodgers, North Atlantic Squadron, May 1811; ordered to Baltimore, Md. September 3, 1814; on Frigate "Guerriere," November 13, 1814; ordered to New York, N.Y., to join West  India Squadron, Captain David Porter, November 28, 1814.  

(For subsequent service and continued record, see War with Algiers.)

--Brock-Perry

Captain Thomas Gamble-- Part 4: Service in the War of 1812 and Death

Thomas Gamble later fought and was seriously wounded in the first naval engagement of the War of 1812 while serving as second lieutenant on the frigate USS  President.  This was the fight with the British frigate HMS Belvidera. This took place just a few days after war was declared in June 1812.

Upon his recovery, Gamble returned to active duty and was eventually promoted to master commandant..  His first independent command was the  USS Spark in the Mediterranean.

After his death, Gamble's fellow officers arranged  for the transport of his body from Pisa to Leghorn (English Cemetery in Livorno, Italy).  he was transported there in his last command, the USS Erie. Furthermore, $3,000 was raised to provide a marble monument at the grave

--Brock-Perry

Midshipman Richard Dale-- Part 1: Father Was a U.S. Navy Commodore

From Find A Grave

RICHARD SOUTHERLAND SALE

BIRTH:  1795

DEATH:  22 February 1815 (aged 19-20)

BURIAL:  St. Peter's Church Graveyard, Bermuda.

Midshipman Richard Dale who was the last victim of the War of 1812.

Midshipman Richard Southerland Dale was the oldest son of Commodore Richard Dale from  Philadelphia, who was 20 years old when he lost his leg after his ship, the President engaged a British warship in the 1815 war between Britain and the United States.

His father fought in the American Revolution and was second in command of the USS Bon Homme Richard in its famous fight against the HMS Serapis.  That ship's commander, of course, was none other than John Paul Jones.

--Brock-Perry

Midshipman Richard Dale: The Last American Death in the War of 1812

From Bermuda Historic stories:  A last casualty of the War of 1812 by Dr. Edward Cecil Harris.

On Christmas Eve 1814, the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent that ended the War of 1812, but that news took several months to reach the North America.   At sea on Jan. 15, 1815, off New York City the British vessel HMS Endymion captured the USS President.

One of the Americans, however, Midshipman Richard Dale Jr., was severely wounded and had his leg amputated.  He died at Bermuda a month later and was buried at St. Peter's Church in St. George's.

In 1932, a young Bermudian, Scarritt Adams, serving in the U.S. Navy,  came upon Richard Dale's inscribed gravestone and decided that his passing should be commemorated by the United States and Bermuda.

Thus began the "Midshipman Dale Ceremony."

--Brock-Perry

USS Congress (1799)-- Part 2: Action in First and Second Barbary Wars, War of 1812 and Against West Indies Pirates

Her first duties with the U.S. Navy were to provide protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi War with France and to defeat Barbary pirates during the First Barbary War.

During the War of 1812, she made several extended cruises in company with her sister ship, the USS President.  During those, the Congress captured or assisted in the capture of twenty British merchant ships.

At then end of 1813, because of lack of materials for repairs, the Congress was placed in ordinary for the remainder of the war.

In 1815, she returned to duty for service in the second Barbary War and made patrols through 1816.  In the 1820s, she helped suppress piracy in the West Indies and made several voyages to South America.

The Congress was also the first American ship to visit China.

The last ten years of her service were as a receiving ship until ordered broken up in 1834.

The next USS Congress, (1841) was a 52-gun frigate destroyed by the CSS Virginia in 1862.

--Brock-Perry

The Super-Frigates of the U.S. Navy (or, the Original Six Frigates )

 Wikipedia.

In case you're wondering about these six frigates built as per the Naval Act of 1794, of which the USS Congress was one, here is a list of them, along with site built, guns, naval contractor and Navy superintendent:

CHESAPEAKE:  Gosport, Virginia (Norfolk, Va.), 44 guns, Josiah Fox, Richard Dale

CONSTITUTION:  Boston, Massachusetts,  44 guns, George Claghorn, Samuel Nicholson

PRESIDENT:  New York, New York, 44 guns,  Christian Bergh, Silas Talbot

UNITED STATES:  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,  44 guns, Joshua Humphreys,  John Barry

CONGRESS:  Portsmouth, New Hampshire,  36 guns, James Hackett,  James Sever

CONSTELLATION:  Baltimore, Maryland,  36,  David Stodder,  Thomas Truxton

--Brock-Perry

Dueling Frigates-- Part 6: Duel Turned Down

It was Decatur's thought that which ever American frigate fought the British one and won, she would be able to escape out to sea as the rest of the British fleet would be held back from chasing in the name of good sportsmanship.

