Real Daughter Marker Returned to Proper Place-- Part 1

From the Nov. 10, 2019, Sentinel-Record

The United States Daughters of 1812 was established in  1892 and many of its original members were the actual daughters of a War of 1812 veteran.  The group developed a grave marker for those members.

Earlier this year, Arkansas State President Kay Tatum received a real daughter's grave marker that was found in the attic of a recently purchased house in Fairfield Bay.  The marker was inscribed with the name Susanna Tucker Shamstrom. "Real Daughter" of Lt. John Tucker, War of 1812.

Using records in the U.S.D. 1812 National Office in Washington, D.C., it was determined that the marker  belonged to Shamstrom's grave in Coolidge, Kansas.

--Brock-Perry

President Trump Honors the Fallen Twice on Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery and Fort McHenry

From the May 25, 2020, KGNS TV  Laredo, Tx, "Trump honors war dead  in events colored by pandemic's threat" by Darlene Superville.

President Donald Trump honored America's war dead Monday in back-to-back Memorial Day appearances marred by  an epic struggle off the battlefield   against the coronavirus.

The U.S. death toll to the virus is now approaching 100,000 (and has now surpassed it).

Trump first went to Arlington National Cemetery.  Traditionally on Memorial Day, presidents lay a wreath and speak there, but this year it was different.

Many attendees arrived wearing masks but removed them for the outdoor ceremony in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Trump, maskless as always in public, gave no remarks.  He approached a wreath already in place, stood in reflection, saluted it then touched it.

He then traveled to Fort McHenry in Baltimore where he declared:  "Together we will vanquish the virus and America will rise from this crisis to new and even greater heights.  No obstacle, no challenge and no threat is a match for the sheer determination of the American people."

Saluting All U.S. Military Who Have Made the Ultimate Sacrifice.

War of 1812 Graves Marked in Iowa-- Part 2: Black Veterans and a Man With Two Names and Many Spouses

The men whose graves are now marked include Albert Lytle, Robert Dickens and William Early.  All three of these men were Blacks.

Also, William Buzick, a War of 1812 veteran

Grandison Able who was both a veteran of the Mexican War and the Civil War.  Even so, however, he had to get the help of a Congressman to get him a $12-a-month pension.

Benjamin Brown spent the last seventeen years of his life at the Old Soldiers Home in Marshalltown.

Dr. John Granville Kimball, who had several spouses and for some reason was known as John Granville and John Kimball.    This has the makings of an interesting story.

Henry Moreland was born in England but rose to the rank of captain during the Civil War.

Jacob Lee Englebert wrote many recollections for the Des Moines Register.

I Am So Glad These Men Are Having Their Graves Finally  Marked.  --Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Graves Marked in Iowa-- Part 1: Expanded to 19th-Century Wars

From the May 24, 2020, Des Moines (Iowa) Register "New honors at Woodland Cemetery for Iowans who fought 19th-century wars" by Mike Rowley.

Located in near downtown Des Moines, Woodland Cemetery has nearly 70 acres, cobblestone streets and marks the final resting place of over 80,000 souls.

And, now, new gravestones are popping up all over the place as 100 to 150-year-old  graves that were not marked weeks and months before now have 240-pound veteran stones.

Much of this is the result of work by three generations of men.  Retired  firefighter Robert Niffinegger, Mike Rowley (who wrote the article) and Tim Rowley.  They have received assistance from Des Moines cemetery officials Genesh Ganpat and John Woolson.  They have been researching, documenting and seeing that previously unmarked veteran graves are now marked.

What started in 2020 as a one-year goal of marking  at least five War of 1812 veterans' graves has in only a few months grown to nearly thirty graves of War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil War and Spanish-American War now having been  marked or approved for marking.

