The Hurricane of 1812 Hits New Orleans-- Part 2: A Category 4 Storm?

French consul in New Orleans, Louis Tousard wrote a letter to a friend describing it.

He said "the waters of the lake and the waters of the river married and churned.  There were over ten feet of water that killed animals and men.  It destroyed houses."

The final words of his letter said that if it went on for another few hours, there would be no one to tell what happened.

It is believed that the Hurricane of 1812 was a Category Four level storm.  Oer a hundred people perished.

The American Meteorological Society believes the hurricane moved nto land somewhere southeast of New Orleans with winds over one hundred miles an hour.

--Brock-Perry

That Horrendous Hurricane of 1812 Hits New Orleans-- Part 1

From the June 5, 2022, WGNO News "The Hurricane of 1812" by Christopher  Leach.

This mega storm happened during a time of war.  A very unique letter at the Historic New Orleans Collection gives an account of this hurricane.  It was written in French by  French consul Louis Tousard to a friend.  (I've also seen his named spelled Toussard.)

Cecilia  Hock is an interpreter at the place and says that the year 1812 was a particularly trying one in New Orleans  There were three slave uprisings, a number of earthquakes along the  New Madrid Faultline that began the  previous December that caused levee breeches in New Orleans.  The war with Britain had just started.  

And then came the hurricane.

The hurricane hit at nightfall.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry

Disappearance of the Patriot-- Part 2

Logbooks from British warships off the North Carolina coast  reported a severe storm that struck January 2, 1813, after the Patriot left South Carolina.  The Patriot would have been a bit north of Cape Hatteras when the storm was at its fiercest and facing hurricane-strength winds in the early morning hours of January 2.

The Patriot was never heard from again.  Despite the many conspiracy theories and tales about Theodosia surviving it is most likely she perished with the rest of the ship's passengers and crew that day.

(I have also read that the British ships had stopped the Patriot, but after seeing a letter from Joseph Alston, the governor of South Carolina, asking for them to allow the ship to continue on its way, they did.  But, who will ever know.)

--Brock-Perry

The Burning of Washington, D.C.-- Part 2: The "Hurricane" Strikes

Less than a day after the attack on Washington began, and in the midst of the burning, it started raining and blowing.  It was a major storm, some think even possibly a hurricane.  This put out the fires and also spun off a tornado which went down Constitution Avenue and lifted two cannons and dropped them, killing British soldiers and several civilians.

After the storm, the British returned to their ships and found many of them also damaged by the storm.

This is often referred to as "The Storm That Saved Washington."

It actually did more damage to the city, however, than the British had done.

--Brock-Perry

The Singeing of D.C.-- Part 2: "The Storm That Saved Washington"

I am writing about times weather has had an impact on wars today in several blogs.  Check out my Saw the Elephant: Civil War, Tattooed On Your Soul:  World War II and Cooter's History Thing blogs to see the rest of them.

Terrified British troops regrouped at Capitol Hill and decided this was too much and it was time to leave. The wind and rain continued belting them as they headed for their ships to head away.

A Britsh admiral exclaimed to a resident:  "Great God, Madam!  Is this  the kind of storm to which you are  accustomed in this infernal country?"

Some historians say the British never intended to occupy Washington, D.C., only to raze it.  Others disagree.  In any case, they were in and out  in 26 hours, and the incident soon became known as "The Storm That Saved Washington."

Saved By the Hurricane.  --Brock-Perry

The Singeing of Washington, D.C.-- Part 1: A Hot Time In the Old Town Tonight, Then a Real Bad Storm

From the March 20, 2019, Washington Post "Weird Weather Saved America three times" by Gillian Brockell.

Frequently, when an invading country captures an enemy city, they occupy it, but not so when the British did so with Washington, D.C., during the War of 1812.

When they invaded on August 24, 1814,  they set the capital building on fire which at the time housed not only Congress, but also  the Supreme Court and Library of Congress.  Then it was on to the Executive Mansion for the same thing.

The next morning, they continued their arson and would have done more, except that a terrifying thunderstorm, possibly a hurricane,  hit and a pounding rain put the fires out.  High winds sent debris flying, injuring and killing several British soldiers.  Then a tornado touched down in the middle of Constitution Avenue, sending cannons aloft.

Real Bad Weather.  --Brock-Perry

Watch Hill Light, Rhode Island-- Part 2: Other Wrecks

In 1827 a rotary light was installed.  The lighthouse operated until 1855 when it closed due to severe erosion.  It was moved further inland away from the edge of the bluff and a new 45-foot lighthouse was built.

The steamer Metis crashed aground off Watch Hill in 1872, killing 130 people.  Lighthouse keeper Captain Jared Starr Crandall received a Congressional Gold Medal for his actions in rescuing survivors.  After his death, his wife, Sally Ann (Gavitt) Crandall, became the first  female lighthouse keep in the country.

A U.S. Life-Saving Service station was built next to the lighthouse and operated until the 1940s.  It was destroyed in 1963.

