The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The Naval Engagements of 1812

United States captures the Macedonian

On October 8th 1812 Commordore Rodgers left Boston on his second cruise. The American squadron consisted of the "President", "United States", "Congress" and the "Argus. After only four days the "United States" and the "Argus" separated from Commodore Rogers. The "Argus", commanded by Captain Sinclair sailed east capturing six valuable merchant men and returned to port on January 3rd. During this cruise the "Argus" was pursued for three days and three nights by a British squadron. The crew of the "Argus" made the ship lighter so it would sail faster. After getting rid of the ships anchors and boats the "Argus" was able to pull away.

USS United States

The "United States" was commanded by Stephen Decatur. Decatur had made a name for himself when he boarded the captured "Philadelphia" in Tripoli Harbour and burned her. In Admiral Nelson of the Royal Navy's view, it was one of the most daring and bold acts of the times.

The "United States" sailed southeast towards Madeira. On the morning of October 25th 1812 the crew sighted a large sail, this turned out to be the "HMS Macedonian"

USS United States captures the HMS Macedonian

The "Macedonian" was commanded by Captain John Surnam Carden. The British frigate was newly built of oak. Captain Carden after seeing the "United States" turned towards her. At this point there seems to have been some discussion on the tactics that should be used. The British 1st Lieutenant was in favour of crossing the Americans bow and raking her from ahead. Captain Carden decided to fight a long range battle.

At 8:30 a.m. with the two ships approximately one mile apart the "Macedonian" fired three ranging shots from her port battery which fell short into the ocean. The "United States" answered with a broadside from her 24- pounders that had some effect. After passing the Americans main battery Captain Carden wore his ship but Commodore Decatur pulled away and out of range of the British gunners. The American ship resumed her original coarse increasing the distance between the two ships. At this distance the advantage would be in the American's favour because they were using the heavier 24-pounders.

"USS United States versus HMS Macedonian"
by Arthur N. Disney Sr.

The British frigate took a pounding for fifteen minutes when Captain Carden decided he had to close with the Americans and fight at a shorter range. Commodore Decatur manoeuvred the "United States" so the British could not get any closer.

From this position the "Macedonian" was slowly shot to pieces. The damage was extensive, the British frigate lost her mizzen top mast, main yard and top sail. Despite this damage the British crew fought on for thirty minutes more. Eventually, both the top masts and the whole of the mizzen mast came crashing down.

The "United States" sailed past the bow of the "Macedonian" and did not fire a shot, instead pulled away and made some repairs. After approximately one hour the American ship returned, the 1st Lieutenant on the "Macedonian" wanted to fight on to the death but cooler heads prevailed and the British ship struck her colours and surrendered.

Commodore Decatur decided that bringing the "Macedonian" into port would be a boost to the American war effort. They made the necessary repairs and brought the captured British frigate into port where many visitors came to see her and hear stories of the battle.

The British losses were 36 dead and 68 wounded. The American losses were 7 dead and 5 wounded.

**NOTE** Captain Carden was acquitted at his court martial, but he was criticized for not being able to out manoeuvre the "United States", which was also known in the American Navy as the "Wagon".

The Wasp vs The Frolic

On October 13th 1812 the American ship-sloop "Wasp" sailed from the Delaware with 137 men aboard and captained by Jacob Jones. On the 16th a storm caused the loss of the "Wasp's" jib-boom and the two men who were on it.

USS Wasp

The next day the weather was better and the crew of the "Wasp" sighted several sails in the distance. These sails turned out to be a convoy of 14 merchant-men on their way to England, they were escorted by the British brig-sloop "Frolic". The Frolic had 110 men aboard and was captained by Thomas Whinyates. During the storm of the 16th the "Frolic" had her main-yard damaged and both her top sails had been torn to pieces. The next day was spent making the repairs.

On October 18th the "Wasp" moved toward the british ship. The "Frolic" hoisted Spanish colours, this gave the convoy time to get away. At 11:30 a.m. the two ships were sailing no more than 60 yards apart. The "Wasp" fired her port guns, and the "Frolic" fired her starboard guns. The British ship fired rapidly, delivering three broadsides to the American's two. Both crews cheered wildly as the battle became heated. The "Wasp" was landing more shot than the British ship. The ocean was very rough, the crew of the "Frolic" fired their cannon when they were on the crest of the waves. The Americans fired their guns on the lower part of the waves. But in spite of the weather both ships fire was well directed. At 11:36 a.m. the "Wasp's" maintop-mast was shot away and fell with it's yard. At 11:46 a.m. her mizzentop -gallant mast came down and by 11:52 every brace and most of her rigging had been shot away. The British ship however, had been severely damaged in her hull and lower masts.

