Jacob Jones, USN-- Part 3: A Victory Then a Loss

As the two vessels continued to close, the Wasp collided with the bowsprit of the HMS Frolic.  Jones immediately ordered his men to board the Frolic, where they overwhelmed the British crew and captured the ship.

It was all over in 45 minutes.  Out of110 sailors aboard the Frolic, 90 had been killed or seriously wounded.  The Americans suffered only five killed and five wounded.

The victory over the Frolic was complete, but just then the sails of another ship were seen, which turned out to be the HMS Poictiers, a 74-gun British ship-of-the-line, appeared on the horizon.

Under normal circumstances. Jones' ship could easily outsail the slower, more powerful Poictiers; but the rigging of the Wasp was in tatters.  After the Poictiers fired a warning shot at the smaller American vessel, Jones was forced to surrender.

Regardless of the loss of his ship, Congress presented Jones with a gold medal for his action.

The Delaware native served four more decades in the U.S. Navy.

Jones had weathered a turbulent childhood and failure in several occupations before ge found himself a home in the Navy.

--Brock-Perry

HMS Asia-- Part 2: Took Part in the War of 1812 at Baltimore and New Orleans

The Asia was off the Chesapeake Bay in the United States in July 1814.  The Royal Marine Artillery Company of the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Marines were ferried from Bermuda to the Chesapeake aboard the Asia, via the HMS Tonnant. 

During the bombardment of Fort McHenry, guarding Baltimore, the Asia was anchored off the city along with the Seahorse, Surprise and Severn.

Later, the Asia was one of Admiral Cockburn's fleet at New Orleans  at the start of 1815 in support of the attack on Andrew Jackson's position.  Some 107 Royal marines disembarked from the ship to assist in the attack.

In 1819, the Asia was renamed the HMS Alfred.  From 1822 to 1829, the Asia was reduced  to a 50-gun fourth rate frigate and was eventually broken up in 1865.

--Brock-Perry

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine

I have been writing about this shipyard in Maine in my Tattooed On Your Soul: World War II blog.  During the 1900s, this place was very involved in the construction of submarines, but I also saw there were some ships with War of 1812 connections.

There were three American Revolution ships as well.

The USS Portsmouth, a 24-gun sloop of war was constructed with funds from the citizens of Portsmouth for use during the Quasi War with France in 1799 and sold in 1801.

The USS Congress was a 38-gun frigate was launched in 1799 and saw service in the Quasi War with France, First Barbary War, War of 1812, and Second Barbary War.  It was broken up in 1834.

The USS Washington was a 74-gun ship of the line launched in 1814.  Served until 1820 and broken up in 1843.

--Brock-Perry

Another USS New York Burned to Prevent Enemy Capture

Earlier this month I wrote about the frigate USS Columbia being burned at Washington Navy Yard in 1814 to prevent capture by the British and that another frigate named USS Columbia had been burned to prevent capture by Confederates in 1861 at Gosport Navy Yard in Norfolk, Virginia.

And, the USS New York name had a similar story.  The 1800 USS New York, which I have been writing about was burned at Washington Navy Yard in 1814.  The next USS New York was a 74-gun ship of the line that was laid down in 1820 at Norfolk Navy Yard, but never launched and burned in 1861 to prevent capture by the Confederates.

--Brock-Perry

HMS Prince Regent-- Part 2: Flagship of British Lake Erie Fleet

It became the flagship of Commodore Sir James Lucas Yeo and gave him the edge in the naval race so he immediately used it.  The British squadron departed Kingston 4 May 1814 to attack Fort Oswego, New York, which involved a landing operation.  The fort and town of Oswego were captured May 6.

On May 19, they set up a blockade of the US Navy at Sackets Harbor, New York.  After the defeat at Sandy Creek, they abandoned the blockade June 5 and returned to Kingston.

With the launch of the first rate ship-of-the-line HMS St. Lawrence, Yeo transferred his flag to that ship and once again he had naval superiority

--Brock-Perry

HMS Hussar, Revolutionary War Ship-- Part 1: What Does Armed En Flute Mean?

From Wikipedia.

Although this ship did not fight in the War of 1812, nor did the two recovered cannons from the Hussar.  However, the cannons are now at a War of 1812 fort, Fort Clinton.

The HMS Hussar was commissioned in August 1763 and was 124 feet long, 33.10 foot beam, 200 crew and mounted 28 cannons with 24 9-pdrs. and 4 3-pdrs.  It was rated as a 6th rate frigate and of the Mermaid-Class.

It served off North America from 1768 to 1771 and went into ordinary in 1771.  It was repaired and refitted from 1774 to 1777 and recommissioned in 1777.

It captured the Spanish ship-of-the-line Nuestra Senora del Buen Confeso though armed en flute on 20 November 1779.  I had to look up armed en flute as it didn't make since that a 6th rate frigate mounting just 28 cannons, could take a ship-of-the-line.  Armed en flute means a warship being used in transport with a reduced armament.  At the time the Spanish government had just 26 12-pdrs.

