North Carolina in the War of 1812-- Part 2

Even though the United States suffered many land defeats, things were generally better at sea.  Captain Johnston Blakely (I wrote about him the last several days, including the Blakely Tea Service) was an Irish immigrant who had for a time made North Carolina his home.  His ship, the Wasp, won single-ship fights with the British ships Reindeer and Avon, but disappeared without a trace.

American privateers wreaked havoc on British shipping throughout the war.  The Snap Dragon, NC's most famous privateers, was captained by Swansboro's Otway Burns.  On his first voyage from1812-1813, he seized eight vessels and pickings were so good on the second cruise that the crew was forced to sleep on the deck.

British naval vessels and privateers harassed the North Carolina coasts throughout the war.  The government couldn't spare regular troops so it fell to the militia to protect the state.  British landing parties attacked several different locations.

In November 1813, three barges of armed men from the british privateer Mars captured several American vessels at Wilmington's New Inlet (where Civil War Fort Fisher was later built).  Local militia was able to capture one barge and drive off the others, however.

In another large raid in October 1814 at Currituck Inlet, the British captured three ships and burned three more, but were drive off by local militia.

And, That's Not the End of It.  --Brock-Perry