In 1907, the steamer Larchmont collided with a schooner 4 miles from the lighthouse, killing 200.  The hurricane of 1938 caused severe damage to the structure.  The light was automated in 1986 and leased to the Watch Hill Light Keepers Association.

--Brock-Perry

Hurricanes: 1813 St. Marys, Georgia-- Part 5: Fernadina, Fla. Hit Too

"Gunboats ashore shouldn't be too damaged, a few new boats, 3 or 4 cables and anchors-- some canvas and carpenter work.

"The Gun Vessels and almost every Vessel on shore lay in the street.

"No. 6 lost rudder and channels.

"Nos 160 and 165 the ironwork of their rudder.

"The Saucy Jack, Privateer of Charleston, Laying Ready to sail is now laying high and dry on a marsh that must be at least five feet above the line of Low Tide.  She draws 14 feet, seven feet being the Common Rise.

"The town has suffered much.   Seven inhabited houses blown down but no lives lost.

"Fernadina has 20 houses blown down and every vessel in port drove on shore except a Swedish brig.  Considerable amount of mercantile property destroyed."

It Was Sure a Bad One.  --Brock-Perry

Hurricanes: 1813 St. Marys, Georgia-- Part 3: Damage to Gunboats

Commodore Hugh Campbell continued with his damage report:

"(Gunboats) Nos. 160, 158, 63 and 165 are on shore above high water mark and should be gotten off with little damage.

"160 and 158 in ordinary.

"No. 3 Hospital Vessel parted her cable and drifted over a body of marsh about three miles and is now on Florida shore and hope to get her off.

"No. 168, John Hulbert, cmdr, is laying off the south end of Cumberland when hit ran for harbor at Fernandina and anchored above it but driven over a marsh about 7-7 miles from this place with loss of its mainmast."

And, There Was Still More to report.  --Brock-Perry

Hurricanes: St. Marys, Georgia-- Part 2: Fate of the Gunboats

Commodore Hugh Campbell continued his report:

"Gun Vessel No. 164, Jno. R. Grayson, cmdr. had just returned from convoying troops to Beaufort, sunk at anchor-- 20 died of 26.Mr. Grayson and 2 others reached a marsh on the Florida side and survived the night.

"Mr. Lecompt, midshipman and 2 others were rescued from an old wreck 2 1/2 miles down the river.

"No. 161 in ordinary lies sunk above the harbor and hope to be able to raise it.

"No. 62, condemned at anchor and had men from vessels in ordinary, sank at anchor but no lives lost."

--Brock-Perry

Hurricanes in the War of 1812: 1813 Hurricane at St. Marys, Georgia-- Part 1

From the Naval History and Heritage Command.

Commodore Hugh G. Campbell wrote a letter to Secretary of the Navy Jones from St. Marys, Georgia,  on 18 September 1813:

"We had yesterday morning and night proceeding one of the most severe Gales I have ever witnessed--  It commenced about 6 p.m. at NNE and veered to NNW when it blew with the greatest force and continued until about 1 A.M. at which time the Tide, which had Risen to an uncommon hight ceased to flow, and for about one hour we were favored with a calm--

"About two o'clock the Gale recommenced, every Vessel in the harbor drove on shore or sunk at their moorings."

More to Come.  Brock-Perry

Fla-Ga. Sept. 16-17 Hurricane-- Part 3

It is possibly the same storm described by Tannehill hitting the Leeward Islands 7-8 September 1813.

SUMMARY:  Based on storm tides at St. Marys and reports from St. Simons Island, the storm is considered a major hurricane for lower Georgia and adjacent coastal waters and as hurricane for Upper Georgia and Northeast Florida.

There was also another hurricane on August 27, 1813, some three weeks earlier.  This was was rated as a hurricane for Upper Georgia coastal waters, Lower Georgia coastal waters and Northeast Florida.

Its  landfall point was in South Carolina.

The folks along this stretch of U.S. coast must have been wondering "what the hey?"

Fla.-Ga. Sept. 16-17 Hurricane-- Part 2" A Major Hurricane and the Saucy Jack

The descriptions of the damage, storm surge and wind directions make it clear that this was what has to be classified as a major hurricane, not just a regular one.

It made landfall at St. Marys River and proceeded some distance inland.  Its fury was also felt along the Georgia coast.

A letter from Commodore Hugh Campbell, commanding the naval forces at St. Marys to the Secretary of the Navy included: "The Saucy Jack privateer of Charleston, lying ready to sail, is now lying high and dry on a marsh that must be at least five feet above the level of low tide.  She draws 14 feet, seven feet being the common rise."  This would indicate a storm surge of at least 19 feet above Mean Low Water.

--Brock-Perry

The Florida-Georgia September 16-17, 1813, Hurricane-- Part 1

From the Chronological Listing of Tropical Cyclones Affecting North Florida and Coastal Georgia 1565-1899 site.

