Jesse Elliott, USN-- Part 3: A Remarkable Feat and Replacement

On 8 October 1812, he and Army Captain Nathan Towson captured captured the British brigs HMS Caledonia and HMS Detroit, anchored near the British Fort Erie in the upper reaches of the Niagara River (the Detroit was the former American USS Adams).

The Caledonia was loaded with furs and managed to make it to an American port.  The Detroit, on the other hand, was swept down the Niagara River into range of the British guns at the fort.  Elliott battled the fort until he ran out of ammunition and then beached his ship on Squaw Island and fled to the American side of the river.

British and American guns then destroyed the ship.  Elliott and Towson were later commended  for this action by Congress.

However, in February 1813, Elliott was replaced as commander of the Lake Erie American fleet by Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry.

(This very likely led to the problems between the two men at the Battle of Lake Erie later that year.)

--Brock-Perry

John B. Montgomery, USN-- Part 2: War of 1812 Service

From Wikipedia.

He was born in New Jersey and entered service in the US Navy as a midshipman during the War of 1812 where he served during the attack on Kingston, Upper Canada, in Novenber 1812 and in the capture of York in April of the following year.

For gallantry and distinguished service aboard the USS Niagara at the Battle of Lake Erie, he received a vote of thanks and a sword from Congress.

In 1815, he served in Stephen Decatur's squadron in the Second Barbary War in the Mediterranean Sea.

From Geni.

He was also involved in the capture of Little York, Fort George and Newark.  In 1814, he was at the blockade and attack on Mackinaw Island in August.

--Brock-Perry

Oliver Hazard Perry & the Battle of Lake Erie-- Part 3:

At this time, President Thomas Jefferson decided to drastically reduce the Navy from 45 warships to 13 and 42 captains to 9 and  midshipmen from 350 to 150.  This became significant when a few years later, Congress declared war on Great Britain on June 8, 1812.

There wasn't much of a U.S. Navy.

When Perry requested and was granted a command on Lake Erie, he was tasked with building the very ships he needed to fight the British. Not only that, but he seriously lacked the manpower to build and man those ships.

Perry and his ships were underdogs when they went into battle against the British at the Battle of Lake Erie, but he wouldn't give up.

Even after Perry's flagship, the USS Lawrence, was damaged beyond  repair, he refused to strike his colors.

--Brock-Perry

 

Battle of Sodus Point: Bryam Green

U.S. Congressman.  Graduated from Williams College, Massachusetts, in 1808.  While a student there in 1806, he was one of five participants in the Haystack Prayer Meeting which is regarded as the launching point of the American Church Missionary service.

He was a professor at a college in South Carolina in 1810.  He studied law, was admitted to the bar and  practiced it in Sodus, New York.

During  the War of 1812, he  served in the military and fought  in the Battle of Sodus Point.

After the war, he was  a member of the New York State Assembly (1816-1822) and served in the New York State Senate (1823-1824).  In 1843, he was elected Democrat to the Twenty-eighth  U.S. Congress, serving  until 1845.

After leaving Congress, he lived in retirement until his death at age 79.

--Brock-Perry

Talking About Old Fort Jackson, Savannah-- Part 1: Was It Named After Andrew or Stonewall?

 From the May 18, 2022, Bluffton, Today (S.C.) "Harrell:  Sit on the Shore and watch the boats go by" by Annelore Harrell.

She lives on the north side of the Savannah River, her friend lives on the south side of it.  They wanted to get together so settled on this old fort located in the middle between them.

This fort was not named after Stonewall Jackson or even Andrew Jackson .  The fort in question was named after  James Jackson.  Who?

James Jackson came from Devonshire, England, in 1722 and studied law and became an avid Patriot for independence and involved in the American Revolution.  He had quite the temper and was an expert with the sword.  He also got involved in the political world and had more "than one brouhaha, most notably the Yazoo land deal."

James Jackson was governor of Georgia, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate as well as quite a war hero.  Admiring citizens  of Georgia gifted him a house near Reynolds Square in Savannah.

I Always Thought It Was Named for Andrew Jackson.  --Brock-Perry

Jacob Lewis & the N.Y. Flotilla: Problems with Manpower

From "Six Frigates:  The Epic Founding  of the U.S. Navy" by Ian W. Toll.

Even after New York City was in dire threat from the British, it proved to be entirely impossible to mobilize all the city's gunboats because Master Commandant Jacob Lewis could not recruit enough seamen to man them.

"Although invited not one appeared," he told Secretary Jones.  This failure "served to prove incontrovertibly that volunteers cannot be depended on."

And, it wasn't just a New York City thing.  Secretary Jones received similar reports from the flotillas at Baltimore, Norfolk and Delaware Bay.  Jones  informed Congress a few weeks later that the gunboats could not be manned because  of "the preference which Seamen naturally give to Vessels better adapted to their habits and Comfort."

Also, more likely to capture prizes which meant prize money all around.

--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

Edward McCall, USN-- Part 2: The Congressional Gold Medal

Promoted to captain 3 March 1835, he died at his home in Bordentown, New Jersey, 1  August 1853.

