February 13th
Latitude 12, 49, Longitude 57, 35, captured, after a chase of 5 hours, the British schooner Miranda, from Cork to Guadalope, laden with dry goods, flour, butter, soap, beef, etc; took out the dry goods and some other articles necessary for ship’s use, and burnt the balance.
From the journal of the Chasseur, excerpted in Baltimore American, June 2, 1814. Maryland Historical Society.
February 12th
At half past 1 p.m. saw 3 sail from mast head, bearing n. e. immediately in light sails and hauled by the wind in chase, soon made them out to be three ships standing to the westward. At half past 2 the headmost ship fired a gun, hoisted her English ensign with the private signals, which was immediately answered by the other frigate in chase. We now discovered the headmost ship to be a frigate, the other two merchantmen, made all sail off, the two frigates under a press of sail in chase, the former in our wake, the latter to windward about 3 and a half miles, soon found we had the advantage in sailing. At 10. p.m. lost sight of the frigates.
From the journal of the Chasseur, excerpted in Baltimore American, June 2, 1814. Maryland Historical Society.
February 11th
Latitude 12, 46, Longitude 57, 7, at half past 5 P.M. discovered a sail from the mast head, made sail in chase, at 7 wore ship and shortened sail to keep the chase in sight, made her out to be a large ship. At 8, jibed ship and stood from the chase, a few minutes after we fired a gun over us. Brailed our foresail up, backed our maintopsail and returned the fire; during the night she kept up an incessant firing; we occasionally returned it. In the morning, being about one and a half miles to windward, made her out to be a frigate. At half past 7 wore ship and stood of N. by W. The chase immediately tacked and stood after us, under a crowd of sail.
From the journal of the Chasseur, excerpted in Baltimore American, June 2, 1814. Maryland Historical Society.
Robert T. Spence EsquireNavy Department
U.S. Navy Baltimore.February 7th. 1814SirI have received your letter of yesterday. The reiteration of your request to recruit in New York is superfluous, you were explicitly informed, that it was inadmissible. The recruiting for the Lake service at New York will require all that can be obtained there. A surgeon will be ordered to the Ontario in a few days.—
I am respectfully your Obedt. ServantWilliam Jones
Feb. 1st
Latitude 25, 29, Longitude 57, 40. Captured the British ship Galletea, from Liverpool to Pensacola, cargo hardware, how glass, white lead and claret wine; ordered her in.
From the journal of the Chasseur, excerpted in Baltimore American, June 2, 1814. Maryland Historical Society.
Jan. 22nd
At half past 11 A.M. lat. 31, 48, long. 70, 20, discovered a sail from mast head, distant about 15 miles; made all sail in chase, it blowing fresh and squally. – At 5 P.M. the chase hoisted the American ensign at the main peak; at the same time made her out to be a foretopsail schooner – shewed our American ensign and continued under a press of sail to chase, coming up very fast, the chase at this time being distant about two and a half miles. At half past 9, lost sight of her in a squall, when about to fire a chase gun.
From the journal of the Chasseur, excerpted in Baltimore American, June 2, 1814. Maryland Historical Society.
On January 19, 1814, Captain William Wade and the Chasseur sailed from Port Deposit and escaped the British blockade of the Chesapeake Bay:
At half past meridian got under way from Point Look Out, and stood down the bay. Left the U.S. frigate Adams at anchor. At 3 P.M. discovered three sail standing up the bay by the wind—immediately beat to quarters and cleared ship for action. At 20 m. past 3, spoke the headmost, which proved to be a schooner from Norfolk for Baltimore—received from her information of the number and situation of the enemy below; hove too until dark. Off New Point, he heard the report of a gun; we supposed it to be the Admiral’s 8 o’clock gun; passed one 74 and two brigs at anchor. – At 10 P.M. discovered two large ships at anchor in the Middle Channel—supposed them to be frigates; hauled our wind and run close in with Cape Henry; finding we were not perceived, made sail and went to sea.
From the journal of the Chasseur, excerpted in Baltimore American, June 2nd, 1814, Maryland Historical Society.
Captain William Wade left Baltimore on January 15 and found little success as a privateer in the first several months of 1814. When Thomas Boyle (still making his way back to Baltimore after a bruising battle with the Hibernia) took over as commander in July, the Chasseur embarked on a remarkable cruise to the British Isles, capturing an astonishing number of prizes, and earning the nickname the “Pride of Baltimore” from the Niles Weekly Register.
Special thanks to Baltimore Heritage volunteer Dennis Lilly and the Maryland Historical Society for helping us share excerpts from the ship’s log from now through April. Continue to follow along for more updates on William Wade, Thomas Boyle and the Chasseur in the months ahead!
Baltimore January 18. 1814
Sir,
I beg leave to trespass on your time a moment, to request permission, to have the sails of the Ontario, made at this place; as I understand they have not yet commenced at Washington.
I have also to ask leave, to open a Rendezvous at New York, as Captain Ridgely having nearly completed his compliment, is about to close at that place. Seamen are easily obtaind there tho’ they are scarce, both here, and at Philadelphia.— I have the honor to be, with great respect your Obt Servt.R. T. Spence
From a January 18, 1814, letter by Master Commandant Robert T. Spence to Secretary of the Navy William Jones. See previous letter from January 9, 1814.
Source: The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History, Volume III, Part 2 of 7, p.20.
On January 11, 1814 at half-past midnight, the British ship Hibernia fought desperately against an attack by The Comet. Over a year before, in December 1813, the 187-ton Baltimore-built Comet slipped past a British blockade of the Chesapeake Bay and sailed south towards the Caribbean. The ship’s captain, Thomas Boyle, carried a letter of marque from President James Madison—one of five hundred letters Madison issued authorizing private ships to bring the fight to British shipping across the Atlantic.
In a little over a year at sea, Boyle and his crew recorded an astonishing twenty-seven prizes. They were on their way back to Baltimore when the ship spotted and engaged the 800-ton Hibernia in the early afternoon of January 10. After hours of maneuvers and exchanges of cannon fire that continued into the morning hours of January 11, both ships were badly damaged.
Contradictory accounts of the conflict do leave some room for interpretation. British sources, including excerpts from the British ship’s log, suggest the Hibernia was disabled, with only six cannons and a skeleton crew but still managed to kill twenty of Boyle’s crew in a desperate defense. Popular American sources describe the Hibernia differently—a formidable opponent with twenty-two guns and a full crew that left the Comet badly despite Boyle’s brave assault.
The battle ended inconclusively before dawn. The Comet retreated to Puerto Rico for repairs before finally returning home in Baltimore on March 17.
