Tuesday, October 29

Engagement in the Gale

To:
Captain Robert Freymann
HMS Acasta
Halifax Station

From:
Captain Thomas Hurlbut
Royal Navy Squadron on the Lakes
Burlington Heights
Upper Canada

October 2nd, 1813

Dear Captain Freymann

I am off to the interior, in effect to complete the trip to Amherstburg shipyard that I began nearly a month ago, but this time, to do it entirely overland as the sea route is occupied by the US Navy’s Lake Erie Squadron. I am detailed to salvage what is possible from the yard and bring it back to Burlington where the Commodore will decide whether to begin the process of creating another shipyard to build a new squadron on the upper lakes, or use it to enhance and re-enforce the Lake Ontario Squadron.

And it is certainly necessary to do the latter as we have had another encounter with US Commodore Chauncey and his fleet. I will now tell you the story..

In pursuit of my mission, I shipped out as a supernumerary aboard HMS Royal George (20), a vessel I had not been aboard for several months. She was the largest vessel on the lakes at the commencement of the war, a flush decked ship-sloop launched in 1809 to counter the US brig Oneida (18) commissioned the same year. I am well familiar with her as I had been a member of the Provincial Marine before the Royal Navy came to the lakes to take over the naval affairs here earlier this year. Pierced for 20 guns, originally to be all 32 pdr carronades, she now boasts a battery of 2-68 pdr carronades, and 2-18 pdr long guns as well as the 16 remaining 32 pdr carronades. She’s 96 feet on deck making her roughly the size of the Cruizer class brigs so fancied by the Admiralty. She’s a sweet sailor, very maneuverable, but Spartan in appointments, no fancy scrollwork or even stern galleries. All in all, she’s a no nonsense warship and now that she’s manned by proper sailormen of the Service, a “tough ‘un!”

Repairs had been effected on the squadron after the encounter with Commodore Isaac Chauncey off of the River Genesee on the 11th where a calm had nearly done for them. The Americans had the weather gauge but the light wind did not allow them to maneuver quickly. With the US schooners using sweeps in an attempt to close, Commodore Sir James Yeo towed his squadron using ships’ boats and kept the distance to long cannon shot where only the long guns could be effectively employed. Eventually, a breeze came up and Sir James was able to sail the Squadron away from the trap against the US shore and made his way back to Kingston. It was at this time that Sir James decided he would only battle Chauncey when there was sufficient wind to close and render our carronades effective.

At 6 AM on the 28th of September, in rising north easterly wind south west of York, the American squadron was sighted about 12 miles southeast of us. Sir James’ flagship is the ship-sloop HMS Wolfe, rated 22 and equipped with 18-32 pdr carronades, 2-68 pdr carronades and 2-12 pdr long guns. She’s almost 6 feet longer than the George and somewhat faster. Royal George was second in line followed by brig Lord Melville (14), 72 feet on deck, sloop Earl of Moira (16), 71 feet on deck, schooner Lord Beresford (12), 73 feet on deck and the schooner Sir Sydney Smith (12).

The squadron turned north east by north to try to take the weather gauge but could not weather Gibraltar Point so tacked, and headed south, still in line of battle. Chauncey, also in line ahead and heading north, then wore around and headed south by west on a slowly converging course.

The flagship of the American Squadron is the corvette General Pike (26), 145 feet between perpendiculars, making it bigger than all of the US 32 gun frigates and even the 36 gun USS New York! That, coupled with her battery of 24 pdr long guns make her a difficult opponent. She was hampered however, by having to tow the schooner Asp (3) into action.

Following Pike and Asp was the schooner Sylph (10) towing schooner Ontario (2) then followed by ship-sloop Madison (24) towing schooner Fair American (2). Madison is the second largest of the American vessels and is112 feet between perpendiculars, making her larger than Wolfe.

After Fair American came the brig Oneida (18), and schooners Governor Tompkins (6), Conquest (3) and Pert (3).

We carried on in this southerly course until one bell in the afternoon watch, when Sir James ordered the squadron to tack in succession. We had speculated on what the Commodore would do as it appeared Chauncey was aiming to cut off the smaller vessels at the rear of our line.

It may be that the American Commodore surmised that we were about the same objective for he then wore ship and had Pike (still towing Asp) on a course to intercept Wolfe to protect the rear of his line. By two bells, the flagships were within cannon shot and Wolfe opened fire.