Two ships have been named  USS  McCall after him.

EDWARD McCALL's CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL CITATION

"That the President of the United States be requested  to present to the nearest male relative of lieutenant  William Burrows, and to lieutenant  Edward R. McCall of the brig Enterprise, a gold medal with suitable emblems and devices; and a silver medal with like emblems and devices to each of the commissioned officers of the aforesaid in testimony of the high sense entertained in the conflict with the British sloop Boxer, on the fourth of September, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirteen.

"And the President  is also requested to  communicate to the nearest male relative of lieutenant Burrows the deep regret which Congress feel for the loss  of that valuable officer, who died in the arms of victory, nobly contending for his country's rights and fame."

--Brock-Perry

Edward McCall, USN-- Part 1: USS Enterprise vs. HMS Boxer

From Wikipedia.

I am writing about the USS McCall (DD-400) in my Tattooed on Your Soul: WW II blog.  This was the second U.S. Navy destroyer named after Edward McCall who served and gained honors during the War of 1812.

EDWARD R. McCALL

Captain Edward R. McCall (5 August 1790 - 1 August 1853) was an officer  in the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812.  He was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.

Born in South Carolina, he was appointed midshipman 1 January 1808.  Appointed acting lieutenant on the brig USS Enterprise 16 October 1811, he took command of that ship during action with the HMS Boxer 5 September 1813.  

Early in that action the Enterprise's captain, Lieutenant  William Ward Burrows II was mortally wounded.

In acknowledgement of the victory over the Boxer, McCall received the Thanks of Congress and a Congressional Gold Medal.

--Brock-Perry

'I Come to Find Enemies Not to Make Them': Gen. Hull's Proclamation to the People of Canada-- Part 1

From the National Park Service.

As I said in the last post, I need to find out about General William Hull's Proclamation that his son, Captain and Aide de Camp Abraham Fuller Hull (who I have been writing about) witnessed in official capacity.

The whole quote from the headline:  "I come to find enemies not to make them, I come to protect not to injure you."

When American General William Hull made an early invasion of Upper Canada he was convinced that the inhabitants there desire freedom from the tyranny of the British.  He also feared attack by native warriors.  In one sweeping proclamation, Hull tried to impress  and threaten the entire region into compliance.

On July 11, 1812, American Brigadier General William Hull led his army across the Detroit River into Upper Canada, capturing  the town of Sandwich.  Hull's invasion was the first major offensive since Congress declared war on Britain in June 1812.

--Brock-Perry

William J. Worth-- Part 4: The Mexican War and Honors

The fall out between William Worth and his old friend Winfield Scott after the Battle of Molino del Rey was so bad that William even renamed his son William from Winfield Scott.  Now, that's mad.

Worth next led his division against the San Cosme Gate at Mexico City.  When American forces entered the city, Worth personally climbed to the roof of the National Palace and took down the Mexican flag and replaced it with the Stars and Stripes.

For his service at the Battle of Chapultepec, the United States Congress awarded him a sword.

In 1847, he was admitted as an honorary member of the Society of Cincinnati.

--Brock-Perry

Some More on the Macdonough Monument in Plattsburgh-- Part 1

From the September 10, 2014, Press-Republican (NY)  "Ceremony to honor Macdonough Monument" by Cara Chapman.

The great-great granddaugher of Thomas Macdonough will speak at a ceremony marking the 88th anniversary of the monument that honors him in Plattsburgh, New York.

Isabelle Verkaart Parlin will be among family members at the event scheduled for 1 pm Friday.  There will be a large number of direct descendants as well as many descendants of his brother.  There is hope that the families of those people involved in the monument's construction will also be there.

It was erected in 1926 and dedicated August 18 if that year.

Plans for the monument began as early as 1913 in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the battle in 1914.  This was the work of the Plattsburgh Centenary Commission which hoped that "by itself, or in cooperation with  the government of the United States, to provide for, erect, and establish a suitable memorial to  Thomas Macdonough in the city of Plattsburgh, N.Y."

In 1914, the state of New York and U.S. Congress appropriated funds to do just that.  The commission used these funds to acquire the land and selected architect John Russell Pope to design it.  Pope also had designed buildings such as the Roosevelt memorials, the Plattsburgh City Hall and the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C..

--Brock-Perry

U.S.Navy in War of 1812-- Part 6: Three Objectives in the War

The U.S. Navy began the War of 1812 with three objectives:  defend the maritime frontier,  capture enemy warships and merchantmen,  and maintain naval superiority on the Great Lakes.

Defending the maritime frontier meant defending American ports with gunboats, barges or other small craft.  This consumed about half of the Navy's personnel, even that was not adequate to man every vessel.

Early in the war, Congress authorized another $2 million to this area of operations.  These warships, however, were entirely ineffectual against the British unless supported by land-based defenses.  They would occasionally discourage small British vessels from entering harbors or landing.  But, if an entire British squadron attacks, they were useless.

