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

Fought in Three Wars, WW II to Vietnam: Major General Salve H. Matheson (Vietnam Veterans Day 2022)

From Coffee or Die.

In honor of today being a much too late, much-ignored thank you to those who fought in Vietnam and came home to a country that didn't welcome them as they should have for the most part.

Today is National Vietnam War Veterans Day.

All my blogs but one will honor them today.

MAJOR GENERAL SALVE H. MATHESON

He participated in D-Day, liberation of Holland, Battle of the Bulge  and also helped seize Hitler's Eagle's Nest.

During the Korean War, he had instrumental involvement in the  amphibious landings at Inchon and Wonsan.

In Vietnam, he assumed command of the  1st Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division and participated in the Tet Offensive.

And, I notice his name is not on the list of names to pick from as the Confederate-named Army bases are renamed.

Privateer Bunker Hill-- Part 2: HMS Belvidera

From the "The War of 1812:  A Complete Chronology with  Biographies

AUGUST 21, 1812

"The HMS Belvidera intercepts and seizes the privateer  Bunker Hill (Jacob Lewis, master), a 175-ton schooner that operates out of New York.  At the time of its capture, the Bunker Hill is carrying cargo that includes ammunition and guns, along with provisions."

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

From "Publications of the Rhode Island Historical Society"

"Also arrived at New York, a British  brig from Quebec for Bermuda, a prize  to the Bunker Hill privateer of this port."

--Brock-Perry

Okay, I Found a Gunboat No. 47 (But, It Was From WW II)

If you remember, back on March 9 I asked anyone knew anything about a Gunboat 47 that Richard Hill served on in the New York Flotilla back in the War of 1812.  I kept looking, but to no avail. Now granted, the American gunboats in the War of 1812 weren't much to write home about, but come on, somehow, someone must have made mention of this particular ship.

Well, I did come across a Gunboat No. 47 listed in the "Ship's Data, U.S. Naval Vessels, 1930."  

It was in the index under "Gunboat 47 and had the name "Luzon."  In addition, it said to "see river gunboat."   Probably not the War of 1812 ship I'm looking for given the date and the name.  I can't imagine any U.S. ship being given that name during that war.

And, it wasn't.  

The USS Luzon (PG-47) was a river gunboat commissioned in 1928, one of eight gunboats built for service on the Yangtze River in China.  She ended up being scuttled in Manila Bay, Philippines in the opening days of World War II.

The Japanese raised her and used the ship until  it was torpedoed by an American submarine in 1944.  I may have to write about this ship in my World War II blog.  (I did, go to the Tattooed on Your Soul: World War II blog to the right of this, click on it and go to April 2022 and you will find several posts.)

At least I found a Gunboat 47, even if it isn't the right one.  Where, oh where, is my War of 1812 Gunboat 47?

Bet You Weren't Expecting World War II Stuff Here.  --Brock-Perry

Sandy Hook (Where Is It?)

I have been mentioning Sandy Hook a bit in regards to the New York Flotilla and had no idea where it was located.  Just somewhere near New York City.  Time to find out a little more about it.

From Wikipedia.

Actually, it is in New Jersey and is what is called a barrier spit, about six miles in length and varying from 0.1 mile to 1.0 mile in width.  It encloses the southern entrance of the Lower New York Bay south of New York City.  The name comes from the Dutch  "Sant Hoek."

The defunct Fort Hancock is at the northern end of Sandy Hook and was built in 1896.

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis & the NY Flotilla-- Part 2: Who Pays for More Gunboats and Their Crews?

In February, before the British announced their blockade of New York, Secretary of the Navy William Jones had  reduced the number of gunboats in the New York Flotilla to fifteen as a cost-cutting measure.  He stipulated that Lewis could  bring the excess gunboats back into service in an emergency and have them crewed by volunteers.

When the Royal Navy squadron appeared off Sandy Hook, Lewis returned the laid off gunboats to service and requested the Navy Department to pay for the crews.  This request brought a strong rebuke from  Jones, who reminded him that he was to find volunteer crews to man the gunboats and that Lewis could be held personally responsible for any costs his actions incurred. He then ordered Lewis to take the extra gunboats out of service unless the British were to attack.

(Don't you know that Lewis hit the ceiling when told this which was most likely the reason he tried to get Secretary of State James Monroe in on his side.)

Nicholas Fish, the Federalist chairman of New York City's Committee of Defense, asked Jones to authorize the addition gunboats for which the city would pay for the crews.  Jones agreed to this compromise and told Lewis to bring up to  fifteen additional gunboats into service.