Never Knew Armed En Flute.  --Brock-Perry

The Wreck of the USS New Hampshire/Granite State-- Part 2

From Wreckhunter.

The ship was lost July 26, 1922, on the east side of Graves Island by Manchester, Massachusetts. The hull is very broken up and now lies mostly buried in the sand. It was too bad that this ship was not properly cared for and as a result lost as there are no surviving United States ships-of-the-line.

They Were Very Impressive Tall Ships. --Brock-Perry

USS New Orleans, Ship-of-the-Line-- Part 3

From usgennet.

In February 1884, while the USS New Orleans was undergoing demolition, it collapsed, killing James Oates and seriously injuring three others while another eight narrowly escaped injury. Mr. Oates was horribly mutilated with a spike through his head and a bolt through his back.

The New Orleans had survived for many years since construction on it began way back in 1815 at Sackets Harbor, New York. The ship was named after General Jackson's glorious victory at the Battle of New Orleans.

The New Orleans was pierced for 110 guns but could carry 120. Wood for construction came from the surrounding countryside while nails, spikes and bolts were forged on the grounds. Gun Carriages were carried from the Mohawk Valley and made of mahogony and lignumvitae.

Some people today believe the New Orleans might have been more intended to be a floating battery at the head of the St. Lawrence River since its wood was green.

Work stopped with the coming of peace and the New Orleans remained in stocks and eventually the government had a house erected around it. It became a big tourist attraction as people came to see the monster ship.

Alfred Wilkinson of Syracuse bought it at auction for a $400 bid and reportedly cleared a profit of $4,000 by selling salvage from it.

Today, there is an exhibit about the New Orleans at the Sackets Harbor Visitors Center at the Augustus Sacket Mansion right near where the old ship stood for so many years.

--Brock-Perry

Not To Be Confused With the HMS Gloucester

Looking up the HMS Duke of Blucester, I came across the name of an HMS Gloucester, which was also afloat during the War of 1812.

From Wikipedia.

The HMS Gloucester does not have a lot of information that I could find. It was launched in England 27 February 1812 and was a 74-gun Third Class Ship of the Line. I found no mention of War of 1812 service, despite it being around. It probably served in England's home defense fleet or was involved in the Napoleonic Wars.

In 1832, it was reduced to 50 guns and sold in 1884. One site said it had a very uneventful career and was 177-feet long. It was used for harbor service (perhaps a receiving ship) until 1861.

Don't Be Confused. ---Brock-Perry

HMS St. Lawrence: Lake Ontario's Ship of the Line-- Part 2

Before the launch of the St. Lawrence, control of Lake Ontario passed back and forth during the war. Once the St. Lawrence was launched in September 1814, the British had uncontested control of the lake.

However, the ship never saw action as the U.S. ships declined to fight it. It was decommissioned soon after the war and in 1832 the hull was sold for 25 pounds and it later became a brewery storage facility before eventually sinking in 30 feet of water at Kingston.

It is now a popular dive spot, though little remains of the once mighty ship.

I sure never knew there was a ship of the line on the Great Lakes.

 --Brock-Perry

HMS St. Lawrence-- Lake Ontario's Ship of the Line-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Last week, I wrote about a walking tour being offered of naval facilities in Kingston, Ontario, and came across the name of a ship of the line, the HMS St. Lawrence, which I'd never heard of before.

The HMS St. Lawrence was 191 feet long, had a crew of 700 and, among its 112 guns, mounted sixty 32-pdrs, thirty-six 24-pdrs and four 68-pdr. carronades. This made the ship what is considered a first rate ship of the line.

It is the only Royal Navy ship of the line warship ever launched and operated entirely on fresh water. As a matter of fact, it only operated on Lake Ontario because of the how shallow the St. Lawrence River was and its rapids at one end and Niagara Falls at the other.

--Brock-Perry

Follow-Up: British Ships HMS San Domingo, Maidstone-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Yesterday, I wrote about the British blockade coming to the Chesapeake Bay and the Captain Burr being stopped by the HMS San Domingo, Maidstone, Acasta.  I'd never heard of these ships, so looked them up in good old Wiki.

HMS SAN DOMINGO--  74-gun third-rate ship-of-the-line launched 1809 and sold 1816.  the 180-foot long vessel was the flagship of Sir John Borlase Warren.

HMS MAIDSTONE--  36-gun fifth-rate frigate launched 1811.  Used as a receiving ship from 1832 and hulked in 1839.  Broken up in 1865.

HMS ACASTA--  Next.

Brock-Perry

The HMS Narcissus

I couldn't find too much about this ship.

It was the second Royal Navy ship by that name.  It was a 32-gun 5th Rate Ship of the Line, launched in 1801.  Besides capturing the USS Viper, it served in the Chesapeake Bay area.  On June 7, 1814, it and the HMS Loire were blockading the entrance to St. Leonard's Creek, but driven off on the 26th.

After 1823, it was used as a convict ship and sold in 1837.

Brock-Perry