We Can't Honor These Men Too Much, Especially Here On Memorial Day 2020.  --Brock-Perry

USS Vixen (1803)-- Part 5: Service in First Barbary War

Service During the First Barbary War:

1803

3 August-- Left Baltimore

14 September--  Arrived off Gibraltar

7 October--  Arrived off Tripoli with the USS Philadelphia

********************************

1804

18 July--  Closed on Tripolitan Coast with USS Argus, Constitution, Syren, Nautilus, Enterprise,  and Scourge.    Later in August, the USS John Adams and Intrepid joined.  Multiple bombardments of Tripoli were initiated  in the following weeks.

September to November--  Syracuse, Tripoli, Malta, Syracuse and Messina.

7 November--    Arrived at Port of Syracuse.  USS Essex, John Adams, Argus, Constitution and Congress  were there as well.

--Brock-Perry

USS Vixen (1803)-- Part 4: Capture and Sinking

The Vixen continued patrolling  the Atlantic Coast until the outbreak of the War of 1812, at which time she sailed along the southern coast under Master Commandant Christopher Gadsden, Jr., and after his death on 28 August 1812, under Lt. George Washington Reed, youngest son of General Joseph Reed.

During one of her war cruises in the West Indies, the Vixen encountered the 32-gun British frigate HMS Southampton, under command of Captain James Lucas Yeo.  The Southampton then chased, intercepted and captured the Vixen on 22 November 1812.

Yeo described the Vixen as a brig armed with twelve 19-pounder carronades and two 9-pounder guns.  The Vixen had been at sea for about five weeks at the time, but had not captured anything.

Both vessels were wrecked five days later Conception Island in the Bahamas.  All of the crews and officers survived, but Lt. Reed, however, died later of yellow fever in Jamaica before he could be exchanged.

The Story of a Ship.  --Brock-Perry

USS Vixen (1803)-- Part 3: Lawrence, Ludlow and the HMS Moselle

BETWEEN WARS

The Vixen was placed in ordinary at Washington Navy Yard as soon as she got back from the Mediterranean.  She left the yard one year later and operated along the Atlantic Coast of the United States.  During this time, she was commanded by Lieutenant James "Don't Give Up the Ship" Lawrence and Charles Ludlow.

On 18 June 1810,  the Vixen came upon the brig-sloop HMS Moselle off Barbados, which opened fire on her with no provocation.  The Moselle's captain, Commander Henry Boys apologized, saying he had been unable to make out the Vixen's colors and that he had thought she was a French privateer he had been seeking.

And, of course, this was the era of impressment which was such a sticking point between the United States and Britain.

The Vixen suffered one casualty, a man who was wounded in the mouth by a splinter.

--Brock-Perry

USS Vixen (1803)-- Part 2: Action in the Mediterranean Against the Barbary Pirates

Commodore Preble dispatched the Vixen and frigate USS Philadelphia in October to establish a blockade of Tripoli.  However, the Vixen was searching for two Tripolitan warships when the Philadelphia ran aground and was captured on October 31.

The Vixen ended up carrying dispatches about the Philadelphia's capture and the imprisonment of Captain William Bainbridge, officers and crew to Gibraltar in December.

Retribution for the Philadelphia's capture came quickly, and on 16 February 1804, Lt. Stephen Decatur, Jr.  boarded the ship in Tripoli Harbor and after determining it wasn't seaworthy, destroyed it.  Commodore Preble then followed up on this with heavy bombardments of the city on fiver different dates.

The Vixen participated in all five bombardments and also performed tactical actions to coordinate American movement in the Mediterranean Sea.    While in Malta on October 16, 1804, the Vixen was rerigged as a brig to improve its sailing ability.

The American Mediterranean Squadron was now commanded by Commodore John Rodgers and had actions at Tunis in August 1805.  The Vixen returned to the U.S.  in August 1806, now captained by Master Commandant George Cox.

Lots of Future War of 1812 Leaders.  --Brock-Perry

USS Vixen (1803)-- Part 1: First Barbary War

From Wikipedia.

The Vixen was one of four  vessels authorized by Congress on 28 February 1803 and was built  at Baltimore, Maryland,  in the spring of 1803 and launched  25 June 1803 with Lieutenant John Smith in command.