This situation was a successful example of sharing defense responsibilities between the federal and state governments.

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis & the New York Flotilla-- Part 1: Watching the British

From "New York's War of 1812: Politics, Society and Combat" by Richard V. Barbuto.

A small flotilla of gunboats defended the waters around New York City and was under the command of  Jacob Lewis, former commander of the privateer Bunker Hill, as a master commandant, but he was given the honorific title of commodore.

He kept his gunboats actively engaged with most of his gunboats near Sandy Hook.  There they could observe the enemy fleet and, at the same time, be protected by  sandbars and shoals from deeper draft and stronger British ships.

On occasion, long-range shots were traded between the two sides, but with little damage to either.

He also kept gunboats by Long Island Sound to challenge British ships approaching from there.

So, Obviously There Was a New York Flotilla That Richard Hill Belonged To During the War.  --Brock-Perry

Privateer Bunker Hill, Jacob Lewis and the HMS Belvidera

From "New York City and Vicinity During the War of 1812-15" by Rocellus Sheridan Guernsey.

"On the 22nd of July (1812), a pilot-boat built schooner sailed out of New York as a privateer called the Bunker Hill, in command of Jacob Lewis, who afterwards became known as Commodore Lewis, commander of the gunboats in New York harbor."

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

From "A History of American Privateers" by Edgar Stanton Maclay.

"In the earlier part of the war Captain Hewes commanded  the privateer Bunker Hill, a schooner of six guns, which made six prizes.  She was captured while off  our coast, August 21, 1812, by the British frigate Belvidera.  As this occurred shortly after the narrow escape  of this frigate from the Captain Rodgers' squadron, the commander of the Bevidera, Captain Richard  Byron,  undoubtedly congratulated himself on his lucky capture.

"A second Bunker Hill was launched toward the close of the war."

--Brock-Perry

American Privateer Bunker Hill, Commanded by Jacob Lewis

On March 11, I wrote that Jacob Lewis had commanded the privateer Bunker Hill.

From the Three Decks. org.  American  Privateer schooner 'Bunker Hill' (1812).

Guns:  7

Commissioned:  12 July 1812

Home Port:  New York

Ship Type:  Schooner

Captured: 21 August 1812 by the HMS Belvidera  (36 guns)

Crew Complement:  60

Ship Commander:   12 July 1812-21 August 1812.  J. Lewis

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis Through the Ranks

From the Naval History and Heritage Command  Navy Officers: 1798-1900  L."

LEWIS, JACOB M.

FLOTILLA SERVICE

Master Commandant:  27 November 1812

Captain:    26 April 1814

Last appearance on Records of Navy Department, 7 January 1815.

Discharged

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis on the New York Flotilla-- Part 3: The Manpower Problem Solved

**  The New York Flotilla could have been in complete readiness right now had so many men not been enticed to service on warships or in the Lakes (Erie and Champlain where a major shipbuilding race was going on).

**  He has lost hundreds of men to warships and the lakes.

**  "I am  perfectly aware of the importance of Gun Bs so much so, that I would, suggest a plan to take from the two frigates which are and  will remain Blockaded in the Chesapeake their Crews & send them to the Lakes they will make all Canada tremble."

He suggests taking the men needed to man the new warships on Lake Champlain and Lake Erie from the crews of the two frigates blockaded in the Chesapeake Bay and not going anywhere instead of the men he needs to man his flotilla ships.

**  "I am perfectly satisfied to Command  what has always been   despised by the Navy, and this make it useful."

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis Writes Sec. of War Monroe About the N.Y. Flotilla-- Part 2

"Gunboats hitherto have been held in the utmost contempt, owing to a false prejudice the inhabitants of  this vast City now begin to believe, that the City cannot be defended without the Auxillary force of this floating defence."

He has gotten many requests from the First masters of New York ships to joining his flotilla and that he could have a hundred of them if he chose.

Plus, he feels their is a "prejudice of the Navy against G Boats" because the Navy Department means that appropriations to the gunboats mean there is less for regular warships like frigates.

"Gun Boats take the place of Frigates in the defence of harbours therefore frigates instead of being employ'd for that purpose go on the bosom of the Ocean and Cruize for Glory & pelf."

In case you're wondering, pelf means money.  In the case of frigates that would be prize money from captures of British ships and shipping. (I had to look it up myself.)