Pike continued to close the distance, apparently disregarding Wolfe’s cannonade then turned almost parallel and let fly with her 24 pdrs. Wolfe seemed to shudder under Pike’s broadside, but firmed up her course and sent another at the Americans. Pike’s main topgallant mast was damaged and came down onto the main topsail. This visible effect of the Wolfe’s fire raised our spirits considerably as the terrifying broadsides of the Pike were felt to be a winning factor. However, this elation lasted but a moment.

Another pair of broadsides were exchanged and the very thing that had been feared occurred. Wolfe’s mizzen topmast stays were cut, the unsupported mast pressed forward on to the main topmast and took it down and over the side, splitting the main yard at the same time. With only the headsails and the foremast sails drawing, Wolfe became unmanageable and turned away from the wind of her own accord. It appeared that Chauncey viewed this as the opportunity for victory and again turned Pike downwind to pursue Yeo’s crippled ship.

Our other vessels had struggled to keep up with the racing Wolfe as best we may and were now close at hand. As Wolfe spun about and began to head downwind it meant the George now led the line and Commander Mulcaster brought the sloop directly into Pike’s path, backed the foresail to slow her to a virtual stop, then fired the starboard broadside into Pike’s bows. While the short range carronades of Royal George had thus far been of little use, now they came into their own as the crew reloaded quickly and fired again and again. After a few unanswered broadsides from the George, Chauncey turned his ship away to bring his own broadside to bear and again the 24 pdrs of the Pike played upon our fleet.

By now however, the Melville and the Moira had come up and were able to play in their turn upon the Pike. The other lead American vessels were hampered in their movement by having to tow the schooners and while they did add their fire, it proved to be ineffective as our vessels could maneuver out of harm’s way.

After about a quarter of an hour, the Wolfe was again under control although she could not sail upwind and Sir James then turned south west towards the anchorage at Burlington Bay while the squadron turned to follow in her wake, the George covering the rear of the squadron. Commodore Chauncey, rather than cast off the tows and get in amongst the vessels of our squadron, elected to keep the slow schooners with him and followed as best he could. Only Pike was close enough to maintain fire at our fleet but there were no more decisive hits and, at about six bells, we came into the anchorage. By now, the wind had risen to a full gale and, perhaps feeling he was on a lee shore with hostile forces around, the American Commodore wheeled his squadron about and bore away southeast towards Niagara. It is well he did, I believe, because within the hour, a military detachment from Burlington Heights was erecting a protective shore battery.

Fortunately, our anchors held firm and repairs to the damaged vessels commenced. It was then I was put ashore to commence my mission to Amherstburg. I am saddened by the need to leave the Squadron, and in our inferiority to the enemy in big ships, numbers of men and size of guns, but heartened by the spirit in which the battle was fought, and the obvious superiority of our vessels over the enemy in co-operating with each other for mutual support. It is the one factor that allowed us to survive this encounter.

I leave you now to commence my plunge into the interior and endeavor to negotiate the goat paths and tracks that pass here for roads. 

I wish you the best of good fortune, Sir.

Your Most Humble and Obedient Servant,

Thomas Hurlbut,
Burlington Heights,
Upper Canada.
A note from Mr. Hurlbut the author:

I used Robert Malcomson's "Lords of the Lakes" as my main source for the action (I'm waiting for a copy of C.H.J. Snider's "In the Wake of the Eighteen-twelvers" right now. He fictionalized the action with dialogue and first person descriptions). I used Mark Lardas' "Great Lakes Warships 1812-15" and "American Light and Medium Frigates 1794-1836" for ships' data. I edited out most of it so as not to bore the audience too much (although a ship's captain would be interested ;-)

Monday, October 28

A Letter to the Doctor



To Dr A. Roberts of HMS Acasta
Oct. 9, 1813

Sir --
I had the pleasure of being introduced to you last summer at Ft George & hope I may be so Bold as to renew our Acquaintance upon the strength of that Pleasant meeting. I had news through a mutual acquaintance that you & Miss Waterman have wed & take the Occasion to offer you my sincere Congratulations. Please give my deepest respects to her.

I hope I may one day have the pleasure of congratulating you in person & speaking further on the natural world. There are many Curious birds to be seen in the forests west of my home in Frederick-town in the State of Maryland. The German countryside of western Maryland, Pennsylvania & Virginia is the most Pleasant I have seen in America, a prosperous & rich land of rolling hills, trim farms & yeoman farmers, the very ideal of our Republic.

If you are a hunting man I will confirm that a trip in search of Indian deer in the wilds of Virginia is every bit as Exciting as I have read recounted in news-papers & books. The town of Bath, commonly known as Berkeley Springs, is naught compared to what I have read of yr country's Original, but for taking the Waters in a Rustic setting it is worth the journey. I have not seen it since boyhood but hope to have liberty to return soon. For now I am -- as we all are -- obliged to do my duty to my Country, though I am enjoying a brief visit ashore.