STATS:

Cost:  $20,872
Type:  Schooner
83.6 feet long
23.2 foot beam

Complement:  111 officers and enlisted
Armament:  twelve 18-pdr. carronades, two 9-pdr. bow chasers

It was designed specifically for the shoal waters off the coast of Tripoli and joined Commodore Edward Preble's  squadron for duty in the First Barbary War (1810-1805).

She sailed from Baltimore immediately after commissioning and deployed off Gibraltar 14 September.

--Brock-Perry

Two USS Vixens in the War of 1812-- Part 1

I'll be taking a break from privateers and writing about  this.

I have been writing about Edward Simpson, a U.S. Navy officer in the Mexican War and the Civil War in my Running the Blockade: Civil War Navy blog.  During the Mexican War, he served on the USS Vixen and his three commanders were also veterans of the War of 1812, plus, there were two USS Vixens in the War of 1812.

I will write about them in my next posts.

--Brock-Perry

Another Source on the Privateer Anaconda

From Jhup books  "American Privateers and Letters of Marque."

ANACONDA

Captain Nathaniel Shaler

Commissioned  24 December 1812

Captured 12 July 1813

Out of New York, N.Y.

Owner:  Nathaniel Shaler.  Later Peter A. Schenk, Francis H. Nicoll

Schooner  383 tons

Crew:  120

Guns 19

4 prizes  (3)

--Brock-Perry

American Privateer Anaconda-- Part 6: After the Battle

The privateer (the Anaconda)  is one of the finest brigs ever seen -- the officers treated us with great politeness -- were bona fide Americans -- but the crew, I am sorry to say, , who were mostly Englishman, were the greatest blackguards ever seen, and  I verily believe would have given us no quarter.

Captain Quick (the commander of the Express) observes,  that the greatest bravery was displayed by his handful of men.  Upwards of 200  shot struck the Express; five 12-pound shot went through one side, and lodged in the other.

Indeed, Capt. Shaler of the Anaconda, says in his letter to the Agent  for American prisoners in Plymouth:  "Captain Quick had his ship almost shot away from under him, my vessel being so superior to his, mounting 18 long nines and twelves, and manned by 120 men."

--Brock-Perry

American Privateer Anaconda-- Part 5: After the Surrender

The enemy (the American privateers) now employed themselves in exchanging  the ship's company and rummaging the Express, taking on board the Anaconda the bullion, to the amount of 20,000 (British) pounds and, in fact, everything that could be got at, and that was valuable.

After rummaging the ship fore and aft, and finding her a complete wreck, the Captain of the packet gave us our choice to remain in the latter, or the Express,  and get into what port we could, offering to stay by us till the next morning, to ascertain our safety.

We quitted the privateer with 27 days of water on board, and got into Juan Fernandes.  The carpenters being employed in looking after shot holes, discovered pieces of iron, from 14 to 18 inches long, sticking to the bottom; and getting two men from shore to dive found them to be langridge fired by the enemy.

--Brock-Perry

American Privateer Anaconda-- Part 4: The Express Surrenders

Continuing with the capture of the packet ship Express.

A consultation was held, when it was advised to strike the colours to preserve the lives of the brave crew of the Express, and the mail was thrown overboard.  The water was now increasing very fast; one of the pumps was disabled by a shot; the vessel scuttling by the head, and expecting her to go down -- the ensign was hoisted re-versed, a signal of distress to the enemy.

The boats of the privateer came to our assistance.  The carpenter and his crew  proceeded in plugging the holes and reducing the water.

We now found our opponent to be the American private brig of war Anaconda from New York, last from Boston -- out 75 days -- this her first capture -- mounting 18 long nines and twelves, with 120 men.

--Brock-Perry

American Privateer Anaconda-- Part 3: Capture of the Express

At day-light the next morning, finding her too close on us,  shewed our colours, and gave her a stern-chase gun on which she shewed Spanish colours; but on giving her a second, she hoisted American colours, and a running fight was kept up till a quarter before seven.

