Marines in the War of 1812

Happy 246th birthday United States Marine Corps!!

From Wikipedia.

During the War of 1812, Marine detachments on ships took part in the great frigate duels that characterized the war at sea.  These were also the first and last engagements of the war.

Probably their most significant service took place when they held the center of General Andrew Jackson's defensive line at the Battle of New Orleans, the final major land battle and one of the most one-sided engagements of the war.

Then, there were victories of American ships over the HMS Cyane, HMS Levant and HMS Penguin in the last engagements of the war where the Marines gained a reputation as expert marksmen in ship-to-ship action.

They played a large role in the 1813 defense of Sackets Harbor, New York, and Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia.

--Brock-Perry

Craney Island, Virginia-- Part 1: Origins of the Name and American Revolution and Civil War

 From the September 16, 2020, Virginia-Pilot (Norfolk) "Craney Island has stories to tell" by Robert Hitchings.

In the beginning, Norfolk and Portsmouth shared a small island in the Elizabeth River.  It was named after the birds who nested there.  The problem is that early colonists thought the birds were cranes, but they were actually  white and blue herrons, so it probably should have been called Heron island, but Craney Island stuck.

For years the island was used for primarily agricultural pursuits by farmers, but the Wise family actively raised cows and sheep on it.  Many fishermen used the site to dry their nets.

The island has a long and interesting history.  During the American Revolution, the British Army occupied it and were greatly plagued by smallpox.  During the Civil War, Craney Island became a safe haven for the many runaway slaves who poured into Norfolk after the city fell to Union forces in May 1862.

The biggest military action to occur on the island, however, came during the War of 1812, which I will write about in the next post.

--Brock-Perry

USS Congress (1799)-- Part 6: An Inauspicious Maiden Voyage

The USS Congress was launched on 15 August 1799 under the command of Captain James Sever.  It fit-out at Rhode Island and set off on its maiden voyage 6 January 1800 in company with the USS Essex to escort merchant ships to the East Indies.

Six days later she lost all of her masts in a gale.  Because her rigging had been set and tightened in a cold climate, it had slackened once she reached warmer waters.  Without the full support of all her rigging, all the masts fell within a four hour period, killing one crew member trying to do repairs.

The crew rigged a temporary sail and the Congress limped to the Gosport Navy Yard for repairs.  While there, some of Server's junior officers announced that they had no confidence in his ability as a commanding officer.  A hearing was held, and Captain sever was cleared  of any wrongdoing and remained in command of the Congress, though many of his crew soon transferred out to the USS Chesapeake.

Of course, the USS Chesapeake went on to have a somewhat checkered career as an unlucky ship.

--Brock-Perry

Sylvanus Thayer, Father of West Point-- Part 5: War of 1812 Service

During the War of 1812, he was Chief Engineer of the Northern Army under command of Major General Dearborn in the campaign of 1812.

Then of the Right Division of the Northern Army under Major General Hampton, to whom he was Aide-de-Camp in the Campaign of 1813.

He fought in the Battle of Chateauguay River October 26, 1813, under the command of Brevet Brigadier General Porter in the Defense of Norfolk, Virginia, in 1814.

--Brock-Perry

Sylvanus Thayer-- Part 1: "The Father of West Point"

From Wikipedia.

June 9, 1785-September 7, 1872

Known as "The Father of West Point" for his work at the military academy in its early years.

Born in Braintree, Massachusetts.  Graduated from Dartmouth College in 1807 and then went to West Point and graduated with the Class of 1808, after just one year.  He superintended the construction of Fort Warren (later renamed Fort Winthrop) in Boston Harbor.

During the War of 1812 he directed the defense of Norfolk, Virginia and was promoted to major.  In 1815, he went to France to study their military and engineering.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Norfolk, Virginia-- Part 2: Occupied By Confederates and Federals During Civil War

The United States Navy acquired the fort in 1849 and used it as a weapons depot.  Confederates occupied it 1861-1862 and then the Union reoccupied it for the remainder of the war.

In 1921, the Army Corps of Engineers moved in and in 1983 moved out after building the large Waterford Building.

It is still owned by the Army Corps of Engineers, but run by the Norfolk Historical Society.  Fort Norfolk is the last surviving harbor fort authorized by George Washington in 1794.

The Friends of Fort Norfolk and 2nd Virginia Regiment provide free admission to the fort and guided tours on the weekends.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Norfolk, Virginia-- Part 1: First and Second System Fort

From the History of Fort Norfolk.

In the last posts, I wrote about Fort Nelson, built to defend Norfolk, Virginia.  It was built opposite Fort Norfolk.  Some more on that fort.