USS Wasp boarding HMS Frolic

The "Wasp" gradually moved ahead and raked the "Frolic" with a devastating effect. The American ship fired again, this caused many casualties on the "Frolic". The ships came together, and after one failed attempt because of rough seas the Americans boarded the British ship.

Not one Englishman was there to stop the crew of the "Wasp" from boarding. The man at the wheel was dazed but still at his post. Captain Whinyates and Lieutenant Wintle were wounded so severely that they could not stand without support. The crew of the "Frolic" could not fight any longer and Lieutenant Biddle lowered the flag at 12:15 just 43 minutes after the battle had started. The American ship had been damaged severely in her rigging but only two or three shots struck her hull.

USS Wasp

The American's had 5 killed and 5 wounded. The British had 30 killed and 60 wounded.

The American ship "Wasp" had a crew of 135 and carried 9 guns.

The British ship "Frolic" had a crew of 110 and carried 10 guns.

Additional Sources:

www.multied.com
members.rogers.com/aos
www.temple.edu
www.artcyclopedia.com
www.history.navy.mil
www.maritime-scotland.com
www.ndw.navy.mil
www.eyorks.com
www.hazegray.org
www.cv18.com
www.hmsdetroit.org
www.warof1812.ca

The Caledonia and the Detroit

December 8th 1812 the Caledonia and the Detroit were anchored near and protected by the guns of Fort Erie. Lieutenant Jesse D. Elliot decided to capture the two British vessels and add them to the American squadron. After putting together a force of approximately 100 men. Some sailors, some drafts from the army. Lieutenant Elliot's force left the American side of the Niagara River about 1:00 a.m. December 9th in two large boats.

Fort Erie

When they arrived by the two vessels the British opened fire with their muskets. The Americans began boarding the ships and after a great deal of fighting the ships were taken. The British kept up a heavy fire as the two ships tried to reach Black Rock, and the strong current in the Niagara River made this task even more difficult. The Caledonia finally reached the safety of the American shore. The Detroit was not so lucky, hit several times by British artillery as well as American fire it became uncontrolable and ran aground on Squaw Island. The Americans set the Detroit on fire and destroyed her so the ship would not fall back into British hands.

HMS Detroit

The Caledonia became part of the American squadron on Lake Erie and took part in the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813.

Veterans for Constitution Restoration is a non-profit, non-partisan educational and grassroots activist organization. The primary area of concern to all VetsCoR members is that our national and local educational systems fall short in teaching students and all American citizens the history and underlying principles on which our Constitutional republic-based system of self-government was founded. VetsCoR members are also very concerned that the Federal government long ago over-stepped its limited authority as clearly specified in the United States Constitution, as well as the Founding Fathers' supporting letters, essays, and other public documents.

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Iraq Homecoming Tips

~ Thanks to our Veterans still serving, at home and abroad. ~ Freepmail to Ragtime Cowgirl | 2/09/04 | FRiend in the USAF

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Who They Are: Operation: Stitches Of Love was started by the Mothers of two United States Marines stationed in Iraq.

What They Are Doing: We are gathering 12.5"x12.5" quilt squares from across the country and assembling the largest quilt ever produced. When completed we will take the quilt from state to state and gather even more squares.

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Ideas to start a local project:

Obtain enough Red, White and Blue material (cloth) for a 12.5 x 12.5 quilt square.
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Locate an elementary school with an after school program in your neighborhood or locate an after school program in your neighborhood not attached to a school and ask if you could volunteer one or two afternoons and create some squares with the kids.

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UPDATED THROUGH APRIL 2004

The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul

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Good morning Snippy.

Great pic there Aeronaut, I have seen several versions of that pic around.

Night shift Bump for the Foxhole.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

Good morning, Snippy and everyone at the Foxhole.

How's things going with your computer, Snippy?

Whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. —Hebrews 12:6

God's loving hand of discipline
May give us little rest;
His only purpose is our good
He wants for us what's best.