At this time she ranged upon our weather quarter, and brought us to close action, which we maintained with spirit until eight, when we found our ship to be quite unmanageable, our sails cut to pieces, the fore and main-masts shot through,  maintop-mast completely gone, and the whole of our yards badly wounded-- all our standing and running rigging cut to pieces, momentarily expecting the masts to go by the board-- four of our starboard guns, out of six, dismounted-- many shot between wind and water, and three and a half feet of water in the hold.

In Other Words, the Express Was Pretty Well Cut Up.  --Brock-Perry

American Privateer Anaconda-- Part 2: Capture of the British Ship Express

I am not sure if the Anaconda captured a ship named the Express or Express Packet, packet being the name of a particular kind of a ship.  I now find out the ship's name was just the Express.

The site says the capture took place on January 4, 1813.

This account is taken from the Glasgow Herald from 31 May 1813.

The following account of the action between the Express packet and the American privateer Anaconda, has been transmitted by an officer of the packet:

The Express packet sailed from Rio de Janeiro on the 23rd of March, and on the 1st of April was chased by a brig of war.  When she first hove in sight she was on our weather beam, with studding sails out,  running down on us.  She continued the chase a few hours, when, the wind freshening, she dropped a little a-stern, hauling her wind on the other tack, hoisting English colours, and firing a gun, which we were not long in answering, as we had one primed in readiness.

During the chase, we made the private signal, which the privateer could not answer.

(The April 1, 1813 date the two ships encountered would make the site's date incorrect. Private signals must have been a ploy used so British ships could determine if another ship was friend or foe, especially since American privateers might, as in this case, hoist an English flag to fool them.)

--Brock-Perry

American Privateer Anaconda-- Part 1: Just the Facts

From Three Decks Forum  Also HMS Anaconda in Wikipedia.

Nathaniel Shale also commanded this privateer and was in charge when it captured the British ship Express Packet January 4, 1813.

Launched 1812, commissioned 1813.  Home Port was New York City.  Built to be a privateer.  Brig

Captured November 7, 1813.  Became the HMS Anaconda.

102.6 feet long  beam 29 feet, 160 crew.

Commanded 1813 by Nathaniel Shale.

--Brock-Perry

Privateer Nathaniel Shaler-- Part 2

From the New London Historical Society "Connecticut Privateers in the War of 1812."

Connecticut  masters and vessels figured as prominent privateers for New York as well.    The Middleton-built Anaconda, commanded by Connecticut-born Nathaniel Shaler took a number of prizes before she was captured off the North Carolina coast in 1813.  (It was later taken into British service as the HMS Anaconda.)

Shaler then commanded the New York privateer Governor Thompkins until he was lost overboard in 1814.

Reporting on an engagement  between the Governor Thompkins and a British frigate in 1813, Nathaniel Shaler  memorialized two of his black sailors who, though mortally wounded as before mentioned in my posts.

--Brock-Perry

Nathaniel Shaler, American Privateer Captain-- Part 1

From the New London County Historical Society "Privateers."

Nathaniel Shaler (1775-1814)

He was the commander of the Governor Tompkins who wrote about the two valiant black sailors under his command in the previous two posts.

Was born in Bridgeport, New Hampshire, although his family was from Bolton and the Connecticut River Valley.  he and his brother William (who became a prominent mariner and diplomat)  were quite young when they went to sea.

Nathaniel was master of the brig Aurora when she was seized  for trading in violation of Portuguese regulations in Para, Brazil, in 1803.  He replaced the wounded Guy Champlin of the New York privateer brig  General Armstrong, making a successful cruise in 1813.

He then took command of the New York privateer Governor Tompkins in 1814 and was lost at sea  during her cruise.

--Brock-Perry

The Story of Two Heroic Black Privateers-- Part 2: Even Dying, They Were Brave

Nathaniel Shaler had this to say about two of his sailors in that battle:

"The name of one of my poor fellows who was killed ought to be registered in the book of fame, and remembered with reverence as long as bravery is considered a virtue.

"He was a black man, by the name of John Johnson.  A twenty-four pound shot struck him in the hip, and took away all the lower part of his body.  In this state, the poor fellow lay on the deck, and several times exclaimed to his shipmates, 'Fire away, my boy: no haul a color down.'

