Steamer Robert Fulton-- Part 4

From Meandering  Michigan History site.

As the situation worsened along Lake Erie and the Detroit area in the Patriot War of 1838, the U.S. government got involved lest these activities would anger Britain and set up a clash between the countries.

The government sent the steamer Robert Fulton from Buffalo to Detroit with three companies of U.S. regulars commanded by Colonel Worth.  The government frequently sent troops to patrol both up and down the Detroit River to stem the Patriot Movement, but the Patriots survived.

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There was another steamship named the Robert Fulton that was launched in 1821 and is regarded as the first steam powered ship to make the trip from New York City to New Orleans.  However, this was not the one that Champlin had with him.

--Brock-Perry

Steamer Robert Fulton-- Part 4: History

1844--  Owned by Forsyth, Clark & Atwood to run to Toledo, Maumee City and Monroe.

1844, October 23.  Stranded at Sturgeon Point, Lake Erie.

1858--   November 25.  Loading at Rochester, New York for Buffalo.

1858--  November 28  Arrived back at Rochester with with 5,300 bushels of wheat.

--Brock-Perry

Steamer Robert Fulton-- Part 3: History of the Ship

HISTORY

1836--  Ran the Erie Canal

1838--  In the Patriot War, chartered by U.S. government with the steamer New England to carry troops from Buffalo to Detroit.  This was when Stephen Champlin was involved.  And, again, this is not the U.S. warship USS Fulton.

1838--  First enrollment  Cleveland, Griffith, Standart & Co.

1838--  April 25--  Owned by  Giddings & Co. Cleveland

1838--  October 6  Owned by John Pease & Co., Buffalo, NY.

1842--  Running the Monroe to Buffalo route.

--Brock-Perry

Steamer Robert Fulton (1835)-- Part 2

ORIGINAL OWNER AND LOCATION:  Giddings & Co., Cleveland

OWNERSHIP NOTES:  Builder also noted as Fairbanks, Church; also noted, list of 12 owners, 1835.

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POWER

PROPULSION:  sidewheel

ENGINE TYPE:  High Pressure (Including HPNC)

PROPULSION: 90 hp engine, Slackhouse, Pittsburgh, Pa.  1835 , 3 years old

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DIMENSIONS

LENGTH:  139' 8"

BEAM:  26' 6"

DEPTH:  10' 8"

TONNAGE (OLD STYLE):  368  43/95

--Brock-Perry

Steamer Robert Fulton (1835)-- Part 1

This is the ship commanded by Stephen Champlin in the 1838 Patriot War.

In the Great Lakes Ships site "Fulton, Robert (1835 steamer)" Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library Great Lakes Maritime Collection.

It is difficult to find information about this ship.  It is not to be confused with the two U.S. Navy ships named the Fulton.  It is a different ship.

YEAR OF BUILD:

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CONSTRUCTION AND OWNERSHIP

BUILT AT:  Cleveland, Ohio

VESSEL TYPE:   Steamer.  Note:  She and the DEWITT CLINTON reputed to be the first lake steamers built primarily as freighters with few passenger accommodations.patriot

HULL MATERIALS:  Wood

BUILDER NAME:  Seth W. Johnson

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry

Two Destroyers Named For Stephen Champlin

Continuing with John Lisle's account of Champlin's life.

Two destroyers have been named in Stephen Champlin's honor.

The first USS Champlin (DD-104) was a Wicke's class destroyer launched in 1918 and sunk by testing in 1936.

The second USS Champlin (DD-601) was commissioned in 1942 and saw extensive service in World War II.  Decommissioned in 1947 and sold and scrapped in 1972.

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin's Post War Service-- Part 5: Quite Famous

In 1843, the USS Michigan, which was the first ironclad warship to sail on the Great Lakes, was launched at Erie, Pennsylvania.  She was 168 feet in length with a beam width of 69 feet, a ten foot draft and 600 ton displacement.  Her first commander was William Inman.

On November 4, 1845, Stephen Champlin succeeded him as commander and served in that capacity until until March 31, 1848, when he was replaced by James M. McIntosh (I could not find mention of him).

After retiring from the Navy, he resided in Buffalo, New York.  In 1842 he was spoken of as a possible candidate for the office of Buffalo mayor but declined the nomination.  At the time of his death, he was the last surviving officer of the Battle of Lake Erie.  His funeral eulogy was delivered by New York Governor Clinton.

Then a few months after his death, Gov. Clinton delivered a rather lengthy address to the Buffalo Historical Society on the life and career of Stephen Champlin.

--Brock-PerryChamplin

Stephen Champlin's Post War Service-- Part 4: Recruiting and Private Life

John Lisle, whose blog I am taking this information could easily write a book about Stephen Champlin.

In the winter of 1842, Commander Stephen Champlin was placed in charge of the recently established Navy recruiting center at Buffalo.  In the short span less than  four months he had signed up 400 apprentices, seamen and ordinary seamen for service.

Captain and Mrs. Champlin resided on Seneca Street in Buffalo for many years as did many of the city's noted persons during those years.  Their house was well-known for suppers and card parties.