God's discipline is designed to make us like His Son.

can't you let the poor kid in?

maybe it's a little cold out there, you know how it gets a 30,000 feet.. : )

can't you let the poor kid in?

Hey! I can't be responsible for what happens outside the aircraft. ;-}

LOL!!

Good morning ladies. Flag-o-gram.

"Always Remember Never Surrender"

USS CONSTITUTION

USS Constitution homepage

OLD IRONSIDES
By Oliver Wendell Holmes
September 16, 1830

Ay, tear her tattered ensign down!
Long has it waved on high,
And many an eye has danced to see
That banner in the sky;
Beneath it rung the battle shout,
And burst the cannon's roar;
The meteor of the ocean air
Shall sweep the clouds no more.

Her deck, once red with heroes' blood,
Where knelt the vanquished foe,
When winds were hurrying o'er the flood,
And waves were white below,
No more shall feel the victor's tread,
Or know the conquered knee;
The harpies of the shore shall pluck
The eagle of the sea!

Oh, better that her shattered bulk
Should sink beneath the wave;
Her thunders shook the mighty deep,
And there should be her grave;
Nail to the mast her holy flag,
Set every threadbare sail,
And give her to the god of storms,
The lightning and the gale!

On This Day In History

Birthdates which occurred on June 24:
1542 Juan de la Cruz, [de Yepes], Spanish Carmelet/poet/saint
1771 E I Du Pont France, chemist/scientist (Du Pont)
1797 John Hughes archbishop, founded Fordham University in the Bronx
1811 John Archibald Campbell, Asst Secy War (Confederacy), died in 1889
1813 Henry Ward Beecher Litchfield Ct, clergyman/orator (The Independent)
1820 Henry Rootes Jackson, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1898
1822 Birkett Davenport Fry, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1891
1832 Edward Harland, Brig General (Union volunteers), died in 1915
1839 Gustavus Franklin Swift founded Swift & Co
1842 Ambrose Bierce US, satirist (Devil's Dictionary)
1850 Horatio Herbert Kitchener England, original Order of Merit member
1895 Jack Dempsey heavyweight boxing champion (1919-26) (Manassa Mauler)
1899 Chief Dan George, actor (Harry and Tonto, Little Big Man.)
1903 Phil Harris singer/actor ("Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! That Cigarette", Voice of Baloo the bear in Disney's "The Jungle Book)
1912 Norman Cousins editor (Saturday Review)
1915 Sir Fred Hoyle cosmologist, proposed steady-state universe theory
1919 Al Molinaro Kenosha Wisc, actor (Odd Couple, Happy Days)
1923 Jack Carter Bkln NY, comedian/actor (Amazing Dobermans, Octagon)
1932 David McTaggart cofounded Greenpeace
1935 Pete Hamill journalist (NY Post)
1942 Michele Lee LA Calif, actress/singer (Karen-Knots Landing, Love Bug)
1942 Mick Fleetwood drummer (Fleetwood Mac) (or 1947)
1944 Jeff Beck Surrey England, singer/songwriter (Jeff Beck Group)
1945 George E Pataki, Peekskill NY, (Gov-R-NY, 1995- )
1946 Ellison S Onizuka Hawaii, Mjr USAF/ast (STS 51C, 51L-Chal disaster)
1946 Robert B. ReiiiiichchA, US Sec of Labor (Clinton)
1947 Peter Weller actor (Robocop, 1st Born, Of Unknown Origin)
1950 Nancy Allen NYC, actress (Carrie, 1941, Robocop, Dress to Kill)
1951 Ivar Formo Norway, 50K cross country skier (Olympic-gold-1976)
1956 Joe Penny actor (Jake & the Fatman)
1958 Victor M Gerena NYC, security guard robbed $7 million (FBI wanted)
1961 Natalya Shaposhnikova USSR, sidehorse vaulter (Olympic-gold-1980)
1980 Kelly Dutra, Miss Rhode Island Teen USA (1996)
1993 Primera, an Andean condor, hatched at Cleve Zoo, 5th born in captivity

Deaths which occurred on June 24:
1519 Lucrezia Borgia, daughter of Pope Alexander, dies at 39
1803 Matthew Thornton, Irish/US physician/signer (Decl of Ind), dies at 88
1817 Thomas McKean, US attorney/signer (Decl of Independence), dies at 83
1908 Grover Cleveland 22nd & 24th Pres, dies in Princeton, at 71
1922 Dr Walter Rathenau German foreign minister killed by anti-semites
1971 Kenneth Washington actor (Sgt Baker-Hogan's Heroes), dies at 53
1987 Jackie Gleason actor (Honeymooners), dies at 71 in Fort Lauderdale (Alice baby, You're the greatest!)
1997 Brian Keith, actor (Family Affair), commits suicide at 75