There was an earlier fortification at the site dating 1776-1779.  It was a First System Fort built 1794, mainly an earthwork.  It was later rebuilt into a masonry fort of the second System in 1808 and designed for 30 guns, but only ten were ever mounted.

It never saw action in the War of 1812 because the British were repulsed by the fort on Craney Island.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Nelson-- Part 2: Two Locations

From Fort Wiki.

Fort nelson was attacked and burned down 9 May 1779 and rebuilt at another location in 1794 and abandoned in 1824.

The garrison abandoned it in the 1779 attack.

The second site of Fort Nelson was chosen opposite of Fort Norfolk on the west side of Norfolk  harbor and was a bastioned earthwork with two batteries of 24-pdrs in embrasures.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Nelson, Norfolk, Virginia-- Part 1

From the Colonial America.com site.

In the last post I mentioned that Captain Hannibal Montresor Allen was buried at Fort Nelson with its cemetery unknown.  Couldn't remember it, so had to look it up.

It was located on the site of the present-day Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia.  During Virginia's revolution, the government constructed a fort of timber and rammed earth in 1776.  Three years later, the British fleet under Admiral Sir George Collier came and confiscated the artillery and destroyed most of the parapet.

The fort was reconstructed in 1799 of earth lined with with brick following a design by architect B. Henry Latrobe and was again abandoned after the War of 1812.

The Confederates strengthened Fort Nelson during the Civil War, but on 10 May 1862, the Union Army under General John E. Wool occupied Norfolk and Fort Nelson.

--Brock-Perry

USS Constellation Goes for Reconstruction-- Part 2

In the War of 1812, the Constellation sailed from Washington, D.C. to Hampton Roads, Virginia, and immediately was blockaded by the British at Norfolk.

The current USS Constellation was built in 1854, using a small amount of material from the original ship which had been disassembled in 1853.

The ship has been patched and rebuilt several times, so definitely is not the original ship.

--Brock-Perry

USMA Class of 1806: Ethan Alphonso Allen-- Part 2

Cullum's Registry.

No. 22  Was a cadet Dec. 10, 1804, to November 14, 1806 when graduated and promoted to 2nd Lt. Regiment of Artillerists.  First Lt. Oct. 1, 1809.

During the War of 1812 at Norfolk and Craney Island, Va. 1812-1813.  At lake Champlain in 1814.

Transferred to Corps of Artillerists May 12, 1814.

Captain Corps of Artillerists July 25, 1814.

Craney Island 1815-1821.  Superintendent of Regimental Recruiting Services 1818-1828.

Resigned 1821.

Civilian History:  U.S. Inspector of Customs on Canada Frontier 1821-1823. Farmer in Norfolk County, Va. 1823-1833.  merchant Norfolk, Va. 1833-1834.

Died Jan. 6, 1855 in Norfolk County, age 66.

Pittsylvania County's Role in War of 1812

From the Dec. 11, 2014, Go Dan River.com Danville, Virginia "Author explores Pittsylvania County's role in the War of 1812" by Susan Elsey.

Author Larry Aaron has written eight books and his latest "Pittsylvania County and the War of 1812" is in its sixth printing.  he gave three reasons for writing it:

1.  The Bicentennial of the war.

2.  His third great grandfather was in Samuel Calland's artillery company at Craney Island.

3.  He wanted to investigate Pittsylvania County's role.
Some facts:

**  Lt. Samuel Hairston, owner of Oak Hill Plantation, was one of the South's largest slave owners.  He saw action on the Northern frontier and the Invasion of Canada.

**  More than 15 militia companies were from Pittsylvania County and served in the Chesapeake Bay area and the defense of Norfolk, Va..

**  Virginia suffered more than any other state than New York and Louisiana.

**  Dolley Madison was the second cousin of Walter Coles.

--Brock-Perry

A History of American Privateers-- Part 1: The Roger

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

The privateer Roger was one of six of these ships operating out of Norfolk, but it was also the most successful.  It was a ten-gun schooner under Captain R. Quarles and sailed from Norfolk in late 1813 or early 1814 with 120 men.  Privateers carried large crews as they had to man ships they captured.

Its first prize was in January, the schooner Henry with a cargo of fish.  Ship sent to Charleston.

2nd prize was the schooner Maria, of little value and burned.

The third was in May, the Fortuna sailing under the Russian flag with English property on board.  It was sailing from Havana to Riga with an assorted cargo and was sent to Beaufort.

--Brock-Perry

Battle Off Newport News-- Part 4

On Gunboat No. 139, a master's mate from the USS Constellation was killed by a cannonball.  Several of the other boats reported wounded as well as damaged oars and rigging.

Norfolk residents were awakened by this dawn battle and went to the waterfront to watch the action.

Having regular Navy men on the gunboats made a big difference in their handling and firing. (Evidently, the gunboats were usuallu manned by militia.)

