Dueling Frigates: Why Standard British Frigates Were No Match for U.S. "Super Frigates" Like the USS Constitution

From the New London County (Connecticut) Historical Society "Dueling Frigates."

Not only did Navy personnel on both sides during the War of 1812 engage in duels, but also there were times when a sea battle between two enemy frigates was actually more of a duel in itself.

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BACKGROUND

With a fleet of just six frigates (including three 44 gun super frigates), five smaller sloops of war, two brigs and a motley collection of  small coastal (Jeffersonian Gunboats) defense vessels, the U.S. navy was in no way in a position to face off with the Royal Navy which had more than 600 active vessels, about 100 of which were 74+ gun ships of the line.

Fleet actions characterized much of the fighting between the French and English,, U.S. ships went out singly or in small  squadrons to raid British commerce and engage single British ships when the opportunity arose.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Author David C. Skaggs Named As a 2019 Knox Award Winner by NHF

From the October Naval History magazine.

At the 93rd annual meeting of the Naval Historical Foundation (NHF) held June 8, 2019 at the Washington Navy Yard, officials announced this year's three recipients of the Commodore Dudley W. Knox Medal for naval history.

Along with Mr. Skaggs, the other two were Commander U.S. Navy (Ret) Tyrone G. Martin and Norman Polmar.

Mr. Skaggs is of special interest to readers of this blog  because some of his books are:

A Signal Victory:  The Lake Erie Campaign, 1812-1813 (1997)
Thomas Macdonough:  Master of Command in the Early U.S. Navy (2003)
Oliver Hazard Perry:  Honor, Courage, and Patriotism in the Early U.S. Navy (2006)

In 2013, he was Naval History's Author of the Year.

And, who says we don't get enough War of 1812 books?

Not So Forgotten.  --Brock-Perry

HMS Acasta

From wiki hmssurprise.org. site.

HMS Acasta was a 40-gun fifth rate frigate laid down September 1795 and launched March 13, 1797 and sailed June 24, 1797.  154 feet at lower deck, 40-9 feet beam, crew 320 officers and men.  Thirty 18-pound cannons on main deck.  One of the largest of "Eighteen-Pounder Frigates."

Served in wars vs. France and Napoleonic Wars.

Under the command of Captain Alexander R. Kerr from 1812 to 1815.

1812:

Captured American brig Federal
Retook schooner Blonde
Participated in the capture of American privateer Snapper, American schooner Farmer's Fancy, and the letter of marque brigs Harold and Porcupine.

1814

Captured sloop Diana and Jane, schooners Providence, Stephanie and Hazard.

1815

Participated in the chase of USS Constitution and in the retaking of the Levant, one of the Constitution's prizes.

--Brock-Perry

Dueling in the Early 1800s in the United States

I have been writing about Hassard Stackpoole of the Royal Navy, who was killed by another officer of the British Navy in a duel in 1814.

Duels were popular in this era.

From Wikipedia.

In the 1600s and 1700s, most duels were with swords and rapiers, but starting in the 1800s, the pistol became weapon of choice.

Dueling became a popular way of settling differences in the United States.  In 1804, former secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton was killed in a duel by sitting Vice President Aaron Burr.

Between 1798 and the Civil War, the U.S. Navy lost  two-thirds more of its officers to dueling than to combat with the enemy at sea.  One of those was naval hero Stephen Decatur.  Most of the officers killed were midshipmen and junior officers.

Despite prominent deaths and public outcry, dueling continued before the Civil War, particularly in the South because of contemporary ideals of chivalry and because of threat of ridicule if a duel challenge was declined.

And, as we will see in upcoming posts, there was also "dueling" between warships.

--Brock-Perry

Captain Hassard Stackpoole

Fron the Three Decks Site.

HASSARD STACKPOOLE

British nationality.  First and last known service in Royal Navy:

February 8, 1795 to April 28, 1814.  Killed in a duel.

RANKS

Lieutenant Feb. 8, 1795

Commander March 12, 1800

Captain  April 29, 1802

COMMANDS

March 1800 to July 21, 1801  HMS Iphigenia (16 guns) Commander and commanding officer.

1802 to April 29, 1802:  HMS Alonzo  (18 guns)  Commander and commanding officer.

April 1809 to August 1809:  HMS Phoebe  (36 guns) Captain and commanding officer

1811 to April 28, 1814:  HMS Statira  (38 guns)  Captain and commander.

--Brock-Perry

Who Knows What the Next Enemy Ship Commandeered on the High Seas By the U.S. Navy After the War of 1812 Was?

I am currently writing about that ship, well, actually submarine, in my Tattooed On Your Soul: World War II blog.

According to the article I am using, it was the first warship commandeered by the U.S. Navy since the War of 1812.

That ship was the German U-boat U-505 during World War II, which can be seen at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry.