This storm would be classified as a hurricane in North Florida and Upper Georgia.  In Lower Georgia, it was a major hurricane.

Its landfall points were at Cumberland Island, Georgia, Amelia Island, Florida, and St. Marys.

Sections of three letters from these areas describe the storm.  They were by Mr. Phineas Miller Nightingale of Cumberland Island, Dr. William Baldwin on Amelia Island and Commodore Hugh Campbell.  They all described the passage of the eye over their locations.

U.S. gunboats protecting St. Marys were sunk or scattered.  Twenty members of the crew of Gunboat No. 164 drowned along with two more on the Revenue Cutter.  (I haven't been able to find out the name of the revenue cutter.)

At Stallings it was reported that twenty-eight persons perished.

--Brock-Perry

HMS Sappho Takes Saucy Jack's Prize

I missed this bit of information on the Sappho.

On July 17, 1813, the Sappho recaptured the Eliza, which had been captured three days earlier by the American privateer Saucy Jack.  It took the Eliza to Jamaica.

This is the privateer that was wrecked at St. Marys by the September 17, 1813 hurricane that did so much damage.

The Sappho also captured the Sisters near Totugas.

--Brock-Perry

Gunboats 161 and 164

From the St. Marys Gunboat Project site.

GUNBOAT NO..161 was built at Charleston, South Carolina, by J. marsh in 1810.  It mounted one long 32-pdr and two 18-pdrs.  It was first sent to St. Simons and then to St. Marys in 1811 and again in March 1813.  It was sunk by the September 17, 1813 hurricane and all hands were saved.

GUNBOAT NO. 164 was built in Beaufort, South Carolina, by F. Saltus in 1810.  It mounted one long 32-pdr. and two 12-pdrs.  Sent to St. Marys in 1811 and sunk there by the September 17, 1813 hurricane with only 6 of the 26-man crew saved.

--Brock-Perry

The Georgia-Florida Hurricane of 1813-- Part 2

The 16-17 September 1813 hurricane was part of an especially bad hurricane season in 1813.  Hurricanes were particularly active along the North Atlantic and two really bad storms hit the coasts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.  The other one hit 27 August of that year.

The Hurricane of 16-17 approached landfall from the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea and pounded north Florida and south Georgia.

The renowned Charleston privateer Saucy Jack was at St. Marys, Georgia, with the gunboats and was in the process of preparing to sail.  It was hit and driven into the marsh and left high and dry five feet above the low water mark..  And, it had a draft of 14 feet.

--Brock-Perry

The Georgia-Florida Hurricane of 1813-- Part 1

From My Home Page War of 1812 in Georgia "The Hurricane of 1813"

The hurricane that his the Georgia-Florida Line (hey, that band played at the Indy 500 this past Saturday) on September 16-17, 1813 was a major meteorological event and would most likely be rated a Category 3 hurricane by today's modern standards.

It cause at least a 17-foot storm surge up the St. Marys River and hit the port of St. Marys, Georgia, and Camden County where Gunboat No. 168 and five other gunboats were stationed.  It pretty well destroyed the small American flotilla.

Three gunboats were sunk in the harbor, two others run ashore and, as I have already said, No. 168 was driven ashore seven miles inland, where it came to rest in the marsh at the foot of Harriet's Bluff.

--Brock-Perry

U.S. Gunboat No. 168-- Part 3: Big Old Hurricane

From My Home page War of 1812 in Georgia.

If 168 was built to protect North Carolina, it certainly was stationed there.  Apparently it was mostly in Georgia and Florida waters during its service.

Still stationed on the Georgia-Florida border over a year later, it was among the American squadron battered by an epic hurricane 16-17 September 1813.  Six U.S. Navy gunboats were sunk or run aground in the St. Marys River as a result of it.

Four were recovered and two, No. 161 and No. 164 are still,believed to be somewhere at the bottom of the river.  Efforts are being made to find these two ships.

Gunboat No. 168 was dismasted and driven ashore seven miles inland by the storm surge at the marsh by Harriets Bluff.  It was recovered, repaired and returned to service.

It would have been interesting to find out how they were able to move the ship so far.

--Brock-Perry

U.S. Gunboat No. 168-- Part 2: First, Last and a Hurricane

I am unable to find out any more about the battle between the Sappho and 168, however.

From NC1812.

Gunboat No. 168 was built at Wilmington, N.C., one of three Jeffersonian gunboats built there to defend the state as fears of war with Britain grew.  In March 1808, the U.S. Navy issued contracts to shipbuilder Amos Perry to build three gunboats.  They were Nos. 166, 167 and 168.  Jeffersonian gunboats were only numbered and no names given to them (other than 166 which later became known as the USS Alligator).

On March 13, 1812, so, you could say that it fired the first naval shots of the War of 1812.  It is also given credit for firing the last shots of the naval war as well on 16th March 1815.

In 1813 it was driven ashore by a hurricane.

--Brock-Perry