Jacob Lewis & the N.Y. Flotilla-- Part 4: Torpedo Attack on HMS Ramilles

Commodore Lewis assisted a civilian  in an attempt to win that bounty as put forward by the Torpedo Act.  The civilian crew brought a small schooner loaded with foodstuffs   within range of Admiral  Hardy's flagship Ramillies.  They connected one of the barrels to a charge of gunpowder.

Lewis anticipated that the British would capture the ship and bring it alongside the Ramillies to be unloaded.  removing the barrel would trigger an explosion.

As predicted, the warship sent boats to capture the schooner.  However, winds prevented the British sailors from bring it alongside.  Instead, they unloaded  the cargo into a ship's boat.    The resulting explosion killed an officer and ten seamen.

Afterwards, British captains exercised greater caution in dealing with captured vessels.

Sneaky Americans.  --Brock-Perry

The Torpedo Act

In the last post, I mentioned the Torpedo Act.  

From the Yale Law School Lillian Goldman Law Library.

An Act to Encourage the Destruction of Armed Vessels of War of the Enemy

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, during  the present war with Great Britain, it shall be lawful for any person or persons, to burn, sink, or destroy, any British armed vessel of war, except vessels coming as cartels or flags of truce; and for that purpose to use torpedoes,  submarine instruments, or any other destructive machine whatever: and a bounty of one half the value  of the armed vessel so burnt, sunk, or destroyed, and also one half the value of her guns, cargo, tackle,  and apparel, shall be paid out of the treasury of the United States to such person or persons who shall effect the same, otherwise than by the armed or commissioned vessels of the  United States.

Approved March 3, 1813

Jacob Lewis & the N.Y. Flotilla-- Part 3: Lewis & Fulton on Torpedoes and Underwater Cannons

Congress  prompted experimentation to develop new weapons and methods of naval combat, passing what was called the Torpedo Act in March.  This granted one half the value of an enemy warship to an individual destroying it.

Robert Fulton and Commodore Jacob Lewis cooperated in developing torpedoes and underwater gunnery.  In the early 19th century, a torpedo was an explosive charge detonated against the side of a target.  Typically, a small vessel rammed the enemy ship below the waterline with a torpedo mounted on a forward spar.

Also, a submarine could attach the torpedo under the target underwater.

Fulton and Lewis demonstrated the potential of an underwater cannon.  They placed a hundred pounder columbiad  with a ten pound powder charge below the surface of the water.  The firing mechanism was dry inside the attacking boat while the muzzle extended into the water.  Upon firing, the cannon could drive a massive ball through three feet of solid oak at a range of six feet.

The British decision not to attack New York City precluded the use of this under actual combat conditions.

--Brock-Perry

HMS St. Lawrence-- Part 3: The Power on Lake Ontario

The St. Lawrence cost the British government 500,000 pounds.  It immediately became Commodore Sir Francis Lucas Yeo's flagship.This ship gave the British Navy unmatched domination of Lake Ontario.  The day of the launch, the American fleet under Isaac Chauncey showed up off Kingston and offered battle, hoping to engage the St. Lawrence before the crew was properly trained.

But, the British declined.

The St. Lawrence put to sea October 19 and was struck by lightning with a mast damaged and several deaths.  Later, there was an American attempt to destroy the St. Lawrence with a "torpedo" in Kingston Harbor.

Nothing came of it.

--Brock-Perry

Joseph Chambers' Diving Suit and Torpedoes

Evidently, repeating weapons weren't the only thing Joseph Chambers was interested in.

In November 1807, he wrote to Thomas Jefferson giving details for his experiments with a primitive type of diving suit and "Torpedoes."

November 17, 1807:  From West Middleton, Pennsylvania.

A proposition for examination by the government of a submarine dress for placing torpedoes and for other purposes during the war.

These torpedoes, however, would be more like mines than the powered torpedoes we know today.

--Brock-Perry

Delaware in the War of 1812-- Part 3

The Americans had the Fulton torpedo, invented by steamboat pioneer Robert Fulton.  They consisted of gunpowder filled barrels with a timing device, the forerunners of today's naval mines.  This sort of weapon continued to be called torpedoes even through the Civil War.  When Admiral Farragut ordered his fleet "Damn the torpedoes!  Full speed ahead!" he was referring to these mine/torpedoes.

The Lewes bombardment ended up as a stand-off.  The town was not captured, nor did they give the British those 20 bullocks.  But the British fleet went after American shipping in the Delaware River and Bay, destroying about twenty ships.

A month later, Havre de Grace, Maryland, was looted and burned.

Most every Delaware town had some sort of fortifications.

No Bull for You!!  --Brock-Perry