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Quivera
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In 1807, Stephan Decatur has given command of the dishonored (The Leopard Affair) & bad star frigate USS Chesapeake. He was already famous due his exploits involving the burning of the captured USS Philadelphia in Tripoli harbor & hand to hand combat aboard various Tripolitan gunboats. He was already respected by the crew that hoped he could somehow let them regain their dignity & honor lost to HMS Leopard. Much of the crew that had suffered the indignity were still aboard & Decatur saw fit to refine & focus their anger & desire for revenge through strict regime & an intensive & ongoing degree of training & gunnery drills. He turned the vessel & crew into a top notch warship over the next couple of years, as if in total defiance to USS Chesapeakes bad star.
In 1809, the new SecNav, Paul Hamilton placed him in command of the big sister USS United States – then nearing completion of a 2 year refit at the Washington Navy Yard – and ordered him to ready her for sea. Most of USS Cheasapekes crew jumped at the chance to move up to the larger sister & greater command with him. They could not wait to abandon USS Cheasapekes unlucky reputation and also avoid the chaos of another reorganization as surely the next skipper would insist & require.
SecNav Hamilton directed Decatur & Isaac Hull to join John Rogers first squadron in New York. USS Constitution barely escaped a British squadron giving chase & got into Boston too late as Rodgers & Decatur had already sailed from NY. This had the benefit of freeing Hull to act independently & allowed for his defeat of HMS Guerriere while the first of four voyages of Rogers squadron was unproductive & very likely had Stephan Decatur simply chomping at the bit as Hull in USS Constitution achieved the high honor of victory over HMS Guerriere – the first American Naval victory of the entire war.
Upon return from the first cruise of Rogers squadron, Decatur became enamoured by a new plan espoused by SecNav Hamilton. Of the 6 Live Oak super frigates designed by Joshua Humphreys, the first three were rated 44s, (USS President, USS United States, USS Constitution) The final three were rated 36-38s. (USS Congress, USS Constellation, USS Chesapeake) SecNav Hamilton envisaged a flagged three ship squadron around each of the 3 big sisters. Decaturs would include USS United States as his flagship, his old ship, USS Chesapeake, & the brig USS Argus. USS Chesapeake was not ready to sail & USS Constitution required refit.
On October 8th, 1812, both John Rogers, with his flag in USS President, with USS Congress as consort & Stephen Decaturs squadrons both left port & sailed in concert for a few days. They then parted company & a few days later Stephen Decatur directed Captain Sinclair to sail independently – contrary to SecNav Hamiltons desire. USS Argus sailed east capturing six valuable merchantmen, returning to port January 3, 1813. His cruise involved a harried chase wherein USS Argus was literally stripped underway & cleared of all non-critical cargo, fittings, anchors, boats… in order to give the pursuing British squadron the slip, at one point. But this too is another story.
Decatur took USS United States to cruise between the Azores & the Canary Islands – an area known to often be the station of various British warships. He was eagerly in search of a target rich environ & was quite sure he would find what he sought. On October 25, he found what he was searching for when the tops of HMS Macedonian were sighted. She was a finely constructed 2 year old frigate under the command of John Carden, who was also seeking a worthy antagonist. Carden was in fact looking for USS Essex, thought to be cruising in the area.
Of particular note is that USS Essex was known by the British to be unusually armed with heavy short range carronades & but a small battery of light long guns. USS Essex would have to rapidly close range to bring her heavy main guns into effective range. Cardens mis-identification was likely his most fatal of mistakes, but would probably not have changed the outcome much, regardless. A proper ID would have changed John Cardens tactics quite a bit. As it was, he sought to keep the range open, using his long 18-pounders to cut up USS Essex rigging to reduce her helm, and then close herself using canister & dismantling shot for a classic yardarm-to-yardarm. Against the faster USS Essex, this may well have worked. But his antagonist was not USS Essex.
This vessel showed no sign of any hurry to close the range. Of even more concern to him was that the enemys 24-pound round shot was rapidly coming aboard & smashing his ship long before the grape & canister in his spar deck guns, or even his long 18-pounders could reach his opponent. He became readily aware that this certainly was not USS Essex, quite likely to late. The gunners of this antagonist seemed to fire on target with a vengeance. They were – stick by stick – taking out the masts of HMS Macedonian & putting great holes in her sides. He could not have known that most of these vengeful gunners were still mindful of their humiliation aboard USS Chesapeake at the hand of HMS Leopard five years previous.
Decaturs emphasis upon intensive training & drill, combined with their own deeply seated desire to regain their honor had sharpened the blade falling upon Cardens command. USS United States 1st Lt. was William Henry Allen. The same Wm. Allen that had carried – bare handed – the coal that touched off USS Chesapeakes only reply against HMS Leopard. He & Decatur had drilled their men often & well. The crew relished the drills hoping one day to regain what was taken from them. It was paying off.