--Brock-Perry

U.S. Navy in War of 1812-- Part 5: Lack of Interest in the U.S. Navy by the Government

In the year before the war, the government and Navy Department did little to prepare for it.  In a country where  many questioned the need or even dreaded  the existence of a standing military, the Navy Department was even afraid it would be done away with by the government.

Only months before the war, Congress began a slow, meager build up in preparation for it.

However, a few weeks after declaration, Congress approved $829,000  for purchasing, repairing and equipping captured enemy vessels.  But so much disinterest or outright opposition existed that Congress did not appropriate money to build ships until January 1813.  They then approved $2,500,000 for four ships of the line and six frigates.  This was 25% more than the entire Navy 1811 budget.

These warships would never see combat against the British.  Too late.

--Brock-Perry

U.S. Navy in War of 1812-- Part 3: That Impressment Thing and Other Affronts Lead to War

The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair, as it came to be known, enraged the American public and embarrassed the Navy.  President Jefferson levied a big embargo against the British and the British Admiralty recalled the Leopard's commander and admitted the error.   The situation deescalated  and soon was replaced with Vice President Aaron Burr's  conspiracy and trial for treason.

Actually, the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair didn't end until 1820, when the disgraced American commander of the Cheasapeake, James Barron, challenged American naval hero Stephen Decatur to a duel stemming from it and killed Decatur.

But, impressments continued.  Since 1800, Great Britain had captured 917 American ships and impressed 6,257 American seamen.

On June 1, 1812, President James Madison spoke before Congress, citing British impressment of American sailors, disregard for American sovereignty and plundering of American commerce, and asked that a state of war be declared.

With support from the War Hawks, who were seeking to gain control of Canada, Congress declared war on June 18, 1812.  Ironically, the British had rescinded the Orders in Council two days earlier.

--Brock-Perry

The USS Constitution After the War of 1812

From History Link:  Frigate USS Constitution, on a tour of the Pacific ports, arrives in Seattle  on May 31, 1933"  by Daryl C. McClary.

After the War of 1812, the Constitution was refitted and served as the flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron.  In 1830, it was determined that the ship was unseaworthy and  Congress considered scrapping her.  But  public sentiment, and especially Oliver Wendell Holmes' memorable poem "Old Ironsides" (I had to memorize it while in fifth grade) saved it.

The Constitution was refitted and repaired, refitted and returned to commissioned status four times between 1832 and 1907.  From 1897 to 1925, she was on exhibition at Boston Naval Shipyard.

In 1924 it was found that she was again in dire need of repairs.  Congress authorized yet another rebuild, but by public subscription and a national voluntary  campaign to raise the necessary funds began.

--Brock-Perry

Hot Time In the Old Town Tonight-- Part 1: The Burning of Washington, D.C.

From Wikipedia.

Sappers and Miners of the British Royal Engineer under Captain Blanchard were employed to burn the principal Washington buildings.  Blanchard reported at the White House that it appeared that President Madison was so sure  that the Americans would be victorious that he had prepared a handsome entertainment and feast.  he said he and his sappers had thoroughly enjoyed that feast before they set fire to the building.

The U.S. Capitol was the only building in the fairly new city  that was "worthy to be noticed."  It was a prime target of the British because of its aesthetic and symbolic  value.    Prior to setting fire to it, they looted it which at the time, besides both houses of Congress, contained  the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court.  One of the items taken was "An account of the receipts and  expenditures of the United States for  the year 1810."

The British intended to burn the building to the ground.  They set fire to the southern wing first, but it burned so quickly they were unable to gather enough wood to burn the stone walls completely.

--Brock-Perry

The Singeing of Washington, D.C.-- Part 1: A Hot Time In the Old Town Tonight, Then a Real Bad Storm

From the March 20, 2019, Washington Post "Weird Weather Saved America three times" by Gillian Brockell.

Frequently, when an invading country captures an enemy city, they occupy it, but not so when the British did so with Washington, D.C., during the War of 1812.

When they invaded on August 24, 1814,  they set the capital building on fire which at the time housed not only Congress, but also  the Supreme Court and Library of Congress.  Then it was on to the Executive Mansion for the same thing.

The next morning, they continued their arson and would have done more, except that a terrifying thunderstorm, possibly a hurricane,  hit and a pounding rain put the fires out.  High winds sent debris flying, injuring and killing several British soldiers.  Then a tornado touched down in the middle of Constitution Avenue, sending cannons aloft.

Real Bad Weather.  --Brock-Perry

Green Clay's Family: Henry Clay Was a Cousin

From Wikipedia.

Without a doubt, the most famous relative of Green Clay was a cousin by the name of Henry Clay.

April 12, 1777 to June 29, 1852

American lawyer, planter and statesman.  Represented Kentucky in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.  Created the Whig Party.

As Speaker of the House in Washington, D.C., Henry Clay was a leading War Hawk and helped lead Congress into the declaration of war against Britain in 1812.

In 1814, he helped  negotiate the Treaty of Ghent.

He was very powerful throughout the first half of the 19th century and had a lot to do with any and all U.S. government decisions, including the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850.

--Brock-Perry