Reported: MISSING in ACTION
1965 VAN CAMPEN THOMAS C.---OROVILLE CA.
[WOUNDED SEPARTED FROM UNIT]
1966 ELLIS WILLIAM---SUMMERVILLE SC.
1967 SHERMAN ROBERT C.---DANVILLE IL.
[REMAINS RECOVERED 03/20/85]
1968 CARPENTER NICHOLAS MALLOR---CINCINNATI OH.
[REMAINS RETURNED 9/90]
1968 MOBLEY JOSEPH S.---INDIANAPOLIS IN.
[03/14/73 RELEASED BY DRV, ALIVE IN 98]
1972 BEEKMAN WILLIAM D.---TOLEDO OH.
[03/28/73 RELEASED BY DRV]
1972 GRANT DAVID B.---CHATTANOOGA TN.
[03/28/73 RELEASED BY DRV, ALIVE AND WELL 98]
1972 JACKSON CHARLES A.---CHARLESTON WV.
[02/12/73 RELEASED BY DRV INJURED, ALIVE AND WELL IN 98]
1972 MC CARTY JAMES L.---MC LEAN TX.
[REMAINS RETURNED 13/9/90, REMAINS IDENTIFIED 11/6/97]

POW / MIA Data & Bios supplied by
the P.O.W. NETWORK. Skidmore, MO. USA.

On this day...
0451 10th recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet
0843 Vikings destroy Nantes
1128 Afonso I of Portugal defeats army of his mother Theresa
1298 Rindfleish Persecutions-Jews of Ifhauben Austria massacred
1314 Battle of Bannockburn; Scotland regains independence from England
1322 Jews are expelled from France
1340 In the Hundred Years War, British fleet destroys French at Sluys
1441 Eton College founded by Henry VI
1497 John Cabot claims eastern Canada for England
1509 Henry VIII crowned King of England
1527 Gustaaf I begins Reformation in Sweden, taking RC possessions
1535 Anabaptists Protestants conquerered & disbanded
1540 Henry VIII divorces his 4th wife, Anne of Cleves
1648 Cossacks slaughter 2,000 Jews and 600 Polish Catholics in Ukraine
1778 David Rittenhouse observes a total solar eclipse in Philadelphia
1793 1st republican constitution in France adopted
1795 US and Great Britain sign Jay Treaty, 1st US extradition treaty
1813 Battle of Beaver Dam-British & Indian forces defeat US forces
1817 1st coffee planted in Hawaii on Kona coast
1821 Battle of Carabobo; Bolivar defeats royalists outside of Caracas
1841 Fordham University (then St John's College), opens in the Bronx
1852 J R Hind discovers asteroid #18 Melpomene
1861 Tennessee becomes 11th (& last) state to secede from US
1881 200 drown as train runs off bridge near Cuautla Mexico
1882 NL expells umpire Richard Higham for dishonesty
1884 John Lynch is 1st black elected chairman of Republican convention
1885 Samuel David Ferguson becomes 1st US black bishop
1894 Decision to begin modern Olympics every 4 years
1897 Hail injures 26 in Topeka Kansas
1898 American troops, drive Spanish forces from La Guasimas Cuba
1901 Jewish National Fund starts
1908 A Kopff discovers asteroids #663 Gerlinde & #664 Judith
1908 Yanks replace Clark Griffith with Kid Elberfeld as manager who is destined to have worse won-lost pct of any Yankee mgr 27-71 (.276)
1915 800 die as excursion steamer Eastland capsizes in Chicago
1922 AFPA changes name to NFL, Chicago Staleys become Chicago Bears
1930 1st radar detection of planes, Anacostia DC
1932 Coup ends absolute monarchy in Thailand
1939 Pan Am's 1st US to England flight
1940 France signs an armistice with Italy during WW II
1941 Entire Jewish male population of Gorzhdy Lithuania, exterminated
1946 29.77 cm (11.72") of rainfall, Mellen, Wisc. (state 24-hr record)