Check It Out.  --GreGen

Captain Hassard Stackpoole, Royal Navy

From the New London (Ct.) County Historical Society  "British Royal Navy Figures."

HASSARD STACKPOLLE (1769-1814)

Born in Limerick, Ireland, and joined the HMS Termagent in 1783.  He was promoted to lieutenant in 1795 and was in command of the HMS Iphagenia when she burned  at Egypt in 1801.

He was promoted to captain in 1802.  While serving on the HMS Tonnant in 1810, Lieutenant Thomas W. Cecil remarked that Stackpoole  "drew a long bow" (lied).

Stackpoole was in command of the HMS Statira by 1811 and served off New London 1813-1814, and was involved in setting up and arrangement for a "duel" between the former sister ships USS Macedonian  (former HMS Macedonian) and Statira in January 1814.

That didn't come to pass.

Stackpoole later encountered Lt. Cecil (from the HMS Tonnant) in Jamaica and challenged him to a duel.  The usually sure-shot Stackpoole  was killed by Cecil (who had no dueling experience) in one of the most notorious examples of dueling in the British Navy.

--Brock-Don't-Shoot Perry

Hassard Stackpoole? Captures American Brig Federal 1814 or 1812

I found a source that related the following information:

September 17, 1814,  HMS Acasta , 40 gun fifth rate frigate, Captain Alexander Robert Kerr and HMS Statira, 38-gun Lively Class fifth rate frigate commanded by Captain Hassard Stackpoole, captured American brig Federal commanded by Samuel Swan , Jr..

The Federal was 115 tons and sailing  from Africa to Boston with a cargo of ivory, cam wood, coffee.

Another site lists the date as being September 17, 1812, which is probably correct as Hassard Stackpoole was dead by September 17, 1814, killed in that duel 28 April 1814 that I mentioned in my last post.

--Brock-Perry

Captain Hassard Stackpole Later Killed in a Duel

I mentioned that Captain Hassard Stackpole commanded the HMS Statira at the action of Alewife Cove in the last post.

I looked him up and found that he was later killed in a duel with another British officer.

The duel took place on 28 April 1814, between Stackpole, commander of the Statira and Lt. Thomas Walbeoff Cecil of the HMS Argo.  This  duel grew out of something that had happened on the HMS Tonnant, when Cecil had served with Stackpole.

Stackpole was still the commander of the HMS Statira at the time.

--Brock-Perry

Cannonballs Flew Near Alewife Cove-- Part 3

The fighting carried on for much of the day and local commanders General Burbeck, Commodore Decatur and Captain Jones came to observe.

It was estimated that between the frigate Statira and the sloop of war HMS Loup Cervier, 20 broadsides were fired on the American defenders on the beach who were fully exposed to the fire, but they miraculously suffered no casualties.

The Gazette mocked that "the plowing Stackpole [Captain Hassard Stackpole of the HMS Statira] gave to Roger's land is a fair offset to the holes he has made in his barn, crib and back-house."  Evidently, the Americans had had some rather nasty run-ins with Stackpole.

--Brock-Perry

Cannonballs Flew Near Alewife Cove, Ct.-- Part 2: The Fight

The Gazette reported that:  "A few inhabitants immediately assembled and from an adjacent wall so annoyed the marauders that they abandoned the vessel as soon as they could put fire to her."

According to the journal of Sylvanus  Griswold, ten men left the church service in New London and ran to Fort Trumbull, and "took two smart field pieces & hastened to the scene of Action & drove the three barges off."

A half hour of firing from both sides ensued as American reinforcements arrived.  Some of the locals boarded the vessel to try to retrieve what they could, but were driven off when the frigate Statira approached and fired two or three broadsides at the burning vessel.

--Brock-Perry

Cannonballs Flew Near Alewife Cove, Connecticut-- Part 1

From the Alewife Cove Conservancy. 

Alewife Cove is named for the herring fish by that name which at one time were a problem in Chicago.  It is near the city of New London, Connecticut.

During the War of 1812, the British fleet blockading the Connecticut shoreline constantly.  One of the skirmishes took place off Goshen Point, present-day Harkness State Park which involved some 1,500 cannon balls being exchanged between the Americans and British.

On Sunday, November 28, 1813,  an action took place between Royal Navy ships and about 200 local defenders.  It started when the coasting sloop Roxana, bound from New York to Providence, was run ashore about a half mile west of the New London Light to escape three barges from the fleet that were in hot pursuit.

The alarm sounded immediately as the Roxana's crew rowed ashore and local residents grabbed their their weapons and rushed to to defend the vessel.

--Brock-Perry

Five Places to Visit for Veterans Day-- Part 2: USS Constitution, Wright-Patterson AFB, National Museum of WW II

USS CONSTITUTION,  Boston.  The ship has the distinction of being  "the oldest commissioned warship in the world.  Launched in 1797.