Captain Joseph Tarbell broke off the action at 6 a.m..

On the British side, one Royal Marine was killed and several sailors wounded.  American newspapers reported 70 casualties.  The HMS Junon had several hull hits and its sails and rigging cut up.  Its commander, James Sanders ordered a pursuit, but the American gunboats got over the shoals and the British ship stopped.

--Brock-Perry

Battle Off Newport News Point-- Part 3

Meanwhile the HMS Junon had become separated from the other British ships by a mile.  On the 19th, Cassin sent his gunboats out again, this time under the command of Captain Joseph Tarbell.

The gunboats split into two divisions and struggled against squalls, adding hours to the operation.  By the next morning, Tarbell was 3/4 mile from the Junon and opened fire, hitting the British ship four times in its hull.  The British ship was caught completely by surprise.

It slipped its cable to escape, but became becalmed, but the wind returned, turning the tables and the rest of the British fleet began sailing to aide the Junon.  The gunboats were outgunned, but fought on valiantly for more than an hour.

One American said his boat was hit three times and he counted "six or seven hundred shot" from the enemy guns.

--Brock-Perry

Unearthing a Secret from the War of 1812

From the June 21, 2013, Hampton Roads (Va.) Daily Press by Mark St. John Erickson.

Another of those informative articles by the War of 1812 expert (also pretty good on the Civil War).

In 2004, Williamsburg archaeologist Alain Outlaw got a chance to probe a long-lost piece of Fort Norfolk just two weeks in advance of a downtown waterfront development project.

The City of Norfolk demolished a giant early 20th century warehouse that had covered the site.

Outlaw unearthed the remains of a defensive palisade thrown up by the Virginia militia to protect the fort from land attack.  The palisade was built by troops under the command of Captain Walker K. Armistead, and Army Corps of Engineers officer.  A c. 1780s well was also found.

Earlier fortifications dating to the War of 1812 have been destroyed, including the defensive works on Craney Island and Fort nelson, across the Elizabeth River from Fort Norfolk, which still remains.

--Brock-Perry

American Privateers Operating Out of Norfolk, Virginia

From History of American privateers.

Six privateers operated out of Norfolk, Virginia.

CHANCE: One-gun schooner, Capt. W. Derick, 84 tons
FOUR FRIENDS:  one-gun schooner, Capt. T. Rooke, 46 tons
FRANKLIN:  2-gun schooner, Capt. J. Glenn, 23 tons
GEORGE WASHINGTON:  three-gun schooner, Capt. S. Sissin

These four didn't accomplish much, if anything according to records.

Also, the privateer Dash with took the first prize of the War of 1812, the British government schooner Whiting.

Then, there was the privateer Roger which was much more successful.  I'll be writing about it tomorrow.  --Brock-Perry

Southern Privateers

From History of American Privateers by Edgar Stanton Maclay.

There were a total of 36 privateers operating out of Southern ports during the War of 1812.  This did not include Baltimore.

These ships sailed primarily from Norfolk, Virginia;  Wilmington, NC; Charleston, SC; Savannah, Georgia and New Orleans, Louisiana.

Probably the most famous was the privateer Decatur which captured a British cruiser.

--Brock-Perry

Revenue Cutter Thomas Jefferson

From the U.S. Coast Guard Site and the article from the last post.

The Revenue Cutter Thomas Jefferson was constructed and commissioned in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1802 and served out of Savannah until 1809 when relieved by the Revenue Cutter James Madison, then served out of Norfolk until it was decommissioned in 1817.

In May 1812 (before the war) it sailed around the Hampton Roads area with US Navy Captain Stephen Decatur to survey existing lighthouses and signal towers for a communication system. The ship was responsible for the U.S.'s first maritime victory in the war when it captured a British schooner sailing from Guadeloupe to Halifax with a cargo of sugar.

Little is known of the ship after its 1817 decommissioning.

It's War of 1812 commander was William Ham who was commissioned a 2nd mate in Norfolk, Virginia, based cutter Virginia. He served as an officer on Norfolk-based cutters through the War of 1812, after which little is known of his life.

--Brock-Perry

The War at the Virginia War Museum-- Part 2

The Virginia Manufactory of Arms in Richmond dated to back when the state still was an industrial leader. 

The town of Smithfield, Virginia, was saved by the militia and the British were temporarily stalled by the effectiveness of the militia's Rutherford rifles at Hampton.

At the Battle of Craney Island, the Virginia militia aided by Navy gun crews, a few Marines and a detachment of regular army troops repulsed a two-pronged British attack.

And, Most Folk Know Little That Happened in Virginia During the War. I Know I Sure Didn't. --Brock-Perry