"The other was also a black man, by the name of John Davis,  and was struck in much the same way.  he fell near me, and several times requested to be thrown overboard, saying he was only in the way of others.

"When America has such tars [sailors were often referred to as Tars back then], she has little to fear from the tyrants of the ocean."

--Brock-Perry

The Story of Two Heroic Black Privateers-- Part 1

From the U.S. Merchant Marine site "American Merchant Marine and Privateers in War of 1812.  This is the same site I used for the last six entries.

In a January 1, 1813. letter from Nathaniel Shaler of the privateer schooner General Tompkins,  to his agent:

"Before I could get our light sails in, and almost before I could turn round, I was under guns , not of a transport, but of a frigate! and not more than a quarter of a mile from her.... Her first  broadside killed two men, and wounded six others...  My officers conducted themselves in a way that would have done honor to a more permanent service...."

--Brock-Perry

American Privateers-- Part 6: The Privateer America "I'm the Beggar"

The privateer America earned quite a reputation got number of British ships captured and value of goods seized was so great that the British built a special frigate named the HMS Dublin for the express purpose of capturing said privateer.

Long after the end of the war, the America's captain and the captain of the Dublin met in Valparaiso.  Neither knew the other's identity.

The Dublin's captain, in the course of their conversation remarked:  "I once almost got within gunshot  of that infernal Yankee skimming-dish, just as night came on.  Bu daylight she had outsailed the Dublin so devilish fast that she was no more than a speck on the horizon.  By the way, I wonder if you happen to know the name of the beggar who was master of her?"

"I'm the beggar," smiled the American master and they drank a toast to each other's health.

--Brock-Perry

American Privateers-- Part 5: The Chasseur's Battle With the HMS St. Lawrence

Once, the resourceful Thomas Boyle threw ten cannons overboard and his spare sails to lighten his ship to escape a British trap.  Then he moved two of his cannons aft, sawed away the back rails to give his guns  freedom of fire.

On February 15, 1815, near Havana, Boyle met a schooner  that only appeared to have three guns.  As he got within boarding range,it was another British trick.  The schooner, which turned out to be the HMS St. Lawrence, unloosed a hidden broadside of ten guns.  But the Chasseur's deadly return fire  found its mark and the British ship  was captured in fifteen minutes.

--Brock-Perry

American Privateers in War of 1812-- Part 4: The Famous American Captain Boyle and the Comet and Chasseur

One of the most successful privateers of the War of 1812 was Thomas Boyle.  His first ship, the Comet, once captured a Portuguese ship warship that was big enough to carry the Comet  on her deck.  The second one, the Chasseur,  carried sixteen 12-pdr. guns and was known as "The Pride of Baltimore."

During his first cruise in the Chasseur, Captain Boyle captured 18 British merchant ships  As a result, the British made extraordinary efforts to capture him.  He escaped from four men of war at once then nearly fell for a trap by two brigs, "but edged down on one of them... fired a shot at him, showed the Yanky flag, hauled upon a wind, and outsailed both with ease."

Over the next three days, he escaped groups of three, four and five British ships trying to capture him.

--Brock-Perry

American Privateers in the War of 1812-- Part 3: The Paul Jones' Case of the Fake Cannons

During the American Revolution  and War of 1812, privateers had to be bold and daring in order to survive and see financial success by bringing their prizes to port.

The Paul Jones left New York City in 1812 with 120 men, but only 3 guns (but pierced for 17 guns).    Before she met the British merchant ship Hassan, which carried 14 guns and a crew of 20 (not sure about the size of its crew here), the master of the Paul Jones had short lengths of lumber painted black and mounted on buckets at the gunports to resemble cannons from a distance.

Before engaging the Hassan, he filled his rigging with his men to appear that they also had a big crew.

Intimidated, the Hassan immediately surrendered and the Paul Jones not only got its first prize but those needed cannons.

Clever, Very Clever.  Psyche Them Out.  --Brock-Perry