HMS Shelburne: American Privateer and British Warship

From Wikipedia.

On April 20, 1814, the frigate HMS Orpheus and HMS Shelburne captured the USS Frolic in the Florida Straits. This is a follow-up on the story.

The HMS Shelburne was originally the American privateer Racer, built in Baltimore in 1811 and captured by the British in 1813. During its career as the Shelburne, it capturedseveral merchant ships and most notably, participated in the capture of the USS Frolic. It was sold in 1817.

 It was commissioned as a privateer in August 1812 under Captain Danield Chayton. On April 13, 1813, it was captured at the Battle of Rappahannock River in Virginia. British Admoral Sir John Bortase Warren's squadron chased four American schooners into the river and sent 17 boats upriver to capture them.

They succeeded, and one of them was the Racer.

--Brock-Perry

With "the Utmost Hostility"

From the Maryland in the War of 1812 Blog "Naval Orders: "the utmost Hostility against the shores of the United States..." April 1814. 

Vice Admiral Sir Alexander F.I. Cochrane wrote to Rear Admiral George Cockburn in Bermuda, April 28, 1814, Cochrane had replaced Admiral Sir John Warren as commander of the North American Station in Bermuda. He issued these orders to his second in command, Cockburn, who followed them with relish, becoming the most hated British naval officer in America. 

Already in 1813, he had attacked principal Maryland shore towns of Havre-de-Grace (May 3) and Fredericktown and Georgetown on May 5th. 

--Brock-Perry

First Year of War Ends With U.S. in Turmoil-- Part 2

Then, in late December, the U.S. Secretary of the Navy, Paul Hamilton, resigns after having served in that position since 1809.  He had wanted new ships, but that was not funded.

At this time, money became a huge problem for the government.

The British military was hardened after years of fighting France and Napoleon.  Along with the experience, the Army was 13 times larger than it had been during the American Revolution.

The British Navy had 1000 ships and 140,000 sailors.  To match that, the U.S. Navy had barely 20 ships.

On Boxing Day, after Christmas, 1812, orders were sent to Admiral Sir John Warren and his 142 ships based in Newfoundland, Halifax, the Leeward Islands, Jamaica and Bermuda to enforce a full blockade of the Chesapeake and Delaware bays.

Perhaps a Young Country Had Bit Off More Than It Could Chew.  --Brock-Perry