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis Writes to Secretary of State Monroe About His New York Flotilla

February 27, 1813

** "I am very desirous of possessing the confidence of the present  Secretary of the Navy as I did the late Mr. Secy. Hamilton.'  (Paul Hamilton)  The Secretary of the Navy after Hamilton was William Jones.  (Evidently Lewis did not get along with Jones very well.  At first I thought Mr. Secy. Hamilton was Alexander Hamilton.)

**  Raising and organizing crews of NY Flotilla.    Intends to make them able to fight on land as well as sea.    Wants to be able to put as many as 1000 on the shore and also be be able to "place the  flotilla in of perfect safety where the Enemy could not possibly  get at them."

**  Will train crews on landing, embarking marching, forming and "displaying  Colloms."  (columns)

**  "They shall be  amphibious Soldiers."

**  But needs  the support of the Secretary of the Navy.  (Evidently not getting it.)

**  The gunboats are  "held in the utmost contempt" by the City of New York.

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis & the New York Flotilla-- Part 2: Problems Facing Lewis

Lewis feared that his flotilla would be greatly weakened through drafts of his crews for other duties  These fears were realized when he was asked to recruit for the Lake Champlain service.  Secretary of Navy William Jones also didn't spare New York from the gunboat reduction order.

On 26 February, he was ordered to further reduce his force to fifteen  gun vessels.

Public reaction to this reduction was not very favorable.

In February 6, 1863, he wrote to Secretary Jones saying that he still needed 350 men but that the Rendezvous (place to get recruits) in New York City was closed for lack of money to pay the recruits.  "I am very much apprehensive that the Flotilla which I have the honor to Command will fall very short of that state of preparation which may be expected...."

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis & the New York Flotilla-- Part 1

From the "Naval War of 1812:  A Documentary History" by William S. Dudley.

Jacob Lewis & the New York Flotilla.

Jacob Lewis was the commander of the privateer Bunker Hill early in the war and was appointed master commandant in the U.S. Navy in 1812.  Given command of all the  gunboats and fire ships stationed at New York, Lewis accepted this new challenge and set out to immediately assess the status of his flotilla.

One of his new ships was probably Gunboat No. 47, Richard Hill's ship.

He found his new command to be undermanned and "in a pitiable State owing to the prejudice against it."  Lewis knew that he had local support because the committee for harbor defense, fearful of a swarm of British ships in the spring, exhorted the state legislature for money for defense.

Unsure of Navy Secretary Jones' support, he enlisted the support of Secretary of State James Monroe in convincing the Navy Department that gunboats used in  coastal defense freed frigates for sea duty.

Brock-Perry

So, Was There a New York Flotilla?

The gravestone of Richard Hill in Eastern Cemetery in Portland, Maine says he served during the War of 1812 on Gunboat 47 of the New York Flotilla.  In the last post I said that I have had no luck finding mention of Gunboat 47 anywhere.

A flotilla refers to a fleet or group of boats.

I also went looking for mention of a New York Flotilla.  I found plenty about a Chesapeake Flotilla.  I have written about it before.  But, at first I was having no luck with a New York Flotilla.

But, eventually I found a source that listed several American flotillas:  Baltimore, Chesapeake, Delaware, Gosport (Virginia), New York and Potomac.

I even came across the name of Jacob Lewis who is listed as the commander of the New York Flotilla.

So, there was evidently such a thing as a New York Flotilla.

But, I'd sure like to find information on Gunboat 47.

--Brock-Perry

So, Was There a Gunboat 47?

Richard Hill, according to his gravestone, served aboard Gunboat 47.  I have not been able to find any mention of this ship anywhere.  If someone knows about it, please let me know.

I do know that the Jeffersonian Gunboats were numbered as opposed to having names.

Also, I'm not sure that he would have been on that ship if it was in the New York Flotilla at the Battle of Baltimore and the attack on Fort McHenry.  It would have had to sail in open water to get from New York to Baltimore and that stretch was controlled by the British navy and a gunboat would not do well against a British warship.

I'm thinking he did serve in the U.S. Navy, but perhaps the information we have on him is wrong.

So if anyone out there has any information on Gunboat No. 47, let me know.

So, Lots of Questions About His Service.  --Brock-Perry

Richard Hill Gets His Due-- Part 4: His Death

Richard Hill was the father to a troubles son named Richard L. Hill, who robbed a boot store as a teenager.  At the time, prominent Portlanders unsuccessfully lobbied to have the sentence repealed.

After he was released, the young Hill killed his father by shooting  him with double pistols in 1861.

June McKenzie of Portland,  whose black roots go back generations in the city, said she was happy to  help unveil Hill's  new grave marker.