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin's Post War Service-- Part 3: The 1838 Patriot War

In 1838, during the Patriot War, he was put in command of the military force that was sent, along with the steamers Robert Fulton and New England, to prevent  the developing  invasion of Canada by private forces.
These forces had as their goal, the liberation of Canada from the yolk of British colonialism.  That the Canadians did not want to be free was overlooked by these men so the U.S. government found it necessary  to head off the invasion before it caused another confrontation with Britain.

On January 25, 1838, Champlin's ships broke through the ice of Buffalo Creek and proceeded up the lake.  They captured many of the "deluded liberators" and averted further bloodshed.

(I'd never heard of this incident, but there is a big article in Wikipedia about it.  There was also a Patriot's War in East Florida back during the War of 1812.  The steamer Robert Fulton mentioned here was not a U.S. Navy ship, but a steamer chartered by the U.S. government, as was the New England.  There were also two U.S. Navy ships named the USS Fulton, neither of which was this Robert Fulton ship.)

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin's Post War Service-- Part 2: Five Operations for His Wound

His wife, Minerva Lydia Pomeroy was born June 28, 1798 and died June 8, 1859.  They had eight children.  Of interest, the first one born in 1818 was named Oliver Hazard Perry Champlin.  I have found nothing about him following his father's footsteps into the U.S. Navy.

In the spring of 1818, Stephen Chaplin was compelled to undergo further surgery on his leg to remove bone fragments.  He was then detached from the naval station at Erie and allowed because of his health to return to Connecticut. until November 1828.

In November 1828 he was put briefly in command of the steamer USS Fulton at New York, and served as her captain until December 30th at which time  it was decided that his leg made him unfit for such duties (as he had undergone  three more operations).  He returned to Connecticut, remaining there until  1834 when he returned to  Buffalo.

Considering where surgery stood in this period of time, he was risking his life each time and in great pain.

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin's Postwar Career-- Part 1

After his capture, the British paroled him figuring that his wounds would be mortal.  He went back home to Connecticut where he recovered from the wounds.  On March 28, 1815, he was ordered to join Perry's fleet which was heading to the Mediterranean to battle the Barbary Pirates off the coast of Algeria and Tunisia.

In the fall of 1815, in consideration of his wounds, he was ordered to  to return to Erie in the spring of 1816. There he underwent a difficult operation to remove the many splinters of shattered bone that remained in his leg.

From 1816-1818, he commanded the USS  Porcupine surveying the Canadian-American border along the upper Great Lakes.  Upon his return to Erie, he was beached in a strong gale at Buffalo.  During his enforced stay in Buffalo, he met and courted Minerva  Lydia Pomeroy whom he married there  on January 9, 1817.

She was a Buffalo socialite of the city. She and Stephen had eight children.

--Brock-Perry

The Tigress Found in 1932-- Part 2: Some Mistakes in News Story

"The TIGRESS is split fore and aft about four feet below the deck, probably as a result of ice action. The keel and stern post, deck rail and bulwarks are intact, although the greater part of the deck has fallen in.

"The ship, now battered, was a trim vessel when she was built at Fort Erie and sailed into the 1812-1814 Campaign against the British alongside the SCORPION, flagship of Admiral Perry (OK, two mistakes here).  An American victory at Put-In-Bay and the capture by the SCORPION  of the British warship CHIPPEWA elated the United States forces and they proceeded to attack the naval base at Penetang.

"Here their success was cut short, however, and the TIGRESS and the SCORPION were sent to the bottom.  (Again, this does not gel with what I have found.)

"Now they are to be raised and maintained as historical relics."

I think both ships are still underwater.

--Brock-Perry

The Tigress Found in 1932-- Part 1: Wreck in Good Shape

Continuing with John Lisle's account on Stephen Champlin which is much more information than I could find anywhere else.

Article in the July 10, 1932, New York Herald Tribune  "USS Tigress, Sunk in 1812 found intact in refloating test."

"Midland, Ontario:  From the mud-smothered bed where she has lain for 119 years, the TIGRESS,  American war vessel sunk in Penetang Bay can be raised without great difficulty, Captain Robert Carson reports.

"Captain Carson, in his survey of the point where the TIGRESS and her sister ship, the SCORPION,  are lodged at the bottom of the bay, recovered several  relics, including pokes two feet long, scuppers and iron bars.  Barnacles  as big as hen's eggs encrusted the iron, which had been softened by the soaking.  A chain, believed to have been used for securing cannon, also was brought to the surface."

--Brock-Perry

A Congressional Sword to Stephen Champlin

All of these posts are coming from John Lisle in the us/geneaology post about Stephen Champlin.

After the War of 1812, the U.S. Congress presented Stephen Champlin with a sword for his valued service.

"Captain Stephen Champlin, a cousin of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry.  Captain Champlin was commander of the Scorpion and Acting Sailing Master of the Fleet during the Battle of Lake Erie."