Nicknamed "Old Ironsides" and defeated five British ships during the War of 1812.  Still manned by active duty U.S. Navy personnel and capable of sailing under her own power to this day.

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Dayton

Houses the National Museum of the United States Air Force with nearly 400 aircraft, missiles, several Presidential Planes,

Artifacts dating from the Wright Brothers to creation of NASA.

D-DAY MUSEUM, New Orleans

Now called the National Museum of World War II.  "Dedicated to remembering the American Experience during the war that changed the world."

--Brock-Perry

Five Places to Visit for Veterans Day-- Part 1: National Veterans Art Museum and Pearl Harbor

From the Nov. 8, 2019 Your Sun.

GOGROUP LLC,  has put together a list of five places to visit  in the next several days to honor our veterans:

1.  THE NATIONAL VETERANS ART MUSEUM,  Chicago.    (I'd never heard of this one.)    Over 2,500 works of art by veterans, including the Gulf War and War on Terror.

Paintings, sculpture and poetry.

2.  PEARL HARBOR NAVAL BASE,  Oahu, Hawaii.     A memorial to the 2,400 Americans killed that day and the thousands more killed in Pacific action.

Includes the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, USS Arizona Memorial and USS Missouri Memorial.

--Brock-Perry

Swords Seized in Connecticut May Be William Henry Harrison's-- Part 2: Real Or Not?

James Kochan, the sword's owner, said it was authentic and that it belonged to him, but he reluctantly turned it over to the police.  It is now in the custody of Hamilton County where the Harrison-Symmes Foundation says  they had donated it to the Hamilton County Probate Court in 1922.

Documents show the court loaned it to the Cincinnati Historical Society, which used it in their 1976 Bicentennial display,, but sometime in the next few years, it disappeared while in the society's storage in its museum.

The Society didn't publicize the  theft and the Harrison-Symmes Foundation became aware that it was gone when they asked for it back for a display in the 1993 celebration of the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Village of Cleves, 15 miles west of Cincinnati where John Simmes was a pioneering landowner.

So, Is It Or Isn't It The Real Deal?  --Brock-Perry

Sword Seized by Connecticut Cops May Have Been Wielded by President in the War of 1812-- Part 1

From the Nov. 7, 2019, Fox News by Frank Miles.

A sword from the American Revolution that may have been used by a future president of the United States has been recovered in Connecticut.  Studies will be made to determine whether it is or not.  Is it the same one that disappeared from the Cincinnati Historical Society forty years ago?

It is believed that this sword was carried into battle by future President William Henry Harrison in the War of 1812, and before him, carried into battle in the American Revolution by  Continental Army Col. John Cleves Symmes, Harrison's future father-in-law.

Police in Windsor, Ct. seized the sword just before it was to be auctioned by James Kochan of Wiscasset, Maine.  Kochan, a collector, said he bought the sword in 2015 from a collection being sold by Christie's auction house in New York.

It was spotted online by Dave Sunberg, a member of the Harrison-Symmes Memorial Foundation who alerted police.

--Brock-Perry

Provincetown's Timothy Parker Johnson's Service in War of 1812 Recognized-- Part 2

Verifying Parker's War of 1812 and raising money for the new grave marker was the work of author Amy Whorf McGuiggan and Conwell Enterprises, which operates Conwell  Lumber in Provincetown, and others.    After months of research, Johnson's service as a soldier was confirmed  by the National Society United States Daughters of 1812.

During the 19th century, the Johnson family contributed greatly to the growth of Provincetown from a remote fishing village to a prominent  whaling, cod fishing and  mackeral port.

Johnson owned a wharf between Johnson and Arch streets.  His business interests were salt works, ships ballasts and ownership of Ocean Hall, later known as Central House and now Crown & Anchor.

Between 1841  and 1848, he was managing owner of the 162-ton brig gem, one of Provincetown's first whaling ships.  He influenced the  the building of a Universalist meeting house and was selectman for two years.

Johnson died in Provincetown in 1864.  His wife lived until 1892.

The War of 1812 was fought largely outside of New England, Charlotte  Line, president of the Massachusetts State Society of the United Daughters of 1812.  "However, we did send people," she said.

A portrait of Johnson hangs in the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum.

--Brock-Perry

Provincetown, Massachusetts' Timothy Parker Johnson Recognized for Service in 1812-- Part 1

From the Nov. 1. Provincetown Banner (Mass.) by Mary Ann Bragg.

A lot of research went into the life of a prominent 1800s Provincetown citizen Timothy Parker Johnson and the result was that his grave was marked Saturday in the Provincetown Cemetery for his service in the War of 1812.