Stephan Decatur fought the battle much as his opponent John Carden had planned to fight it. He avoided the urge to charge in for a yardarm-to-yardam, choosing to use his greater range & the excellence of his gun crews to avoid foolish loss of life in his own crew & to avoid needless damage to his flagship. He fought smartly. By the time Carden knew of his tactical error, he tried desperately to close range, but with his standing rigging shot away and but a stump left of his main mast he never the less tried unsuccessfully to crawl to his antagonist. Almost completely undamaged, USS United States sailed about him at will. Holding a frantic war council, HMS Macedonians 1st Lt. was the only one that wanted to continue the fight. All others agreed that would be useless self-destruction to do so. At this, John Carden struck his colors, feeling that he had betrayed his trust as a captain in the British Navy. Much as Dacres in HMS Guerriere before him.
The captives of HMS Macedonian were treated with utmost care & respect – unlike the treatment meted out to many of the former USS Chesapeake crew – now in USS United States – by HMS Leopard. British losses were 36 dead and 68 wounded. American losses were 7 dead and 5 wounded.
At this point, Stephan Decatur realized he now had what Issac Hull did not. A very new, strong & refitable prize in HMS Macedonian. He understood well the nations need for not only the material… but the psychological victory in the war up to that point. USS United States lay alongside for four days making their prize seaworthy for sail. He then cut his intended cruise short to lead such a worthy prize victoriously into port. On December 4, 1812, Decatur reached New London Connecticut with his prize. Upon his arrival he discovered that there was to be a Naval Ball held in honor of Hull & the officers of USS Constitution & their victory at sea, in Washington a few days hense. A perfect occasion to be climaxed by the presentation by Issac Hull of HMS Guerrieres huge battle flag to Dolly Madison. It was a highly prideful & glorious occasion.
The Navy Secretaries son – Archibald Hamilton – was one of Decaturs officers & was dispatched with HMS Macedonians largest battle flag to the event with instructions of timing & behavior upon his arrival. According to the Niles’ Weekly Register, “about nine o’ clock a rumor was spread through the assembly that Lieutenant Hamilton, the son of the Secretary of the Navy, had reached the house, the bearer of dispatches from Commodore Decatur and the colors of the Macedonian. He was escorted to the festive hall [and] the flag of the Macedonian was borne into the hall by Captains Hull and Stewart.”
The young Hamilton, smelling foul and of horses from the frantic 4 day journey, strode into the hall, centered with HMS Guerrieres Battle Flag, surrounded by the President, First ...., Cabinet Ministers , dignitaries, socialites, & their wives, of all stripe dressed in their finest, and was followed by the rolled prize of HMS Macedonians Battle Flag upon the shoulders of Decaturs comrades. Equal in size, it was spread by Hull & Stewart before Dolly – beside the prize of HMS Guerriere – and the Navy’s stock could not have been higher at that moment & at that delirious gathering.
The remaining question is what think you of its impact upon the 'invincible' morale of the British Navy?
In 1809, the new SecNav, Paul Hamilton placed him in command of the big sister USS United States – then nearing completion of a 2 year refit at the Washington Navy Yard – and ordered him to ready her for sea. Most of USS Cheasapekes crew jumped at the chance to move up to the larger sister & greater command with him. They could not wait to abandon USS Cheasapekes unlucky reputation and also avoid the chaos of another reorganization as surely the next skipper would insist & require.
SecNav Hamilton directed Decatur & Isaac Hull to join John Rogers first squadron in New York. USS Constitution barely escaped a British squadron giving chase & got into Boston too late as Rodgers & Decatur had already sailed from NY. This had the benefit of freeing Hull to act independently & allowed for his defeat of HMS Guerriere while the first of four voyages of Rogers squadron was unproductive & very likely had Stephan Decatur simply chomping at the bit as Hull in USS Constitution achieved the high honor of victory over HMS Guerriere – the first American Naval victory of the entire war.
Upon return from the first cruise of Rogers squadron, Decatur became enamoured by a new plan espoused by SecNav Hamilton. Of the 6 Live Oak super frigates designed by Joshua Humphreys, the first three were rated 44s, (USS President, USS United States, USS Constitution) The final three were rated 36-38s. (USS Congress, USS Constellation, USS Chesapeake) SecNav Hamilton envisaged a flagged three ship squadron around each of the 3 big sisters. Decaturs would include USS United States as his flagship, his old ship, USS Chesapeake, & the brig USS Argus. USS Chesapeake was not ready to sail & USS Constitution required refit.
On October 8th, 1812, both John Rogers, with his flag in USS President, with USS Congress as consort & Stephen Decaturs squadrons both left port & sailed in concert for a few days. They then parted company & a few days later Stephen Decatur directed Captain Sinclair to sail independently – contrary to SecNav Hamiltons desire. USS Argus sailed east capturing six valuable merchantmen, returning to port January 3, 1813. His cruise involved a harried chase wherein USS Argus was literally stripped underway & cleared of all non-critical cargo, fittings, anchors, boats… in order to give the pursuing British squadron the slip, at one point. But this too is another story.