"The grip and guard of this sword are of gold and tooled by a master craftsman.  On the single edged blade, on a part of which is etched a scene of the battle, is the inscription  'Stephen Champlin, Actg. Sailing Master, Lake Erie, 10th September 1813.'

"On the other side of the blade is the Latin text which translated reads:  'He who aims highest, rises highest.'  The scabbard is of black leather with ornamented fittings."

A Sword for a Hero.  --Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin-- Part 20: Capture of the Scorpion

Just after dark, the now-captured Tigress anchored about two miles from the Scorpion.  Shortly before sun rise the next day the Tigress raised anchor and moved toward the Scorpion.  When they got within ten yards, the disguised British opened fire with their muskets then swarmed aboard the Scorpion.

The battle only lasted a few minutes.  Champlin was severely wounded by a canister shot through the thigh which shattered the bone, crippling him for life.

He was taken prisoner and held at Mackinac for 38 days before being paroled and being sent first to Erie and later back to Connecticut to die which didn't happen until 1870.

The captured American vessels were renamed.  The Scorpion became the Confidence (do not get it confused with the HMS Confiance which I have seen happen) and the Tigress became the Surprise (which it sure did to the Scorpion).  They remained in British service until 1817 when the Rush-Bagot Treaty was signed banning armed warships on the Great Lakes.

The two ships were then scuttled in Pentantaguishene Harbor.

Like I said, Sneaky British.  --Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin-- Part 19: Capture of the Tigress and Scorpion

In the spring of 1814, Stephen Champlin,  now in command of the Tigress (along with Captain Turner who now commanded the Scorpion) blockade Port Mackinac.  Their two vessels cruised Lake Huron for several months and cut off supplies to the British garrison.

Both ships were captured on the night of September 3, 1814, near Midland, Ontario, by a combined force of one hundred British and three hundred Indians who first approached the Tigress by canoe under the cover of darkness.  By the time they were spotted by the crew of the Tigress it was too late.

The British then sailed toward the Scorpion with the American flag still flying and the British dressed in American uniforms.

Sneaky British.  --Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin-- Part 18: A Letter From Champlin

On January 14, 1814,  Champlin wrote a letter to Captain Jesse D. Elliot, commander of the American fleet in Lake Erie.

"Put-In-Bay, January 14, 1814

"Sir: I have  everything in complete order at this place.  I have the guns mounted in the blockhouse.  I have mounted on board the Queen Charlotte 19.    I have mounted those 32 pounders and 24 pounders that were left on board the Detroit.   I can bring 12 guns to bear in any direction.

"The ice is constantly kept open.  I think if they attack us they will meet with a pretty warm reception.  The sailors are all well, the soldiers very sickly.

"We have provisions to last till the 1st of April.  The beef is very bad.

"I have the honor to be
Your ob'dt Humble Servant
Stephen Champlin

Stephen Champlin-- Part 17: A Put-In-Bay Winter

"After this, he was given many small jobs to perform until December 15th, at which time he was ordered by Elliot to return to Put-In-Bay and take charge of the captured vessels Detroit and Queen Charlotte.

"In addition to his own men, General Cass sent 200 men there from Detroit to assist.

"Champlin remained in the frozen bay aboard these ships for the duration of the winter, defending them against attack by looters or by the British, who in January 1814 would set fire to nearby Buffalo.

"In the spring of 1814, Champlin and Lt. Packet sailed the British vessels to Erie.

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin-- Part 16: Cleanup Operations

"The 'Scorpion' later was involved in transporting General (later, U.S. President) Harrison's Army from Portage River to the Middle Sister, from which they were taken by the fleet (including the Scorpion) to Malden and accompanying them up the Thames River.

After this, theses are John Lisle's words.

"During the winter of 1813-1814, Stephen was put in charge of the captured ships 'Queen Charlotte' and 'Detroit' at Put-In-Bay, Ohio

"His next cruise was on Lake St. Clair and the river Thames.  He took the Scorpion 40 miles up the river to within 3 miles of where Colonel Johnson had defeated and slain Chief Tecumseh, and secured a vessel loaded with baggage of the British army and took it and the severely wounded Johnson back to Detroit.

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin and the Battle of Lake Erie-- Part 15: An American Victory

"Soon after Commodore Perry got on board of the Niagara, Captain Elliot left her to bring up  the small vessels that were kept astern by the lightness of the wind.  Commodore Perry now made signal for close action.

"The smaller vessels put out their sweeps (oars) and made every exertion to comply with with the order.  At this time the Niagara bore up with a view to break the enemy's line, which threw them into confusion.  In passing the enemy, she poured in her starboard and larboard broadsides within half a pistol shot, supported by the smaller vessels, which were at that time enabled, with the aid of their sweeps, to get up.

"The enemy soon struck, with the exception of the Little Belt and Chippewa, which were brought to by the Scorpion and Trippe -- the Little Belt by the former -- and so near were they to making their escape that it was 12 p.m. before I came to an anchor under the stern of the Niagara with the Little Belt in tow."

An American Victory.  --Brock-Perry