How the British Invasion of Maine in 1814 Led to Statehood-- Part 2

In Castine, prior to its eight month occupation by the British, town officials had condemned  the declaration of war and held a dim view of President James Madison and his predecessor, Thomas Jefferson.  They were Democrat-Republicans whom they felt were "anti-commerce" and "anti-New England."

The War of 1812 interrupted New England trans-Atlantic trade.

After Napoleon's defeat in 1814, the British ramped up their efforts in North America and sailed into several Maine ports with no opposition.

In early July, British ships, including the bomb ship HMS Terror sailed into Passamaquoddy Bay and took control of Fort Sullivan, Eastport and all the islands and towns along the bay.  In September, the HMS Terror took part in the Battle of Baltimore which led to "The Star-Spangled Banner."

--Brock-Perry

Major Armistead's Report on Battle Fort McHenry-- Part 2: A Cannon Dismounted

"It affords me the highest gratification to State, that though we were left thus exposed, and thus inactive, not a Man Shrunk from the conflict.

"About 2 OClock, P.M. one of the 24 pounders on the South West Bastion under the immediate command of Capt. Nicholson, was dismounted by a Shell, the explosion from which killed his 2nd Lieut and wounded several of his Men; the bustle necessarily produced in removing the Wounded and remounting the Gun probably induced the Enemy to suspect that We were in a state of confusion, as he brought in three of his Bomb Ships to what I believed to be good striking distance, I immediately ordered a fire to be opened, which was obeyed with alacrity through the whole Garrison, and in half an hour those intruders again Sheltered themselves by withdrawing beyond our reach.

"We gave three Cheers and again ceased firing."

Finally, A Chance to Fight Back.  --Brock-Perry

Major Armistead's Report of the Battle at Fort McHenry-- Part 1: British Were Out of Range

This report is in the U.S. National Archives.

George Armistead wrote the report ten days after the battle and was sent to Secretary of War James Monroe.

24th of September

"On Tuesday morning about Sun rise, the Enemy commenced the attack from his five bomb vessels, at the distance of about two Miles, when finding that his Shells reached Us, He anchored, and Kept Up an incessant and well-directed Bombardment.

"We immediately opened our Batteries and kept up a brisk fire from our Guns and Mortars, but unfortunately our Shot and Shells all fell considerably Short  of him; this was to me a most distressing circumstance as it left us exposed to a constant and tremendous Shower of Shells without the most remote possibility of our doing him the slightest injury."

Not a Good Way To Fight a Battle.  --Brock-Perry

HMS Terror

A British bomb vessel completed 31 July 1813 and commissioned 7 October 1813.  Abandoned in Victoria Strait, Canada 22 April 1848.

Its armament was one 13-inch mortar and one 10-inch one.  Commanded by John Sheridan.

Bombarded Stonington, Connecticut in August 1814, at the Battle of Baltimore and Fort McHenry 13-14 September 1814 and was one of those bombs bursting in air ships.

In January 1815 was at Battle of Fort Peter and the attack on St. Marys, Georgia.

After the war, it was used for Arctic exploration until laid up in 1828.  After which it saw service in the Mediterranean.

--Brock-Perry

British Fleet at Battle of Fort Peter, Jan. 13-14, 1815

From Wikipedia.

The British fleet consisted of 1 ship-of-the-line, 6 frigates, 2 bomb-vessels and two schooners.  British losses were 3 killed and 5 wounded.  U.S. losses were 1 killed, 4 wounded and 9 missing as well as two gunboats captured.

British Ships:

Albion
Dragon--74-guns
Regulus--  44-guns
Brune-- 56-guns
Severn--  40-guns
Hebrus--  36-guns
Rota--  38-guns

Primrose--  18 guns
Terror and Devastation, 8-guns each (bomb-vessels)
Canso and Whiting--  12-guns (schooners)

--Brock-Perry

David Powell Price, Royal Navy

From Wikipedia

David Powell Price 1790-1854.  One-time commander of the Pacific Station.  Joined the Royal Navy in 1801 and served in the Napoleonic Wars.  His first command was the bomb vessel HMS Volcano.  He was severely wounded 24 December 1814 at New Orleans.

--Brock-Perry

Bomb Vessel HMS Volcano-- Part 2

After the Battle of Baltimore, the Volcano served on the Potomac River.  On October 31, 1814, while escorting a merchantman to Jamaica, it was nearly captured by the 7-gun privateer Saucy Jack.

It was then sent to the Mississippi River with the bomb vessel HMS Aetna, and the HMS Herald (18 guns), HMS Thistle (12 guns), HMS Pygmy (11 guns).  They participated in the bombardment of Fort St. Philip, downriver from New Orleans.

After the retreat from New Orleans, it sailed the Gulf Coast and in the siege of Fort Bowyer by Molbile.

It was sold at Dortsmouth 28 August 1816.

--Brock-Perry

Bomb Vessel HMS Volcano (1804)-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Origianally the merchant vessel Heron, purchased by the Royal Navy in 1804 and became the HMS Heron.  During the Napoleonic Wars it served as a convoy escort vessel on the Leeward Islands Station.

In 1810 it was converted into a bomb vessel and renamed the HMS Volcano and served during the War of 1812 and participated in the Battle of Baltimore (which led to "The Star-Spangled Banner").  It was sold in 1816.

Commander David Powell Price assumed command of it 6 December 1813.  In the summer of 1814, it was sent to North America and joined Sir Alexander Cochrane's fleet off Baltimore harbor.  It was one of 19 British vessels that bombarded Fort McHenry.  The Volcano and other bomb vessels launched over 1500 bombs.  However, only 4 Americans were killed and 24 wounded.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 British Bomb Vessels-- Part 2

Bomb vessels were built with really strong hulls.  Some were later fitted out for Arctic and Antarctic exploration.

The "Bombs Burst in Air" at the Battle of Baltimore in 1814 was provided by the bomb vessels Volcano, Meteor, devastation, Aetna and the Terror.

Bomb vessels also comprised part of the British force that attacked Fort St. Phillip on the Mississippi River at the end of the war in what became known as the Siege of Ft. Philip.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Bomb Vessels-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Also called Bomb Ships and Bomb Ketches.  Primary weapon was the mortar  bomb.

By the 1800s, British bomb vessels were designed as full-rigged ships with three masts and two mortars.  Mortars back then were the only kind of naval armament to fire explosive shells instead of solid shot.

This is where Francis Scott Key got his "Bombs bursting in air."

Bomb vessels were usually accompanied by a tender to carry the ammunition  Being assigned to one of these ships, either the tender of bomb vessel was considered to be very dangerous work because of these shells and the reinforcing for the mortar platforms which made the ship unstable.

British bomb vessels were traditionally given the names of volcanoes or a name suggesting an explosive quality.

--Brock-Perry