Decatur took USS United States to cruise between the Azores & the Canary Islands – an area known to often be the station of various British warships. He was eagerly in search of a target rich environ & was quite sure he would find what he sought. On October 25, he found what he was searching for when the tops of HMS Macedonian were sighted. She was a finely constructed 2 year old frigate under the command of John Carden, who was also seeking a worthy antagonist. Carden was in fact looking for USS Essex, thought to be cruising in the area.
Of particular note is that USS Essex was known by the British to be unusually armed with heavy short range carronades & but a small battery of light long guns. USS Essex would have to rapidly close range to bring her heavy main guns into effective range. Cardens mis-identification was likely his most fatal of mistakes, but would probably not have changed the outcome much, regardless. A proper ID would have changed John Cardens tactics quite a bit. As it was, he sought to keep the range open, using his long 18-pounders to cut up USS Essex rigging to reduce her helm, and then close herself using canister & dismantling shot for a classic yardarm-to-yardarm. Against the faster USS Essex, this may well have worked. But his antagonist was not USS Essex.
This vessel showed no sign of any hurry to close the range. Of even more concern to him was that the enemys 24-pound round shot was rapidly coming aboard & smashing his ship long before the grape & canister in his spar deck guns, or even his long 18-pounders could reach his opponent. He became readily aware that this certainly was not USS Essex, quite likely to late. The gunners of this antagonist seemed to fire on target with a vengeance. They were – stick by stick – taking out the masts of HMS Macedonian & putting great holes in her sides. He could not have known that most of these vengeful gunners were still mindful of their humiliation aboard USS Chesapeake at the hand of HMS Leopard five years previous.
Decaturs emphasis upon intensive training & drill, combined with their own deeply seated desire to regain their honor had sharpened the blade falling upon Cardens command. USS United States 1st Lt. was William Henry Allen. The same Wm. Allen that had carried – bare handed – the coal that touched off USS Chesapeakes only reply against HMS Leopard. He & Decatur had drilled their men often & well. The crew relished the drills hoping one day to regain what was taken from them. It was paying off.
Stephan Decatur fought the battle much as his opponent John Carden had planned to fight it. He avoided the urge to charge in for a yardarm-to-yardam, choosing to use his greater range & the excellence of his gun crews to avoid foolish loss of life in his own crew & to avoid needless damage to his flagship. He fought smartly. By the time Carden knew of his tactical error, he tried desperately to close range, but with his standing rigging shot away and but a stump left of his main mast he never the less tried unsuccessfully to crawl to his antagonist. Almost completely undamaged, USS United States sailed about him at will. Holding a frantic war council, HMS Macedonians 1st Lt. was the only one that wanted to continue the fight. All others agreed that would be useless self-destruction to do so. At this, John Carden struck his colors, feeling that he had betrayed his trust as a captain in the British Navy. Much as Dacres in HMS Guerriere before him.
The captives of HMS Macedonian were treated with utmost care & respect – unlike the treatment meted out to many of the former USS Chesapeake crew – now in USS United States – by HMS Leopard. British losses were 36 dead and 68 wounded. American losses were 7 dead and 5 wounded.
At this point, Stephan Decatur realized he now had what Issac Hull did not. A very new, strong & refitable prize in HMS Macedonian. He understood well the nations need for not only the material… but the psychological victory in the war up to that point. USS United States lay alongside for four days making their prize seaworthy for sail. He then cut his intended cruise short to lead such a worthy prize victoriously into port. On December 4, 1812, Decatur reached New London Connecticut with his prize. Upon his arrival he discovered that there was to be a Naval Ball held in honor of Hull & the officers of USS Constitution & their victory at sea, in Washington a few days hense. A perfect occasion to be climaxed by the presentation by Issac Hull of HMS Guerrieres huge battle flag to Dolly Madison. It was a highly prideful & glorious occasion.
The Navy Secretaries son – Archibald Hamilton – was one of Decaturs officers & was dispatched with HMS Macedonians largest battle flag to the event with instructions of timing & behavior upon his arrival. According to the Niles’ Weekly Register, “about nine o’ clock a rumor was spread through the assembly that Lieutenant Hamilton, the son of the Secretary of the Navy, had reached the house, the bearer of dispatches from Commodore Decatur and the colors of the Macedonian. He was escorted to the festive hall [and] the flag of the Macedonian was borne into the hall by Captains Hull and Stewart.”
The young Hamilton, smelling foul and of horses from the frantic 4 day journey, strode into the hall, centered with HMS Guerrieres Battle Flag, surrounded by the President, First ...., Cabinet Ministers , dignitaries, socialites, & their wives, of all stripe dressed in their finest, and was followed by the rolled prize of HMS Macedonians Battle Flag upon the shoulders of Decaturs comrades. Equal in size, it was spread by Hull & Stewart before Dolly – beside the prize of HMS Guerriere – and the Navy’s stock could not have been higher at that moment & at that delirious gathering.
The US Navy had proven its metal & it drove home the vast import of Sea Power to a young nations people upon their learning of it.
The remaining question is what think you of its impact upon the 'invincible' morale of the British Navy?