I remain yr mos obed't & humble servant,
Benjamin F. Bartgis, Midshipman
Watcher

Thursday, October 24

Young Mr. Hamilton

"Young Alex always volunteered to be a part of the press. I , for one, thought he liked it too well..."

- James Cullen, Remembrances of Eight years before the Mast, 1834.









Wednesday, October 23

The Battle at Mississinewa


Mr. Raley and myself are on the far left of the field, near the cannons.


Tuesday, October 22

The Doctor's Wedding 3

A lovely image taken by friend Lauren of American Duchess fame.

A view through the window into the ballroom decorated with colorful signal flags, and the new Mrs. Roberts and two of the women who did so much to help put the wedding on, Mrs Marks on the left and Mrs Cooper on the right.

Mrs. Roberts in her ball gown in the upstairs of Tulip Grove.

Friday, October 18

Life Back Home

It is occasionally nice to be reminded that life continues back home while we are here upon what seems to be an endless blockade.

Have a look at images from the recent Jane Austen Festival in Bath, including several of gentlemen of the Navy and Miss Waterm... *ahem*... Mrs. Roberts' particular friend, Miss E. Lynch (seen above in the red, white and blue).


Wednesday, October 16

A Letter from the Field

My dear Sir,

Salutations and best wishes from the American continent. It is with pleasure that I am able to report that our mission to retrieve the documents contained in the Red lock box was a success. I selected a small party of Acastas to go ashore and together we were able to secure and destroy the secret plans contained in the box.



The party consisted of myself, Mr. Midshipman Raley, Able seaman Taylor & Haberfield and my servant Mr. Vassermann. You will be pleased to learn that each of them acted in a manner that did service to the Crown. We set up our camp far away from the Americans and even beyond the relative protection of the large British encampment.

On Saturday morning, 12th October, we discovered the location of the Red Box in the American Camp. Apparently it was being displayed in a tree by their commander's tent as a rallying point for their soldiers.

Having a shortage of men on the ground with which to mount an assault, and a relatively brief time to organize one, I bartered a deal with the pirates encamped down by the river to assist us. Taking the Bank of England notes I had been issued for just such a purpose, I paid each man that promised his involvement one pound as an advance in good faith.

While Raley, Taylor and Haberfield were making their way toward the battlefield, Vassermann and myself, followed by eight of the pirates, found our way to the back of the American camp. When the first shots of the nearby battle had begun, we knew the Americans were out of their camp and indisposed elsewhere.

We stormed into the camp to find it almost completely empty. The women left behind were shocked by our arrival, we swarmed in and found our way to the tree, but the box was not to be found! According to the women left behind, a man by the name of Russell had been there just moments before and nabbed the box from the tree. I ordered the men to spread out and look for the box to no avail, it was nowhere to be found.


I ordered a hasty retreat from the camp and the hired men followed us back toward the British camp as the sounds of the nearby battle hung in the air. Our mission seemed to be a failure. To make matters worse, halfway back to camp Vassermann and I found ourselves surrounded and at the point of the pirates' swords. They robbed me of the remainder of the money I had been issued and left us there on the road.

I was quite crest fallen to be sure. Some time later, we learned of the box being returned to the Americans by the mysterious Mr. Russell.

A particularly fleet footed young rifleman from the 95th managed to sneak into the American camp while the bulk of them were away at a large ball held under a tent nearby, and snatch the box. According to the story I heard later the next day, he was allowed to sleep on the floor of the large mess tent in the British camp, having taken a piece of rope and tied the box to himself for safe keeping. He slept with it tied to him all night long!

We delivered up the key the next morning, opened the box and I ordered Mr. Raley to place the plans in the fire and make certain they were completely consumed.

Know sir that our mission here is complete, we are all well and on our way back toward to coast to rejoin the Acasta. I trust that you will see to it that copies of this letter will find their way into the proper hands at the Admiralty and the other interested parties at Whitehall.

I am, &c. &c.
The Doctor,
A. Roberts
Ship's Surgeon
HMS Acasta
on special assignment.




Tuesday, October 15

Monday, October 14

The Doctor's Wedding 2

More images from the Roberts wedding held on 5th October...

A toast from Mr. Cushing.

A toast from Captain Freymann.
The bouquet is thrown and caught. My youngest duagther Sophia was thrilled to catch it!




Relaxing on the lawn before the ball.


The grand staircase.