"It's about time he gets some recognition.  He served well and still had a hard life," McKenzie said.

She said it is important to tell the stories of people like Hill.

I wish I could have found out more about him.

--Brock-Perry

Richard Hill Gets His Due-- Part 3: His Story

Historian Hern Adams of Portland, Maine, has found information on the life of Richard Hill, including newspaper accounts of his death. 

Hill was born about 1792, but it is not clear if he was born in Portland or moved there later in life.  records show that during the War of 1812, he served on the  U.S. Gunboat  47 with the New York Flotilla.

"The U.S. Navy was not segregated then, and that might have been the first time in his life that Hill was on equal footing with his co-workers," Adams said.  His gunboat was probably in  Baltimore Harbor on  September 14, 1814, when the British shelled Fort McHenry.  "Both Hill and Key witnessed one of the iconic moments of U.S. history," according to Adams.

I have not been able to find if Gunboat 47 was at the battle.

After the war, he returned to Portland and worked as a common laborer.  He was one of 400 Blacks who lived in  neighborhoods  at the foot of Munjoy Hill.  At one point, he applied for and received 160 acres of government land in the Ohio hills as an 1812 veteran.  Adams said Hill probably sold it for a fraction of what it was worth.

That was the only veterans benefit he ever received (well, now he has the government-issued headstone, even with the incorrect death date).

--Brock-Perry

Richard Hill Gets His Due-- Part 2: Most Maine Men Served in War as Massachusetts Militia

Richard Hill's story very likely wouldn't have been told had it not been for the diligence of Larry Glatz of South Portland, Maine,  who rediscovered Hill during research on Mainers who fought as federal troops against the British in the War of 1812.

According to him, some 20,000 men served in the state militia when called upon to defeat Portland when it was thought a British attack was imminent.  (And, these men were fighting as Massachusetts militia.)

Another 5,000 Mainers fought as federal troops during the three-year war.  "Most of the federal troops were buried in unmarked graves," according to Mr. Glatz.  A desire to mark the War of 1812 graves sparked his research.  Several other 1812 graves have been found in Eastern Cemetery.

--Brock-Perry

March Events in War of 1812: James Madison Sworn In, Winfield Scott, Oliver Hazard Perry and Horseshoe Bend

From the American Battlefield Trust. 

MARCH 4, 1809

**  James Madison sworn in as the fourth president of the United States.

MARCH 4, 1813

**  James Madison sworn in for second term as president of the United States.

MARCH 19, 1814

**  Winfield Scott is promoted to brigadier general at age 27.

MARCH 27, 1813

**  Oliver Hazard Perry takes command of the flotilla at Lake Erie.

MARCH 27, 1814

**  Engagement at Horseshoe Bend.

--Brock-Perry

(The Brock on the signoff refers to British General Isaac Brock.)

Richard Hill Gets His Due for War of 1812 Service-- Part 1

From the September 15, 2002, Central Maine.com "War of 1812 veteran gets his due" by Beth  Quimby, Portland   Press Herald.

Taps was finally played for Richard Hill on Saturday, some 151 years after his death.  He was a black War of 1812 sailor and these military honors were delivered at the so-called "Colored Ground" burial area at Portland, Maine's Eastern Cemetery.

Hill is believed to have witnessed the British attack on Fort McHenry in 1814 which led to Francis Scott Key writing the words to what is today known as the "Star-Spangled Banner."

He and his grave site were forgotten after his death in 1861 at the hands of his son, who murdered him outside their home on Munjoy Hill.  Unfortunately, all is not yet correct with him as his new stone is engraved with his death year as being 1881.

Military honors were  provided by the Harold T. Andrews American Legion Post 17 of Portland and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6859 0f Portland.

His new stone was paid for by the  federal government and stands  beside Portland's black American Revolutionary War veterans at Congress and Mountfort streets.

--Brock-Perry

Richard Hill, OS-- Part 3: What Was an Ordinary Seaman?

USS Constitution Museum site.

ORDINARY SEAMAN

Among the enlisted men, Ordinary Seaman stood in the middle of the lower deck hierarchy.  These men had typically sailed just one or two voyages and knew basic seamanship.

Like the Able Seamen (the next higher rank), they could  hand (furl or take in), reef (reduce a sail's area), and steer, but some of the more complicated  maneuvers were foreign to them.

Many  ordinary seamen were numbered among the  topmen, the young and agile crewmembers who were responsible for working aloft on the masts and yards.

The ordinary seaman made $10 a month.

--Brock-Perry