Although the HMS Endymion was the largest and most heavily armed of the British frigates, Thomas Hardy decided not to put her in play as he was afraid it couldn't match the USS United States' fire power and he informed Decatur:  "I must consider it my duty (tho very contrary to the wishes of Captain Hope) to decline the invitation on his part."

But, speaking with naval etiquette, he continued:  "The Captains of His Britannic Majesty's ships under my orders, as well as myself, cannot too highly appreciate the gallant spirit that has led to the communication from you, sir,  and are equally convinced that no personal feelings toward each other can ever influence a laudible ambition to add to the Naval renown of our respective countries."

Of interest, the HMS Endymion engaged the even heavier armed USS President in 1815 and was victorious.

--Brock-Perry

David Conner, USN-- Part 1: Service in War of 1812

While doing research on Jacob Zeilen of the USMC, I found he was buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia and a lot of famous people are buried there.

One of them is David Conner, USN, who fought in the War of 1812 and the Mexican War.

1792-1856

Became a midshipman 16 January 1809 and served on the USS President.

During the War of 1812, he was on the USS Hornet during the chase of the HMS Belvidera and saw action against the HMS Peacock in the fall of 1813 and the capture of the HMS Penguin March 1815 in which he received a wound.

--Brock-Perry

British Rules of Engagement: Frigate vs. Frigate

While researching the USS President's capture, I found some discrepancy in what happened.  Had the President just engaged the Endymion or the whole British fleet?  You'd think one of our "Super Frigates" could take a regular British frigate (unless it was one of their "Super frigates" they started launching later in the war).

Obviously, one American frigate fighting a whole British squadron would not be expected to win.

But, did it fight the whole squadron?

I came across mention of British regulations requiring that equal numbers of ships being involved in battles.  The HMS Endymion was the first to engage the President.  Both ships came out of the fight seriously damaged, but Decatur knew he would then have to engage the rest of the British fleet in succession, a fight he knew he couldn't win which led to the surrender.

I'd never heard of the one vs. one ship engagement rule,. so will keep my eyes open for further mention mention of it.  But, it would seem to me you'd always want to press home an advantage like numbers superiority in battle.

And, the President was one of our capital ships and Decatur a big naval hero.

Oh, Well.  --Brock-Perry

Frigate USS President-- Part 3: Capture and British Service

Back in New York City, the President was placed under the command of Stephan Decatur, who had captured the HMS Macedonian earlier in the war.  The frigate was blockaded in New York Harbor for a year before running the British blockade of that port in January 1815.  It engaged the HMS Endymion and later the rest of the British squadron arrived and the President was forced to surrender.

It was taken into British service as the HMS President (a strange name for a British warship if you ask me)  It served until broken up in 1818.  But its design was used for the new HMS President in 1829.

--Brock-Perry

Frigate USS President-- Part 2" The Little Belt Affair

George Washington picked the name for the ship to reflect a principle of the U.S. Constitution.

In 1811, the President was involved in the Little Belt Affair when the ship mistook the HMS Little Belt for the HMS Guerriere, which had been impressing American seamen.  There was an exchange of gunfire for several minutes, but no serious damage.  Blame for the incident was not placed, but it helped add to tensions between the United States and Britain.

The ship served in the Quasi War with France and First and Second Barbary wars.

During the War of 1812, the USS President made several extended cruises as far away as the English Channel and Norway.  It captured the armed schooner HMS Highflyer and numerous merchant ships.

--Brock-Perry

Frigate USS President-- Part 1: A Super Frigate

From Wikipedia.

I mentioned in yesterday's and today's post, that the frigate USS President was captured this date (or yesterday) by four British frigates off New York City where it had just run the blockade.  Again, like at New Orleans, neither side was aware that the war had ended, pending ratification by the two countries, on Dec. 24, 1814 at the Treaty of Ghent.