Timothy Parker Johnson was a 15-year-old when he served as a private and drummer boy in the war and is the only Provincetown resident known to have served in that war.  He is buried in a prominent family plot in the cemetery but his credentials as a soldier have only recently been verified.

He served as a member of a military unit from his Connecticut home town and after the war, settled in Provincetown with his wife.

A relative of Johnson, Martha Jaxtimer, said, "It's such an honor," when a new grave marker was unveiled.

--Brock-Perry

World War II Vetaran and First U.S. Coast Guard Member Captured Since War of 1812, Laid to Rest in NY

From the Nov. 2, 2019, Spectrum News "WWII Veteran Laid to rest in WNY " by Brandon Lewis.

Lt. Thomas Crotty died in a Japanese POW camp in the Philippines in 1942 and his remains have finally been returned to his family and hometown of Buffalo.

He was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna

With American forces about to surrender in the Philippines, he went about his duty destroying supplies and facilities to prevent them falling into Japanese hands.

He served in four branches of the military and was the first Coast Guard member captured since the War of 1812.  I was unable to find out who the last member of the U.S. Coast Guard (then called Revenue Service) captured in the War of 1812 was.

--Brock-Perry

Sackets Harbor Battlefield Museum Requires Roof Work-- Part 2

The Hall House is home to an exhibit that tells the story of the War of 1812 from a different perspective.  "It's about understanding the War of 1812 through archaeology," said Connie Barone.

Despite the damage to the building, as far as they can tell, there were no problems for its contents

"Metal objects, the archaeological materials, can be subjected to rust.  If, all of the sudden, their surface temperature is really cold, like your ice glass and you get condensation on that, condensation on metal items causes rust," said Chris Flagg.

Both Flagg and Barone will be monitoring the collection for the next two days.

If the heat isn't turned on by then, metal objects, paintings and textiles from the exhibit will be moved across the street to the Lieutenant's House.

--Brock-Perry

Sackets Harbor Battlefield Museum Requires Roof Work from Recent Storm-- Part 1

 From the Nov. 2, 2019, WWNY TV 7 News  "Quick work to repair roof on Sackets Harbor museum" by Keir Chapman.

The historic Hall House at the Sackets  Harbor Battlefield is missing half of its roof after heavy winds on Friday morning (Nov. 1).

"The side toward the village  is the portion that blew off in two large pieces, said Connie Barone, site manager of the Sackets Harbor Battlefield,  "This is not the time of the year when you want the roof off a building."

The roof is expected to be patched up by Sunday.  Crews were already on site Saturday morning working on it.

However, the upcoming wet weather is a threat to the artifacts in the house which serves as a museum.  "I believe there's rain in the forecast tomorrow, possibly Monday, Tuesday.  So with the roof wide open like that, you want to keep water out of the building.  Water is your worst enemy," said Chris Flagg, director for the Bureau of Historic Sites.

--Brock-Perry

Ohio's War of 1812 Forts-- Part 1: The Land and Rivers Were Different Back Then

Since I have been writing about Fort Stephenson and Meigs in Ohio during the war, I came across this on all of the state's forts during the war.

From the Touring Ohio site "Ohio's forts during the War of 1812."

When the war broke out and after the surrender of Hull at Detroit, Ohio's new commander, William Henry Harrison began preparing for the expected invasion of northwest Ohio by the British

At that time, northwest Ohio was often called the Black swamp.  It was a mucky ware-logged area that made travel by land very difficult.  Harrison decided to build a number of forts and supply depots along the rivers.

The rivers of northwestern Ohio back then were different than they are today.  They were mostly slow-moving, deep water rivers that retained their levels most of the year. thanks to the swampy land supplying them with water.

Even during hard rains the rivers would remain relatively level since the water had to flow through the swamps before entering the river.  Later, as the land was cleared and turned into farmland, came the wide fluctuations in water level we have today.

--Brock-Perry

Battle of Fort Stephenson-- Part 5: Honors and Reburial

Once the British and General Proctor were defeated at Fort Stephenson, he withdrew back to Fort Detroit, with the Americans under Gen. Harrison following closely.  Shortly after Fort Stephenson, Commodore Perry would defeat the British fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie near Put-In-Bay.

The Americans now had complete control of Lake Erie and British prospects of supplies and reinforcements essentially ceased.

For his exploit, despite disobeying orders, George Croghan was brevetted to lieutenant colonel by the President of the United States.  In 1835, the U.S. Congress awarded him the Gold Medal.  later, he was made Inspector general with the rank of colonel.

During the Mexican War, he served with General Taylor.  Two years later, he died in New Orleans.  In 1906, he remains were disinterred from his family plot in Kentucky and  moved to Fremont, Ohio (site of Fort Stephenson) and placed in a special crypt at the base of the Soldiers' Monument honoring Fremont's veterans and specifically the Battle of Fort Stephenson, 1813.

--Brock-Perry