1947 Flying saucers sighted over Mount Rainier by pilot Ken Arnold (and so an industry was born)

1948 Republican Natl Convention in Phila nominates NY gov Thomas Dewey

1948 Soviet Union begins Berlin Blockade, so Berlin Airlift begins

1949 "Hopalong Cassidy" becomes 1st network western (NBC)
1949 Cargo airlines 1st licensed by US Civil Aeronautics Board
1950 M Itzigsohn discovers asteroid #1821 Aconcagua
1950 NY Giant Wes Westrum hits 3 HRs & a triple
1955 Harmon Killebrew hits his 1st HR (off Billy Hoeff)
1957 "I Love Lucy," last airs on CBS-TV
1963 1st demonstration of home video recorder, at BBC Studios, London
1963 Zanzibar granted internal self-government by Britain
1966 Period of "relative" peace following WW II exceeds that following WW I
1968 Canadian Sandra Post becomes 1st non-US & 1st rookie LPGA winner
1968 Deadline for redeeming silver certificate dollars for silver bullion
1968 Jim Northrup hits 2 grand-slammers to help Tigers beat Cleve 14-3
1968 Joe Frazier TKOs Manda Ramos for world heavyweight boxing title
1970 Bobby Murcer ties record of 4 consecutive HRs
1970 Senate votes overwhelmingly to repeal Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
1973 Marlene Raymond (15), limboes under a flaming bar at 6 1/8"
1975 113 killed in Eastern Boeing 727 crash at JFK
1977 IRS reveals Jimmy Carter paid no taxes in 1976
1980 Affirmed wins $500,000 Hollywood Cup, 1st horse to win $2 million
1982 Equal Rights Amendment goes down to defeat
1982 Supreme Court rules pres can't be sued for actions in office
1982 Jean-Loup Chretien, 1st spacionaut, 2 others, lift off (Soyuz T-16)
1983 7th Space Shuttle Mission-Challenger 2 lands at Edwards AFB
1983 Don Sutton becomes 8th pitcher to strikeout 3,000 batters
1986 Guy Hunt elected 1st Republican governor of Alabama in 112 years
1986 US Senate approves "tax reform"
1988 Cleve pitcher Doug Jones sets record of 14 consecutive saves
1992 John Gotti begins life sentence in jail
1993 Arab terror group plans bombing of Holland/Lincoln Tunnels caught
1997 USAF reports Roswell 'space aliens' were dummies (Gee ya think?)

Holidays
Note: Some Holidays are only applicable on a given "day of the week"

Azores : Feriado Municipal Augra
Canada, PR : St John the Baptist/St Jean Baptiste Day/San Juan Day
Europe : Midsummer Day
Peru : Countryman's Day/Day of the Indian/Dia del Indio
Scotland : Bannockburn Day (1314)
Venezuala : Army Day/Carabobo Day (1821)
Zaire : Constitution Day
National Sheriff's Week (Day 4)
Middle Children's Day.
Fiction is Fun Month

Religious Observances
Ang, RC, Luth, Cong : Solemnity of the Nativity of St John the Baptist

Religious History
1519 Birth of Theodore Beza, French-born Swiss theological reformer. Beza became the acknowledged leader of the Swiss Calvinists, following John Calvin's death in 1564.
1527 King Gustavus of Sweden assembled the Diet of Wester's, for the purpose of carrying through the Protestant Reformation in Sweden.
1803 Birth of George J. Webb, American church organist. He compiled several collections of sacred music during his lifetime, and also composed the melody to the hymn, 'Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus.'
1917 Death of Orville J. Nave (born 1841), U.S. Armed Services chaplain and compiler of the popular 'Nave's Topical Bible.'
1941 The two-day Constitutional Assembly of the Nippon Kirisuto Kyodan opened, during which was formed the United Church of Christ in Japan.

Source: William D. Blake. ALMANAC OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1987.

Thought for the day :
"The wise shepherd never trusts his flock to a smiling wolf."

Things To Do If You Ever Became An Evil Overlord...
NEVER utter the sentence "But before I kill you, there's just one thing I want to know."

The World's Shortest Books...
Everything Men Know about Women

Dumb Laws...
Nova Scotia:
Citizens may not publicly remove bandages.

Top ten things you never hear in church...
10. Hey! It's my turn to sit in the front pew.

Iron men and wooden ships.

I missed you guys for #17.

Wow!

That is nothing short of AWESOME!!!!