I didn't know much about the USS President, so looked it up, of course to good old Wiki, always a fast source of information.

The USS President was a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate rated to carry 44 guns.  It was launched in April 1800 in New York City, one of the original six super frigates authorized by the Naval Act of 1794 (the USS Constitution was another of these).

The President was the last one completed and designed by Joshua Humphreys.  These six were to serve as the U.S. Navy's capital ships (whereas the biggest British ships were ships-of-the-line, then came their frigates.  These six frigates were larger, more-heavily armed and built than their British counterparts.  That is one reason why British frigates lost whenever engaged one-on-one with these American ones.

--Brock-Perry

200 Years Ago: Capture of the USS President, Bombardment of Ft. St. Philip Continues

JANUARY 16, 1815:  The HMS Endymion, one of a squadron of four British frigates, captures the USS President.

JANUARY 9-18, 1815:  The Battle of Ft. St. Philip, Louisiana, continues as British fleet continues bombardment.  Eventually they gave up and left on the 18th.

--Brock-Perry

200 Years Ago: The British Chase the USS President

JANUARY 15, 1815:  The HMS Majestic and HMS Endymion lead a squadron of British frigates against the USS President, commanded by naval hero Stephen Decatur, after the American ship leaves New York City.

--Brock-Perry

Remembering the Last American Casualty

From the Feb. 24, 2014, Bermuda Royal Gazette.

The final American casualty of the War of 1812 (perhaps even the final casualty on all sides) was remembered in a ceremony on St. George's. The annual Midshipman Dale Ceremony was held on Saturday to mark the 199th anniversary of his death.

Richard Sutherland Dale was a midshipman on the frigate USS President which was captured in January 1815. He was wounded and cared for by the people of St. George's while a prisoner. He died Feb. 22, 1815, five days after the United States ratified the Treaty of Ghent which ended the war.

His father was Commodore Richard Dale who later visited St. George's to express his gratitude for the kindness and care shown an enemy.

The first ceremony took place in 1932.

--Brock-Perry

The Second HMS Pictou (1814)

From Wikipedia.

The ship was 101 feet long and mounted 16 guns. It was originally the American privateer Zebra and captured by the British frigates HMS Pyramus and HMS Belle Poule off the west coast of France April 20, 1813.

Bought by the British Navy and in August 1814 was in an expedition to Penobscott River in Maine to capture the U.S. 26-gun frigate Adams. The Adams had offloaded its guns and set them up in batteries ashore.

The following Battle of Hampden resulted in the Btitish capture of Bangor, Maine, and the American destruction of the Adams. The British also captured 11 American ships and destroyed 6 others.

On September 8, 1814, it captured the American schooner Fox at Machias, Maine.

On 20 January 1815 the Pictou left for England with news of the capture of the USS President on Jan. 15, 1815. It was sold in 1818. These are the only two British ships named Pictou.

--Brock-Perry

HMS Belvidera-- Part 2: Chased By U.S. Frigates

On July 22, 1810, the Belvidera and HMS Nemesis captured 3 Danish vessels. After that, the Belvidera was transferred to the Halifax Station in North America.

Just five days after the U.S. declared war, on 23 June 1812, it encountered the American heavy frigates President, Congress (not the Civil War one) and United States. Any one of these ships could take the Belvidera single-handedly.

The crew of the Belvidera were not even aware that war had been declared, but managed to escape anyway and in so doing, led the American ships away from the convoy it was escorting.

On 16 July 1812, the Belvidera was part of a British squadron that chased the USS Constitution which was able to escape despite a light breeze by using its anchors to pull itself. The Belvidera did likewise and eventually pulled close enough to exchange gunfire.

For the remainder of the war, the ship was on blockade duty and quite successful at it.

Quite a Successful, But Little-Known Ship. --Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Timeline: September 1813-- Part 2

SEPTEMBER 23RD-- USS President captures HMS Highflyer off New England. The President was returning from a raiding cruise off England where it captured 11 merchant ships.

SEPTEMBER 27TH-- General William Henry Harrison lands in Canada. Detroit liberated.

SEPTEMBER 28TH-- The Burlington Races, Lake Ontario, Upper Canada (Ontario).

--Brock-Perry